The 50 Most Expensive Football Transfers of All Time – Ranked

Football has become a sport where transfer fees continue to break new records, with clubs willing to spend astronomical sums to secure top talent. From Neymar’s world-record move to Paris Saint-Germain to the rise of young stars like Jude Bellingham and Florian Wirtz, the market has never been more competitive. Here we count down the Top 50 Most Expensive Transfers, starting from number 50.

50. Victor Osimhen – £64.66m (Napoli → Galatasaray)

The Nigerian striker moved from Napoli, continuing his rise as one of Europe’s most lethal forwards. His goalscoring instincts and physical presence made him a highly coveted player across top clubs.

49. Bryan Mbeumo – £64.66m (Brentford → Manchester United)

After impressing with Brentford, Mbeumo made a surprise switch to Manchester United. His versatility in attack and strong Premier League track record convinced United to invest heavily.

48. Romelu Lukaku – £64.88m (Manchester United → Inter Milan)

Lukaku left Manchester United for Inter Milan in 2019/20, where he rediscovered his best form. His goals helped Inter return to the top of Italian football, proving the fee worthwhile.

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47. Jhon Durán – £65.17m (Aston Villa → Al-Nassr)

The Colombian striker swapped Aston Villa for Al-Nassr in 2024/25. A young forward with raw talent, Durán represented a statement signing for Saudi Arabian football.

46. Kai Havertz – £65.22m (Chelsea → Arsenal)

After his Chelsea stint, Havertz joined Arsenal in 2023/24, adding creativity and goals to their midfield. His versatility allowed Mikel Arteta to deploy him in several attacking roles.

45. Luis Suárez – £65.85m (Liverpool → Barcelona)

Suárez joined Barcelona from Liverpool in 2014/15, forming part of the iconic ‘MSN’ trio with Messi and Neymar. His transfer fee was quickly justified as he helped the club to a treble.

44. Benjamin Šeško – £66m (RB Leipzig → Manchester United)

The Slovenian striker signed for Manchester United from RB Leipzig in 2025/26. Known for his aerial ability and movement, he was considered one of Europe’s brightest young strikers.

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43. Rasmus Højlund – £67.65m (Atalanta → Manchester United)

Manchester United invested heavily in Højlund from Atalanta in 2023/24. His combination of pace, power, and finishing made him a future focal point for the club’s attack.

42. Aurélien Tchouaméni – £68.19m (Monaco → Real Madrid)

Real Madrid secured Tchouaméni from Monaco in 2022/23, strengthening their midfield for the next decade. His defensive skills and passing range drew comparisons to Casemiro.

41. Wesley Fofana – £68.53m (Leicester City → Chelsea)

Chelsea paid a premium for Fofana in 2022/23, signing him from Leicester City. Injuries slowed his progress, but his defensive talent was undeniable.

40. Victor Osimhen – £70.13m (Lille → Napoli)

Osimhen’s move from Lille to Napoli in 2020/21 made him the most expensive African signing at the time. He quickly proved his worth with crucial goals in Serie A.

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39. Nicolas Pépé – £70.14m (Lille → Arsenal)

Arsenal splashed out on Pépé from Lille in 2019/20. Despite flashes of brilliance, he struggled to justify his price tag in the Premier League.

38. Lucas Hernandez – £70.14m (Atlético Madrid → Bayern Munich)

Bayern Munich paid a record fee for a defender when they signed Hernandez from Atlético Madrid in 2019/20. His versatility in defense was key, though injuries limited his impact.

37. Kepa Arrizabalaga – £70.76m (Athletic Club → Chelsea)

Chelsea made Kepa the world’s most expensive goalkeeper in 2018/19. His inconsistency and high-profile errors made the fee controversial.

36. Arthur Melo – £71.64m (Barcelona → Juventus)

Juventus brought Arthur from Barcelona in 2020/21 as part of a midfield rebuild. However, the Brazilian struggled to reach expectations in Turin.

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35. Dušan Vlahović – £71.78m (Fiorentina → Juventus)

Vlahović joined Juventus from Fiorentina in 2021/22, seen as one of Serie A’s most promising strikers. His finishing ability and physical dominance made him a natural successor to Juve’s legendary forwards.

34. Darwin Núñez – £72.45m (Benfica → Liverpool)

Liverpool made Núñez their record signing in 2022/23 after his prolific season at Benfica. His pace and movement added dynamism to their attack, though consistency was still developing.

33. Jadon Sancho – £73.07m (Borussia Dortmund → Manchester United)

Manchester United brought Sancho from Borussia Dortmund in 2021/22. Expectations were sky-high, but adapting to the Premier League proved challenging.

32. Gonzalo Higuaín – £73.57m (Napoli → Juventus)

Juventus spent big to lure Higuaín from Napoli in 2016/17. He continued his prolific scoring, becoming a reliable goal outlet in Serie A.

