A report published by FIFA, on the basis of the International Transfer Matching System data (ITMS), shows the Portugal Football League way out in front in respect of monies generated by transfer sales worldwide.
Portuguese clubs have always had to sell their best players and this year they have amassed some €230 million, well ahead of French clubs who netted €180 million.
The two biggest transfer deals involved FC Porto who sold Danilo to Real Madrid for €32 million and their Colombian striker Jackson Martínez to Atlético Madrid for €35 million.
Benfica earned €37 million with the sale of Ivan Cavaleiro (Monaco, France), João Cancelo (Valencia, Spain) and Lima to Al-Ahli Dubai FC.
Sporting Lisbon sold Cédric to Southampton for €6.5 million and Naby Sarr to Charlton Athletic for €2.5 million. SC Braga have transferred Eder to Swansea City and Ze Luis to Spartak Moscow for €7 million each.
The same report ranks Portugal in eighth place in the list of buyers having spent just €30 million. The English Premier League tops the list, having shelled out €375 million, as there seems to be no end to the astronomical rise in spiralling transfer fees.
