Premier League clubs would have had nearly £225 million more to spend this summer if the Brexit vote didn't happen in 2016, new figures reveal.
Best for Britain have estimated that the cost of the pound's depreciation since the referendum for Premier League football teams was nearly a quarter of a billion pounds this summer, with clubs seeing their purchasing ability fall by a whopping £225 million.
The research comes as top clubs such as Manchester United, Liverpool and Spurs were criticised for their lack of activity during the summer transfer window.
Top 5 transfers from abroad
1. Nicholas Pepe (Lille to Arsenal) - £72m in 2019 vs £66.5m in 2016
2. Rodri (Atletico Madrid to Man City) - £62.6m in 2019 vs £57.8m
3. Joao Cancelo (Juventus to Man City) - £60m in 2019 vs £55.4m
4. Tanguy Ndombele (Lyon to Tottenham) - £55.5 vs £51.2m
5. Sebastian Haller (Eintracht Frankfurt to West Ham - £40.7m vs £37.6m
Total: £290.8 in 2019 vs £268.5m in 2016 - Increased transfer spend of £22.3m
Top 5 transfers abroad
1. Eden Hazard (Chelsea to Real Madrid) - £88.5m in 2019 - £95.9m in June 2016
2. Lukaku (Man U to Inter) £70m in 2019 vs £75.8m in 2016
3. Danilo (Man City to Juventus) - £32.3m vs £34.9m
4. Idrissa Gueye (Everton to PSG) - £29m vs £31.4m
5. Ademola Lookman (Everton to RB Leipzig) - £22.5m vs £24.37m
Total: 242.3m in 2019 vs £262.4m in 2016 - Lost transfer revenue of £20.1m
Commenting, Best for Britain supporter Layla Moran MP said:
"While Premier League clubs are still spending heavily, they're now missing out on the big transfer window signings as a result of the pound's crash.
"It says a lot that the big Spanish, Italian and German clubs were able to capture their top targets, while the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, and Spurs all stayed relatively quiet.
"Rather than Britain scoring an own goal by pursuing Brexit, we’d be better off aiming for the open goal of a final say with the option to stay."