Premier League clubs "once again shattered the record for transfer spending" in the winter window, spending around £800M ($983.5M). Even before the "frenzied" action on deadline day, the EPL’s collective spending had "already surpassed the previous January high" of £430M, set in 2018. Much of that investment has come from Chelsea, which had already committed nearly £200M ($246M) on new players this month before agreeing to a record £105M ($129M) deal for MF Enzo Fernandez at the 11th hour (London TELEGRAPH, 2/1). If January is "supposed to be the month of frugality and financial restraint, nobody’s told the Premier League clubs." Even as "we grow increasingly numb to the soaring figures, they are no less extraordinary" (THE ATHLETIC, 2/1).

Soccer agent Jorge Mendes "has done it again, blowing up the signing market" in representing Fernandez on his move to Chelsea. Mendes has been the "common denominator" in four of the biggest transfers of the last 15 years: Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Real Madrid in 2009, João Félix's signing with Atletico Madrid in 2019 and Darwin Núñez's signing with Liverpool last June (AS, 2/1). La Liga President Javier Tebas criticized the Premier League's spending, saying that the British market is "doped." Tebas: "The Premier League is a competition that loses billions of pounds in the last few years. And this is financed with contributions from the patrons, in this case large American investors who finance at a loss. This does not happen in the Spanish League" (AP, 2/1).

Meanwhile, the Arsenal women's side's world record £500,000 ($615,000) offer for Manchester United’s Alessia Russo was the talk of transfer deadline day in the Women’s Super League and "though the move was rejected, it highlighted how rapidly" the women’s transfer market is changing. The deal would have "comfortably surpassed" the world-record transfer for a women's player of just over £400,000 ($492,000), paid by Barcelona to sign England MF Keira Walsh from Man City last September (TELEGRAPH, 2/1).

Chelsea spent €329M ($361M) in the January transfer window, "more than all the top-tier clubs in Italy, Spain, France and Germany combined," in a further sign of the Premier League’s financial power. Chelsea's new owners, led by Todd Boehly, have now spent more than €610M ($670M) since buying the club last year. Chelsea’s owners have "made use of longer player contracts to soften the impact of the spending on the club’s balance sheet." Under accounting practices, football clubs amortize the transfer fee over the length of the player’s contract instead of "booking the full cost in one go." Despite Chelsea’s transfer expenditure, "the club is 10th in the Premier League and risks missing out on qualification" for the lucrative Champions League. Chelsea earned €119.8M ($132M) from participating in the competition in 2020-21, boosted by winning the final against Manchester City.

The league's other big spenders included Bournemouth, which was acquired by U.S. businessman Bill Foley in December. The club agreed to pay €56M ($61.5M) on reinforcements as it fights to avoid relegation. Deloitte sports business group head Tim Bridge said, "New ownership generally sparks more activity in the transfer market but clearly this is beyond anything we’ve ever seen" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 2/1).

The London Telegraph's Jason Burt: "Todd Boehly's wild spending could yet ruin Chelsea -- or be their making."

Tottenham secured a three-year, £42.5M ($52.6M) shirt-sleeve sponsorship deal with the South African government, despite the country "considering a state of disaster due to record power cuts." For Tottenham, the deal is an improvement on the £10M ($12.3M) per season the club earns from its current sleeve sponsor, online car dealer Cinch. However, in South Africa, the deal -- which is expected to be signed in London this week -- has been received with "anger and shock." South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa is "considering declaring a state of disaster over record power cuts that are crippling the economy and worsening poverty" (LONDON TIMES, 2/1). South Africa’s Ministry of Tourism said Wednesday it was looking to conclude an MOU with Tottenham through the government's tourism marketing arm, SA Tourism. South African media reports claimed the deal would give SA Tourism branding space on Tottenham’s uniform, "among other things" (AP, 2/1).

Premier League side Leicester City Chair Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha has "wiped out" £194M ($240M) of debt owed by the club to parent company King Power in "a show of his commitment." The club's expenditure over recent years has been supported by loans from King Power, "but all of those repayments and relevant interest have now effectively been relieved" after they were converted to shares, the club announced in a statement. The debt-to-equity "will improve the balance sheets and provide a clean slate for the owner." It is the first such move by the Srivaddhanaprabha family in nearly 10 years. Leicester still has "outstanding payments owed elsewhere," with the club's most recent accounts showing a total of £267M ($330M) of debt (LEICESTER MERCURY, 2/1).

After Football Australia and 2023 Women’s World Cup co-host New Zealand wrote to FIFA "seeking urgent clarification about the controversial decision to accept Visit Saudi as a sponsor," the reported deal was condemned as "galling" by former Socceroo and human rights activist Craig Foster. FIFA "declined to comment on the sponsorship," but the move to partner with Saudi Arabia for the Women’s World Cup has "prompted strong criticism" given the nation’s record of human rights abuses and oppressive treatment of women." Foster said, "Acceptance of Saudi sponsorship without acknowledgement of the accompanying human rights abuses is typical of FIFA and global sport right now and disgraceful in the extreme." Visit Saudi was a prominent partner of the Qatar World Cup (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 2/1). FIFA may find it "difficult" to win over women’s soccer players and fans, and Australians. Sydney, which has had a surging demand for tickets to the World Cup, "is home to some of the world’s largest L.G.B.T.Q. pride events." Some of the tournament’s most prominent players, including Australian captain Sam Kerr and her girlfriend, U.S. MF Kristie Mewis, are gay (N.Y. TIMES, 2/1).

LaLiga Tech on Wednesdsay named Alejandro Scannapieco its CEO. Since 2008, Scannapieco has served as financial director, director general, partner and CEO of U.S. tech firm Globant. LaLiga Tech launched in April 2021, "allowing the league to develop the commercialization of its technological solutions to third parties as a white label." The organization is run by La Liga President Javier Tebas, José Guerra and Óscar Mayo. LaLiga Tech partnered with Globant last September to expand the business.

Globant in January aggregated its "bevy of immersive services to create a Sports Reinvention Studio that will help teams and leagues accentuate their fan experience efforts" in a move covered by SBJ's Tom Friend (PALCO23, 2/1).

Plans for a A$65M ($46.4M) upgrade of the UTAS Stadium in Launceston, Tasmania "have been unveiled," but "the second and third stages of the project remain unfunded." The new Eastern Stand will "provide an extra 1,000 seats" and will feature "improved facilities for players and coaches and better food and beverage outlets." Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff said it would provide "more contemporary infrastructure to take us forward." Construction "will start later this year and is expected to be finished" in early 2025. Despite the boost, the second and third stages of the A$200M ($142.9M) project "remain unfunded." Rockliff said he is "continuing to lobby for the additional" A$65M ($46.4M) needed from the federal government "so that stage two can go ahead" (ABC.net.au, 2/1).

FIFA has toughened its disciplinary proceedings for cases of sexual assault or harassment in a revised Code of Ethics that was announced and came into force on Wednesday. The code, said FIFA in a press release, is intended "to enhance protection of football integrity." It also targets match fixing and clubs that fail to pay transfer fees. The revised code removes the 10-year limitation period on prosecuting sexual offenses. The changes make the possible victims “parties to the relevant proceedings, who enjoy all procedural rights, such as that of being notified of the relevant decision and being entitled to appeal it.” The code also obliges "member associations and confederations to notify FIFA of any decisions rendered on sexual abuse and match-fixing" (AFP, 2/1) 

Latvia joined Kyiv on Wednesday in "threatening to boycott the 2024 Olympics" if Russian and Belarusian athletes are included while the war continues in Ukraine (REUTERS, 2/1).

The National Rugby League and the Rugby League Players’ Association have "moved a step closer" to finalizing a new collective bargaining agreement for women's players after "what was described as the most constructive meeting in months" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 2/1).

Jim O'Toole and James Sandford's Atlas consortium have been appointed the new owners for former Premiership Rugby club Worcester Warriors (BBC, 2/1).

Formula E has secured a multi-year global licensing deal with headwear company New Era, which will now supply the official podium cap as part of the agreement (Formula E).

La Liga side Real Betis is "completing the re-organization of its executive structure," appointing Pablo Ortiz as commercial director. The club recently promoted Juan Useros to chief marketing & revenue officer and promoted Ramón Alarcón to CEO (2PLAYBOOK, 2/1).

Saudi Arabia was confirmed as the host of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup on Wednesday (ARAB NEWS, 2/1).

UEFA has announced that Expedia Group has signed two new deals that will see the brand become a provider of the Expedia Live travel hub in Europe and a regional partner in the U.S. (UEFA).

"Politically and morally wrong. Sport is a tool in Russia's propaganda machine, ignoring that means siding with aggression" -- Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, on plans for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at the Paris '24 Games (REUTERS, 2/1).

The London Telegraph's Jeremy Wilson marvels at the "army of maths prodigies" who have helped Premier League side Brighton "conquer the transfer market."

Soccer pundit Jamie Carragher writes in the London Telegraph that Everton is the "worst run club in the country."

↗️ TRANSFER CONFIRMED: @Pedri to Predator

introducing the all-new Predator Accuracy, designed for those who miss nothing. pic.twitter.com/iSvaLB6Wef

— adidas Football (@adidasfootball) January 31, 2023

Adding a 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲 to our attack... 🍻 pic.twitter.com/x7QQrYyvlf

— Hibernian Football Club (@HibernianFC) January 31, 2023

📰 Google searches for @OfficialASRoma soared by 2.3 million after @KimKardashian was spotted wearing the 1997/98 home shirt. pic.twitter.com/c4g9MuW7K9

— SoccerBible (@SoccerBible) February 1, 2023

Your new #MotoGP weekend format! 👇

Grand Prix weekends will have a fresh new look in 2023 with the Sprint headlining Saturday afternoons! 🙌#SprintingInto2023 pic.twitter.com/vkLLVMQhbR

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) February 1, 2023