The two Premier League clubs from England's Second City spent more than US$4 million between them on agents' fees last year.

According to official figures released by the Football Association, Aston Villa spent US$2,847,234 on agents' fees last year, while Birmingham City spent US$1,624,669. Premier League clubs have divulged for the first time how much they have spent on agents as part of new regulations designed to increase financial transparency.

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Both clubs could count the success of their investments, with Birmingham securing promotion to the Premier League and Aston Villa finishing an impressive sixth in the top flight for the second season running.

This season, Birmingham are 11th in the Premier League while sixth-place Aston Villa reached the semi-finals of the Carling Cup this week.