Liverpool lead way in Premier League spend on agent fees

Liverpool have paid the most money out of all the Premier League clubs in agents' fees over the last year, according to new figures.

The latest FA figures cover February 2017 to January 2018 and show that top-flight clubs spent £211m on agents' fees during the last two transfer windows - a rise of 20% from 2016-17.

The Reds forked out £26.8m over a year in which their major signings included Virgil van Dijk from Southampton, Mohamed Salah from Roma and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Arsenal.

Chelsea were runners-up as they paid £25m to agents, for 51 deals in which an agent was paid.

Despite spending more than £200m on the likes of Bernardo Silva and Kyle Walker last summer, City actually decreased their outlay on agents' fees, dropping from £26.2m to £23.5m.

English clubs across the top five divisions spent £257m on agent fees, an increase of £37m on 2016-17.

National League club Aldershot were the lowest spenders at £112.

Premier League spending to agents/intermediaries

1. Liverpool - £26.79m 2. Chelsea - £25.14m 3. Manchester City - £23.48m 4. Manchester United - £18m 5. Watford - £13.39m 6. Everton - £12.01m 7. Arsenal - £10.56m 8. Leicester City - £9.92m 9. West Ham United - £8.39m 10. Bournemouth - £7.73m 11. Newcastle United - £7.41m 12. Swansea City - £7.32m 13. Tottenham Hotspur - £7.17m 14. Southampton - £6.30m 15. Stoke City - £6.24m 16. Crystal Palace - £6.17m 17. West Bromwich Albion - £4.75m 18. Brighton & Hove Albion - £4.42m 19. Burnley - £3.30m 20. Huddersfield Town - £2.47m