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Ferencváros, the Budapest football team preparing for the Europa League round of 16, spent less money on new players in this winter transfer window than last year. But there was a Hungarian team that got players for free, reports Hungarian sport news website Nemzeti Sport.
According to Transfermarkt, Hungarian football teams in the first division of the National Championship spent a total of €3 million on new players in this winter transfer window, compared to €6.2 million this time last year. According to Nemzeti Sport, factors such as inflation and the energy crisis, which have also had a negative impact on football, are also behind the lower figure.
The example of one Budapest team, Budapest Honvéd, which has been struggling financially in recent times, was cited. The team could not even afford new players during the winter transfer window because they did not have the money.
It is a different story at Ferencváros (Fradi), however: the team that is leading the National Championship and preparing for the Europa League round of 16 has recently signed several new players. Myenty Abena arrived from Slovan for 400,000 euros, Owusu Kwabena from Qarabağ for 300,000 euros and Nikolai Baden Frederiksen was loaned from Vitesse. Meanwhile, Fradi has pocketed €2.6 million from Union Berlin after selling Aissa Laidouni, who excelled at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Ferencváros’ main rival in Hungary is Újpest, which lost two players who both transferred to Székesfehérvár. A newly arrived defender, Tim Hall, is from Luxembourg, but he has not convinced Hungarian fans so far. He arrived as a free agent to the team, just like Peter Ambrose, while former Greek 021 center-back Georgios Antzoulas arrvied from Asters. According to Nemzeti Sport, Újpest did not pay any transfer fee for the new arrivals, but the question remains whether the current squad will be able to keep the club in the competition.
Maybe the biggest surprise regarding winter transfers was a rural football club, Mezőkövesd Zsóry FC, which signed ten players during the winter season.
The top three winter season transfers in Hungary are Tobias Christensen for 850,000 euros to Mol Fehérvár FC, Jonathan Levi for 600,000 euros to Puskás Akadémia FC, and Myenty Abena for 400,000 euros to Ferencváros.
It is also worth mentioning that there are eleven footballers who were transferred in the winter window who have played at least once in their national team’s jersey since arriving in the country. This is an important factor when clubs are deciding whether to sign a foreign player.
Featured photo via Facebook/MLSZ – Magyar Labdarúgó-szövetség