A goat crossed the Guadalquivir, and that’s how they knew. They had waited until the final day of summer, and in the announcement video, a CGI goat scurried across the Isabel II bridge (with the note that no animals were harmed). But Real Betis had actually done it. With just four hours left on deadline day, they signed Antony Matheus dos Santos—known as Antonio of Triana, or simply the Goat.
Triana is the Betis neighborhood, Seville’s artistic heart on the west bank of the river, and Antony couldn’t be more popular there. Last season, he arrived on a six-month loan and changed everything: he led the team to a European spot, a derby win celebrated like a World Cup victory, and a European final. He was transformed too—happy again, playing like the footballer he was meant to be. This was his place, where he was loved. He wanted to return the moment he left, and the club was desperate to have him back.
But it wasn’t easy. Antony is a €100m (£86m) player, and Betis didn’t have that kind of money. Manchester United wanted to sell, but Betis couldn’t compete financially. They explored creative formulas to make it happen. Isco joked they should kidnap him; Joaquín, the former winger turned director, said he’d drive the getaway car. Sporting director Manu Fajardo put together every possible package, offering all he could. Their biggest advantage was Antony himself—he spent the summer in a hotel, training alone, waiting. They pushed it to the very end, but they succeeded.
“It was hard, but it was always Betis,” Antony said. He even cried. There had been disbelief at the club that he’d played for them at all, even if only on loan. Now they had signed him to a five-year contract. Betis paid United £22m. They took risks, pushed harder than they should have, but there he was. With an hour and two minutes left before the midnight deadline, he arrived at the airport, leaning out his car window to wave at the huge crowd that came to greet him.
Deadline day had its iconic moment, though not its only one. Minutes after Antony landed, Betis announced they had also signed Sofyan Amrabat—a deal made sweeter because, just hours earlier, he seemed certain to join rivals Sevilla. It was a proper hijack.
In recent years, La Liga has tried to build excitement around the final hours of the transfer window, inviting media to its Madrid headquarters to watch deals come in. It’s often fallen flat, with attention shifting to England. This time was different. There were 56 moves on the final day, including 22 permanent transfers. One high-profile deal fell through: FIFA ruled Athletic Bilbao missed the deadline to bring Aymeric Laporte back from Saudi Arabia, a decision they’re appealing. Yangel Herrera and Carlos Soler joined Real Sociedad. Another Englishman arrived in Spain—Abu Kamara, the seventh this window, signed with Getafe. Sevilla brought in Alexis Sánchez. “Age is just a number,” he said. Barcelona held onto Fermín López.
The Spanish first division spent €708m this summer, the league’s highest total in seven years and €150m more than last summer. It may not sound like much, and it was highly concentrated—€178m by Atlético Madrid, €179m by Real Madrid—but it was something. Only, in terms of net spend, it was…Spanish clubs generated just over €50 million, according to figures from the sports daily AS, bringing their total to €642.9 million. This amount was tiny compared to the Premier League’s €3.58 billion, and they also trailed Serie A (€1.12 billion) and the Bundesliga (€775 million). In the end, Alexander Isak’s transfer fee surpassed them all, and even Antony couldn’t compete with that—at least not outside Seville.
Some of this is circumstantial. Barcelona, often a major spender, spent €27.5 million on three players and recouped €23 million from departures. Their actual income was even higher, reaching nearly €50 million thanks to percentages from previous deals. Despite their well-documented financial struggles, this was a success. And it’s not just Barcelona: Sevilla, a Champions League team not long ago, is now in crisis, with a salary limit under €1 million. They made seven free transfers and sold players like Loïc Badé, Dodi Lukébakio, and Stanis Idumbo for €59 million, yet still couldn’t spend.
Clubs that did spend had to sell first. Betis invested €75.3 million but generated €61.8 million in sales, losing promising young winger Jesús Rodríguez before he could develop. Similarly, Fer López left a dynamic, youthful Celta side just as they were heading into Europe for the first time in a decade. Villarreal were another big spender, investing €101 million in eight players, including Georges Mikautadze (€30 million), Renato Veiga (€24.5 million), and Alberto Moleiro (€16 million), plus two free transfers—but only after selling Álex Baena, Thierno Barry, and Yéremi Pino for €98 million. Atlético recovered €78 million.
Although this can be seen as sound financial management, the gap between Spanish clubs and those abroad is huge. The Premier League has become a de facto super league—a realization that partly fueled the actual Super League project—and a threat. Yet it’s also a necessary source of income, a market willing to pay. For example, some in Spain questioned how Everton, who were nearly relegated, could sign Barry from Villarreal, a Champions League team. The most expensive departures, like Martín Zubimendi’s move from Real Sociedad to Arsenal, are now irresistible, and it’s not just top players being targeted.
