10 Modern Transfer Bargains – Ranked

July 5, 2025 Oliver Obel

In a world where football transfer fees continue to skyrocket, some deals stand out not just for their price, but for their incredible long-term value. These 10 transfers, listed in reverse order, represent the smartest business in the modern game — where clubs secured elite talent for a fraction of their worth. From generational goal scorers to midfield maestros, here are the true bargains of recent football history.

10. Erling Haaland – £17m to Borussia Dortmund (2020)

Dortmund triggered Haaland’s modest release clause and unlocked one of football’s most prolific finishers. He netted 86 goals in 89 appearances, showcasing freakish athleticism and lethal instincts. Dortmund later sold him for a profit, but the initial deal remains one of the sharpest moves in modern scouting.

9. Didier Drogba – £24m to Chelsea (2004)

Brought in as a relatively unknown striker from Marseille, Drogba became a Chelsea legend. He led the line with power and clutch scoring, famously sealing their 2012 Champions League title. His impact was massive in the club’s rise to European elite status.

8. Virgil van Dijk – £75m to Liverpool (2018)

Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah — Vitalii Vitleo / Shutterstock.com

Initially criticized as an overpay, Van Dijk quickly transformed Liverpool’s defense. His arrival brought composure, leadership, and world-class performances that helped deliver Champions League and Premier League titles. In hindsight, the fee was a bargain for the game’s most dominant center-back.

7. Cristiano Ronaldo – £12m to Manchester United (2003)

Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo — photoplanet.am / Shutterstock.com

Signed as a raw 18-year-old from Sporting CP, Ronaldo blossomed into a global superstar under Sir Alex Ferguson. He helped win three Premier League titles and the Champions League before a record-breaking sale to Real Madrid. United's investment yielded incredible sporting and financial returns.

6. Mohamed Salah – £36m to Liverpool (2017)

Once viewed as a Chelsea cast-off, Salah reinvented himself at Roma and exploded at Liverpool. His pace, consistency, and clinical finishing made him a Premier League icon and one of the world’s top forwards. That £36m fee is now considered one of the biggest steals in English football.

5. Luka Modrić – £30m to Real Madrid (2012)

Criticized at first, Modrić soon became the heartbeat of Real Madrid’s midfield dynasty. He helped the club to five Champions League titles and won the 2018 Ballon d’Or. His elegance, intelligence, and longevity made his transfer one of the best value deals in Madrid’s rich history.

4. N'Golo Kanté – £5.6m to Leicester City (2015)

Plucked from obscurity at Caen, Kanté became the engine behind Leicester’s miraculous 2015–16 title run. His relentless energy and ball-winning skills elevated the Foxes and later powered Chelsea to further glory. At under £6m, it’s one of the most remarkable bargains in Premier League history.

3. Lionel Messi – Free to Paris Saint-Germain (2021)

After a tearful exit from Barcelona, Messi joined PSG without a transfer fee. Though past his peak, he brought star power, sponsorships, and moments of brilliance that paid dividends on and off the pitch. Few free agents in history have carried such weight.

2. Robert Lewandowski – Free to Bayern Munich (2014)

Lewandowski’s move from Dortmund to Bayern for free was a masterstroke. He became the Bundesliga’s most prolific striker and spearheaded a Champions League-winning campaign with 55 goals in 2019–20. His consistency and scoring record defined Bayern’s modern era.

1. Andrea Pirlo – Free to Juventus (2011)

Let go by AC Milan at age 32, Pirlo was seen as past his best. Juventus disagreed — and were right. He led the midfield with elegance and vision, winning four straight Serie A titles and sparking a renaissance in Turin, all without a transfer fee.