Leeds United Signs Noah Okafor as Premier League Spending Surges
Leeds United has acquired AC Milan striker Noah Okafor for £18 million, bringing the total spending by Premier League clubs this summer to a record £2.37 billion.
The Swiss forward has signed a four-year contract with the Premier League club.
At 25 years old, Okafor becomes Leeds' ninth signing of the summer following their promotion back to the top flight after winning the Championship.
His arrival marks a significant milestone, as Premier League clubs have now surpassed the previous record for spending in a single transfer window, which was £2.36 billion set in the summer of 2023.
Before joining Milan on a five-year deal in 2023, Okafor played for FC Basel and RB Salzburg. He scored seven goals in 54 appearances for the Italian side and concluded last season on loan at Serie A rivals Napoli.
The Biggest Transfer Window Ever
Okafor's transfer to Elland Road contributes to the unprecedented £2.37 billion spent by Premier League clubs this summer, according to data from FootballTransfers.com.
Six clubs in the Premier League have set new transfer records during this window, driving the total expenditure to new heights.
Brentford secured Burkina Faso forward Dango Ouattara from Bournemouth for a deal that could reach £42.5 million, while Bournemouth itself spent £34.6 million on French centre-back Bafode Diakite.
Newly promoted Burnley and Sunderland have invested £25 million and £26 million respectively for French midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu and Senegalese midfielder Habib Diarra, whose deal could escalate to £30 million with add-ons.
Nottingham Forest has also made headlines by breaking their transfer record twice this summer, first acquiring Swiss winger Dan Ndoye from Bologna and then winger Omari Hutchison from Ipswich for £37.5 million.
In June, Liverpool signed Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for a guaranteed £100 million, with the potential for an additional £16 million in add-ons. If those add-ons are met, Wirtz's transfer would set a new British record, surpassing the £107 million Chelsea paid Benfica for Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez in 2023.
With ten days remaining in the transfer window, it is likely that even greater records will be established.