How much Preston North End spent on agent and intermediary fees between February 2020 and February 2021

The FA released figures relating to every club in the Premier League, EFL and National League between February 2020 and February this year, in line with FIFA’s Regulations on Working with Intermediaries.

In the Championship, 14 clubs spent more than North End on agent fees.

Friday's opponents Norwich City were the highest spenders, paying out more than £6.8m.

North End's spend of £816,471 covered 19 transactions.

They included the permanent signings of Emil Riis and Ben Whiteman, six of the loan deals done in January and 11 contract renewals conducted over the last year.

The one deal not listed was Liam Lindsay's loan from Stoke which points to the defender not having used an intermediary.

In the Championship alone, £40.7m was paid to agents and intermediaries.

Norwich topped the list, with Bournemouth second with a £5.6m spend on the middle men, Stoke third having paid out £3m.

Birmingham, Brentford, Bristol City, Cardiff, Derby, Huddersfield, Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest, Reading, Swansea and Watford were the other clubs to spend more on agents than North End did.

At the other end of the scale, Wycombe Wanderers were the lowest payers to agents, spending £126,000. Rotherham were second lowest with £184,000.

Premier League clubs spent a combined £272m on football's middle men.

Chelsea topped the table in what was paid to agents, the Stamford Bridge outfit splashing out £35m.

League One clubs paid out a little more than £3m, and clubs in League Two £1m.

In the National League, the figure spent on agents was £271,000.

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