Real Madrid spent a club record 832 million euros in the summer transfer window, according to spending figures published by La Liga, Spain's top football division, confirming the club as the league's biggest spender for another year running.
The total is well above the 761 million euros Real Madrid spent across the previous two transfer windows combined, marking a sharp increase in the club's spending this summer.
Real Madrid play their home games at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid and are the most successful club in the history of the UEFA Champions League, having won the competition a record 15 times.
Barcelona closes the gap on Real Madrid
Barcelona finished second on La Liga's list of transfer spending after significantly raising its own budget. The Catalan club had spent 432 million euros in the previous transfer window and increased that to 582 million euros this summer, a bold rise in spending.
Barcelona, who play at Camp Nou, are Real Madrid's fiercest domestic rivals and one of the most decorated clubs in the history of Spanish and European football.
Atletico Madrid finished third on the spending list with 361 million euros. The club had climbed as high as second place in earlier transfer windows, but Barcelona's resurgence this summer pushed Atletico back down the table.
Spanish sports newspaper Marca also published its own breakdown on social media of the rises and falls in La Liga clubs' salary limits for the new season. La Liga enforces spending limits on clubs based on their financial data, a system intended to promote financial sustainability across the league.
Sevilla's financial struggles continue
At the opposite end of the table, Sevilla closed the transfer window having spent just 20 million euros, the lowest outlay of any club in La Liga. Malaga followed close behind with 33 million euros, and Alaves spent 43 million euros.
Sevilla, one of the most decorated clubs in Spanish football with six UEFA Europa League titles, has spent recent seasons under financial pressure that has restricted its transfer budget.
Deportivo's spending after promotion
One striking figure in the data concerns Deportivo de La Coruna, newly promoted to La Liga this season, which spent 64 million euros more than the combined total spent by Osasuna, Espanyol, Elche, Rayo Vallecano and Getafe.
Deportivo, La Liga champions in the 1999-2000 season, spent several years outside the top flight before returning this season.
Spending in the Segunda Division
In the Segunda Division, Spain's second tier, Girona and Mallorca led the way with 35 million euros and 34 million euros respectively. Oviedo and Leganes, both relegated from La Liga last season, followed with 20 million euros.
The transfer window has now closed across Spanish football, meaning clubs cannot register further signings until the market reopens in January.
