FIFA: Argentina third globally for transfer moves, historic record | OneFootball

Argentinian football reaffirmed its relevance on the global map by establishing itself as the third country with the most activity during the January 2026 transfer window. According to the recent FIFA report, Argentina was only surpassed in volume of movements by Brazil and Spain. This period marked a historic milestone for professional men's football, reaching an all-time record of more than 5,900 international transfers, representing a 3% growth compared to the beginning of 2025.

In economic and operational terms, the global market moved a figure exceeding 1.9 billion dollars. Argentina stood out especially in the area of departures, leading the world table as the country that transferred the most footballers abroad. In total, local football recorded 237 acquisitions and 228 transfers, generating an economic flow of 19.9 million dollars, surpassing in transaction volume powers like England, Portugal, and France.

The FIFA analysis also reveals insightful data about the nature of these operations. 59% of the movements corresponded to players who were free agents, while loans represented 24% and permanent sales just 17% of the total. These figures expose a global trend where clubs prioritize the incorporation of players without prior contracts or through temporary loans to mitigate financial risks.

Finally, the report emphasizes the generational factor of the market. The average age of the footballers who changed clubs was between 24 and 25 years. However, there are marked contrasts depending on the region: while Nigeria positions itself as the youngest talent exporter with an average age of 22, other markets like Indonesia bet on experience, with an average around 30 years. Argentina, for its part, remains competitive thanks to its massive export capacity, surpassing nations like the United States and Brazil in the total number of players transferred.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.