• Premier League

Chelsea, United contribute to Premier League's top spenders

Juan Mata was part of the Premier League's spending spree © Getty Images

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Premier League clubs spent more in the January transfer window than their French, German, Italian and Spanish counterparts did between them.

The 20 members of England's top flight had a net spend of £125 million, whereas the other four major leagues' balance only amounted to £117m, according to the Soccerex transfer review.

France's Ligue 1 clubs spent £44m, Italy's Serie A sides £35m, Germany's Bundesliga members £28m and net outgoings in Spain's La Liga only accounted for £10m.

Chelsea paid the most in transfer fees in Europe, although their £44m outlay on Nemanja Matic, Mohamed Salah and Kurt Zouma still left them in profit after they sold Kevin De Bruyne and Juan Mata.

Manchester United's £37.1m purchase of Mata put them second and meant that, without selling anyone, their overall outlay was the highest. Mata was by far the biggest signing anywhere in Europe in January, costing £17m more than any other.

There were four English clubs among the nine biggest spenders in Europe with Hull City, who brought in strikers Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic, in eighth and Fulham, who recruited Kostas Mitroglu, ninth.

Chelsea, who recouped £52m, also brought in the most money, followed by Newcastle, who sold Yohan Cabaye to Paris Saint-Germain, and Benfica, who allowed Matic to return to Stamford Bridge.

However, Serie A clubs recruited the most players, many of them on loan, with relegation-threatened Sassuolo, with 12 additions, the busiest, followed by Parma, who have 11 new faces.

Over the last two transfer windows, Real Madrid are Europe's biggest spenders with an outlay of £152m, followed by Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, Napoli and Roma.

Many of Europe's leading clubs - including Champions League winners Bayern Munich, plus Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, AC Milan, Juventus, Manchester City and Liverpool - did not spend any money on transfer fees in January.

City, Bayern and Barcelona have not bought in the last three winter windows, illustrating that they prefer to do their business in the summer transfer market.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd