Both sides saw increases in the amount spent on agent fees across the seasonBoth Swansea and Cardiff spent more money on agents fees compared to last seasonBoth Swansea and Cardiff spent more money on agents fees compared to last season(Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)

Cardiff City and Swansea City both saw increases in the amount they spent on player agents this season with the Bluebirds’ expenditure rising by almost £1 million, new figures have revealed.

Having both been in the bottom half of Championship clubs when it came to agent fee expenditure last season, the Swans and Bluebirds have risen to 13th and 9th respectively for the 12-month period between February 2, 2024 and February 3 this year. Cardiff’s spend has gone from £1,397,061 to a whopping £2,383,264, while Swansea’s expenditure went from from £1,034,658 to £1,703,989.

The Championship’s biggest spenders were once again Leeds United who parted with an eyewatering £18,836,447, a whopping £13.5m more than Burnley in second. The Clarets, who dropped down from the Premier League at the end of last season spent £5,305,608 over the 12 month period, with fellow relegated side Sheffield United in third having spent £4,442,940.

Oxford United, who were promoted from League One last season, were the league’s lowest spenders on £572,808 and are joined in the bottom three by the two other Championship newcomers, Derby County and Portsmouth.

In total, £63,202,447 was spent in the Championship, an increase on last year’s figure of £61,340,767.

Cardiff and Swansea’s 2024/25 signings

Cardiff City

Summer window

  • Jesper Daland – Cercle Brugge (£3m)
  • Roko Simic – RB Salzburg (£1m)
  • Alex Roberston – Manchester City (£1m)
  • Wilfried Kanga – Hertha Berlin (loan)
  • Calum Chambers – Aston Villa (free)
  • Anwar El Ghazi – Mainz (free)
  • Chris Willock – QPR (free)
  • Winter window
  • Yousef Salech – Sirius (undisclosed)
  • Sivert Mannsverk – Ajax (loan)
  • Will Alves – Leicester City (loan)

Swansea City

Summer window

  • Eom Ji-Sung – Gwangju (£1.1m)
  • Goncalo Franco – Moreirense (£2.1m)
  • Lawrence Vigoroux – Burnley (undisclosed)
  • Zan Vipotnik – Bordeaux (free)
  • Nelson Abbey – Olympiakos (loan)
  • Florian Bianchini – Bastia (undisclosed)
  • Jon McLaughlin – Rangers (free)
  • Myles Peart-Harris – Brentford (loan)
  • Winter window
  • Melker Widell – Aalborg BK (£2.78m)
  • Lewis O’Brien – Nottingham Forest (loan)
  • Hannes Delcroix – Burnley (loan)

Championship agent fees in full (February 2 2024 – February 3 2025)

  1. Leeds United £18,836,447
  2. Burnley £5,305,608
  3. Sheffield United £4,442,940
  4. Hull City £3,179,361
  5. Norwich City £2,635,111
  6. Middlesbrough £2,507,136
  7. Luton Town £2,424,713
  8. West Bromwich Albion £2,408,415
  9. Cardiff City £2,383,264
  10. Sunderland £2,170,045
  11. Watford £2,096,862
  12. Stoke City £1,855,865
  13. Swansea City £1,703,989
  14. Coventry City £1,554,751
  15. Queens Park Rangers £1,361,727
  16. Bristol City £1,305,087
  17. Blackburn Rovers £1,158,151
  18. Millwall £1,134,605
  19. Plymouth Argyle £1,009,797
  20. Preston North End £953,802
  21. Sheffield Wednesday £797,697
  22. Derby County £707,077
  23. Portsmouth £696,189
  24. Oxford United £572,808