Leeds United Land Noah Okafor as Premier League Spending Hits Record £2.37bn

Leeds United have completed the signing of AC Milan striker Noah Okafor in an £18m deal, taking Premier League spending this summer to a record-breaking £2.37bn.

The Switzerland international has joined on a four-year contract and becomes Leeds’ ninth signing since their promotion back to the top flight.

Speaking on the move, the 25-year-old said: “As a kid, I dreamed of playing in the Premier League. That’s why for me it was quite an easy decision. My football suits the Premier League so this is like a dream come true. I can’t wait to step on the field.”

The deal pushes Premier League spending beyond the £2.36bn record set in summer 2023, with several clubs smashing transfer records during the current window.

Among the standout deals, Brentford spent up to £42.5m on Dango Ouattara, while Bournemouth invested £34.6m in French defender Bafode Diakite. Burnley and Sunderland have each paid upwards of £25m for midfield signings, while Nottingham Forest broke their transfer record twice, including the £37.5m move for Omari Hutchison.

The headline deal remains Liverpool’s £100m signing of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, which could rise to £116m with add-ons — a move that would surpass Chelsea’s £107m purchase of Enzo Fernandez in 2023 as the most expensive in British football history.

With more than a week left in the transfer window, the spending record is expected to rise even further.