Bournemouth secured a 3-0 victory against AC Milan, a result that further illustrated the growing dominance of Premier League sides against their European counterparts. Having seen their club narrowly avoid the jaws of liquidation in 2008, few fans would have imagined such fixtures for the team. This financial power shapes the transfer market. The summer transfer window set a new transfer spend record of £3.49bn, dwarfing rival European leagues, while 14 of the 20 most expensive summer transfers went to English clubs.
Higher wages and the league's growing status have made it the destination of choice for European talent. As evidence of the broader competitive gap, West Ham finished 14th in 2022-23 and still won the Conference League.
The summer transfer window was further evidence of Europe's struggles against the Premier League, with the latter again setting a new transfer spend record of £3.49bn to dwarf their rival leagues.
Having seen their club narrowly avoid the jaws of liquidation in 2008, not many Bournemouth fans would have dreamed that famous name would one day appear on their shirts.
Of the 20 most expensive transfers completed in the summer only six were not to clubs in the English top flight.