The shocking facts behind Newcastle United's 13-year wait for a club record signing
By Joe Donnohue
Of all 98 clubs in Europe's top five leagues this season, 87 of them (incl. the other 19 Premier League sides) have broken their transfer record more recently than Newcastle United.
Seven clubs in the 2018/19 Premier League have a lower record transfer fee than Newcastle.
However, Newcastle have spent more Premier League seasons in the top flight (23), than the other seven clubs combined (18).
Six of those seven clubs broke their record as recently as 2017 or 2018.
17 of the 20 Premier League clubs contesting the 2018/19 season have broken their transfer record in the last 25 months.
Newcastle last broke theirs 155 months ago (August 2005).
Of the ten European clubs to have not broken their record since before Newcastle, six won a major trophy two seasons prior to/after breaking their transfer record.
(*Note*: Roma are expected to break their transfer record should they sign Malcom (€40m) from Bordeaux in the coming days.)
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The point here being; clubs who were very successful during this period (1998-2002) had increased spending power. Therefore the likelihood of them breaking their current record in recent years is lessened because of the premium fees paid at the time of their success.
The transfer records still held by Real Betis, Internazionale and Lazio were all world record transfers at the time they were made.
- 1998 - Denílson - Real Betis - €31m
- 1999 - Vieri • Internazionale -€49m
- 2000 - Crespo - Lazio - €55m
Another transfer window appears to be coming and going with Newcastle stuttering through their transfer business.
This is the 26th (!) transfer window in a row where Newcastle United have failed to purchase a player for more than the €25m paid for Michael Owen in 2005.
