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Exploring soccer transfers in Spanish League–The hidden role of strategic differences among teams

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  • Paulo Reis Mourao
  • Jesyca Salgado-Barandela

Abstract

Transfers in the football world have become a hot topic in academic studies in recent years. Spanish league (La Liga) is one of the men’s professional football leagues that have driven some of the most notorious transfers. In this way, we test determinants for the transfer relationships of football players in the Spanish League in the most expensive seasons with records (2018/2019 and 2019/2020 seasons). Furthermore, we identify determinants for the values of the observed transfers. The empirical analysis shows relevant findings. We recognize two implications. First, Spanish soccer transfers are not random and this evidence reflects the environment of imperfect competition characterizing La Liga. Second, the nonrandomness of the transfer process can be associated with an increasing inequality among teams and with a threat to the competitive balance in professional sports.

Suggested Citation

  • Paulo Reis Mourao & Jesyca Salgado-Barandela, 2024. "Exploring soccer transfers in Spanish League–The hidden role of strategic differences among teams," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(4), pages 1-20, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0299853
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299853
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mukherjee Subhasree & Dhayanithy Deepak, 2017. "Network Memory, Cultural Distance and the Ebb and Flow of International Resources –Evidence from 20 years of Professional Player Transfers to Big-five European Soccer Leagues," Working papers 245, Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode.
    2. Paulo Reis Mourao, 2016. "Soccer transfers, team efficiency and the sports cycle in the most valued European soccer leagues – have European soccer teams been efficient in trading players?," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(56), pages 5513-5524, December.
    3. Gary Hopkins, 2010. "Young Americans: Transfers and Lost Dollars," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Star-Spangled Soccer, chapter 0, pages 246-255, Palgrave Macmillan.
    4. Domenico Campa, 2022. "Exploring the Market of Soccer Player Registrations: An Empirical Analysis of the Difference Between Transfer Fees and Estimated Players’ Inherent Value," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 23(4), pages 379-406, May.
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