EPL clubs pay players' agents $123M in 1 year

(AP Photo/Sang Tan)

LONDON (AP) England's 20 Premier League clubs paid players' agents 77 million pounds ($123 million) in one year, with Manchester City spending 14 percent of the total.

The league announced on Friday that the champions paid 10.5 million pounds ($16.8 million) to agents from Oct. 1, 2011, to Sept. 30, 2012, accounting for two transfer windows.

The second biggest spenders were Liverpool, which handed agents 8.6 million pounds ($13.8 million) but finished eighth last season and is currently 12th.

Third on the list is Queens Park Rangers, which spent 6.8 million pounds ($10.9 million) but is currently winless and bottom after avoiding relegation on the last day of last season.

Tottenham was fourth on the spending list on 6.6 million pounds ($10.6 million), followed by Champions League winner Chelsea on 6.5 million pounds ($10.5 million) and Arsenal on 5.6 million pounds ($8.9 million).

Manchester United only gave agents 3.7 million pounds ($5.9 million) in the last year. Alex Ferguson's side just missed out on the title to City on goal difference and is now top of the league.

The 77 million pounds was spent on 806 transactions, compared to 72 million pounds (then $113 million) on 765 deals in the previous 12 months.

Updated November 30, 2012