Championship agent fees: How much each club spent on…

Championship agent fees: How much each club spent on hidden transfer costs

Fulham's quest for an instant return to the Premier League has certainly been costly.

The Cottagers are currently top of the Championship and 14 points clear of third place and it looks a matter of when, not if, they will earn promotion. But last summer saw them shell out a rumoured £12million for winger Harry Wilson from Liverpool - the most expensive transfer outside the top flight.

That deal and other transfers in the summer and January saw Fulham spend more than £10m on agent fees alone. Unsurprisingly, this is the highest figure of all 24 current second tier sides. The figures, which run from February 2, 2021 until January 31, 2022, show spending on agent fees rose from last year in the Championship, from £40.8m in 2020-21 up to to £44.4m.

Fulham were relegated from the top flight last year along with West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield United and they are second and third on the list respectively.

Albion forked out more than £4m on agents, with eight signings including January purchase Daryl Dike. As for the Blades, they spent over £3.5m as they sanctioned loan deals for the likes of Wolves ' Morgan Gibbs-White and Liverpool's Ben Davies.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the scale Hull City spent less than a quarter of a million pounds in agents' fees in a year in which they were crowned League One champions. Also low on the list of spending were Peterborough United and Blackpool, who were also promoted up from the third tier last May. Luton Town, who are riding high in third place in the table, spent a relatively modest £564,162 on intermediaries although that can be considered money well spent if Nathan Jones' side pull off a shock promotion to the Premier League.

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Despite receiving points deductions and being under transfer embargoes, Derby County and Reading forked out more than £1.5m in agent fees combined. The Royals, docked six points for breaching profit and sustainability rules, spent £876,330 despite only bringing in free agents or loanees.

Similarly, Derby spent just shy of £750,000 despite the well-publicised off-field issues at Pride Park. Wayne Rooney's side, who look destined for relegation after being hit by a 21-point handicap, were also limited to brining in just free agents such as Phil Jagielka and Ravel Morrison.