Last season, the Premier League’s TV deal was worth around €3.2 billion, while Spain’s was just over €2 billion, with different distribution methods. Only Real Madrid and Barcelona earned more from domestic TV money than Sheffield United, who were relegated from England’s top flight in 2024. Just three Spanish clubs took in over €100 million, while all Premier League teams did. It may be a bubble about to burst, but that doesn’t make it easier to accept.
Then there are the mechanics. Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa said football’s spending regulations had “killed” his club, a sentiment echoed by some in Spain. Their economic controls, introduced a decade ago, are tighter than elsewhere, though they have been loosened and modified. Importantly, they are applied in advance: registrations can’t be completed without compliance.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has made “palanca,” or lever, part of football’s vocabulary: the club has sold assets, from TV rights to VIP boxes, to meet spending rules and keep signing players. They’ve also sought loopholes, exceptions, and ways around the system, challenging it entirely. The government’s Sports Council has intervened at times.Last season, Barcelona tried to sign Dani Olmo after the transfer deadline had passed, but the league and Spanish Football Federation rejected the move. In such cases, long-term injuries can actually create an opportunity: up to 80% of an unavailable player’s salary can be used, in accounting terms, to register a new signing.
Marcus Rashford had to wait before Barcelona could officially register him, due to the complex financial rules governing Spanish clubs.
Still, the system remains restrictive. There’s a difference between having the money to spend and being permitted to spend it, and there are ongoing debates about easing these constraints. Club presidents often blame the regulations when new signings arrive but can’t be registered in time for the season. The league’s response is to remind them of the past—when half the clubs in the top two divisions faced financial administration—and that they themselves voted for these controls, which are seen as necessary given the economic realities.
The transfer market also tends to resolve itself as the deadline approaches. What seems like a crisis with two weeks left usually works out by the time the window closes. On the eve of the new season, Barcelona were still waiting to register Marcus Rashford and goalkeeper Joan García, though both did play against Mallorca. They weren’t alone—50 other players across the league had been signed but not yet registered. This raised a familiar question: why does the season start before the transfer window closes? Some argued it undermines the competition’s integrity.
Getafe began the season with only 13 first-team players registered. “I wouldn’t wish this on anyone,” said head coach José Bordalás. The club had five free signings waiting to be registered, but that required a player to leave. President Ángel Torres identified Christantus Uche as the one to go, though he noted it could be anyone willing to depart. The problem was, Uche didn’t want to leave, and Bordalás didn’t want to lose him either. Under pressure, they had no choice—on deadline day, the move was finalized.
Getafe had signed Uche from AD Ceuta in July 2024 for €400,000. Originally not a striker, he was played up front due to a shortage of players—much like the current situation—and scored on his debut. Now, he has joined Crystal Palace with an obligatory €20 million purchase option. In a farewell message, Uche described his departure as “bittersweet.” Amid all the excitement, numbers, and money, it’s easy to overlook something more basic. As Bordalás put it, “They’re humans, not football stickers.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Antonys transfer designed to sound natural and provide clear direct answers
General Beginner Questions
1 Who is Antony and why is his transfer a big deal
Antony is a highly skilled Brazilian winger who transferred from Ajax Amsterdam to Manchester United for a very high fee The deal is notable because a Spanish club not an English one signed a player of his caliber for such a large amount
2 I thought Spanish clubs couldnt afford big transfers like Premier League clubs Is that true
Generally yes In recent years Premier League clubs have had significantly more financial power due to massive TV revenue deals Spanish clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid have been more focused on financial recovery
3 So which Spanish club signed Antony
This FAQ is based on a hypothetical scenario The statement Antony is an unusual signing for Spanish clubs is used to illustrate a point about financial power In reality Antony was signed by Manchester United in the Premier League The surprise would be if a Spanish club had been the one to sign him
Advanced Financial Questions
4 Why cant La Liga clubs compete financially with the Premier League
The primary reason is television rights revenue The Premier League sells its TV rights collectively in a hugely lucrative global package ensuring even midtable teams get a large equal share La Ligas deals are historically negotiated individually favoring only the biggest clubs
5 Are there any Spanish clubs that could pull off a signing like this
Real Madrid is arguably the only club with the financial muscle and global brand to compete for a toptier expensive signing like Antony would have been However even they have recently been more strategic often opting for free transfers or younger talents
6 What does a transfer like this signal for Spanish football
It would be a massive statement signaling a strong financial recovery for that specific club and a potential shift in the balance of power showing they can once again compete for the worlds most expensive players
Common Problems Practical Context
7 What are the main hurdles for a Spanish club trying to sign a player of Antonys value
The biggest hurdles are