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31. Virgil van Dijk – £74.17m (Southampton → Liverpool)

Liverpool’s signing of Van Dijk from Southampton in 2017/18 transformed their defense. He became the rock upon which Jürgen Klopp built a Champions League-winning side.

30. Romelu Lukaku – £74.21m (Everton → Manchester United)

Lukaku joined Manchester United from Everton in 2017/18, arriving as one of the Premier League’s most consistent goalscorers. While he produced some strong performances, he never fully convinced at Old Trafford.

29. Neymar – £74.73m (Santos → Barcelona)

Neymar’s first big move came in 2013/14 when Barcelona signed him from Santos. The Brazilian quickly became a superstar at Camp Nou, forming a deadly partnership with Messi.

28. Matthijs de Ligt – £74.97m (Ajax → Juventus)

At just 19 years old, De Ligt moved from Ajax to Juventus in 2019/20. His leadership and defensive maturity made him one of the most exciting defensive prospects in Europe.

27. Frenkie de Jong – £75.41m (Ajax → Barcelona)

Barcelona signed De Jong from Ajax in 2019/20 to strengthen their midfield. Known for his composure and vision, he became a crucial figure at the Camp Nou.

26. Harry Maguire – £76.28m (Leicester City → Manchester United)

Manchester United paid a record fee for a defender when they brought Maguire from Leicester in 2019/20. While he became captain, his performances divided opinion among fans and pundits.

25. Neymar – £78.26m (Paris Saint-Germain → Al-Hilal)

In 2023/24, Neymar left Paris Saint-Germain for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. The move highlighted the growing financial power of the Saudi Pro League.

24. Joško Gvardiol – £78.26m (RB Leipzig → Manchester City)

Manchester City secured Gvardiol from RB Leipzig in 2023/24 to bolster their defense. A versatile and composed centre-back, he was considered one of Europe’s finest young defenders.

23. Antony – £80.98m (Ajax → Manchester United)

Manchester United signed Antony from Ajax in 2022/23, reuniting him with Erik ten Hag. Despite his flair and dribbling, his inconsistency drew criticism.

22. Hugo Ekitike – £81.9m (Eintracht Frankfurt → Liverpool)

Liverpool invested heavily in Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2025/26. His potential and goalscoring ability made him a high-risk, high-reward signing.

21. Randal Kolo Muani – £82.61m (Eintracht Frankfurt → Paris Saint-Germain)

PSG signed Kolo Muani from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2023/24 to add pace and finishing. His versatility across the forward line gave the team more attacking options.

20. Harry Kane – £82.61m (Tottenham Hotspur → Bayern Munich)

Kane ended his long Tottenham career by joining Bayern Munich in 2023/24. The English striker was expected to bring his clinical finishing to the Bundesliga.

19. Cristiano Ronaldo – £83.68m (Manchester United → Real Madrid)

In 2009/10, Real Madrid signed Ronaldo from Manchester United, marking one of the most iconic transfers ever. He went on to become the club’s all-time top scorer, rewriting football history.

18. Gareth Bale – £85.77m (Tottenham Hotspur → Real Madrid)

Real Madrid made Bale the most expensive player in the world when they bought him from Tottenham in 2013/14. His pace and spectacular goals played a vital role in multiple Champions League triumphs.

17. Paul Pogba – £85.83m (Juventus → Manchester United)

Manchester United brought Pogba back from Juventus in 2016/17. Despite flashes of brilliance, his time at Old Trafford was inconsistent and often scrutinized.

16. Kai Havertz – £88.89m (Bayer Leverkusen → Chelsea)

Chelsea signed Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020/21 as one of Germany’s brightest talents. He famously scored the winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final.

15. Romelu Lukaku – £97.14m (Inter Milan → Chelsea)

Lukaku returned to Chelsea from Inter Milan in 2021/22, in a move filled with expectation. However, he struggled to adapt and was later loaned back to Inter.

14. Moisés Caicedo – £100.87m (Brighton & Hove Albion → Chelsea)

Chelsea made Caicedo the most expensive Premier League signing in 2023/24, buying him from Brighton. His defensive presence in midfield was seen as vital for long-term stability.

13. Jack Grealish – £101.01m (Aston Villa → Manchester City)

Manchester City signed Grealish from Aston Villa in 2021/22, making him the most expensive English player ever. His dribbling and creativity added another dimension to City’s attack.

12. Declan Rice – £101.39m (West Ham United → Arsenal)

Arsenal signed Rice from West Ham in 2023/24 as part of their push to return to the top. His leadership and ability to control midfield made him a crucial addition.

11. Enzo Fernández – £103.14m (Benfica → Chelsea)

Chelsea secured Fernández from Benfica in 2022/23 after his breakout at the World Cup. His vision and passing range gave Chelsea fresh creativity in midfield.

10. Cristiano Ronaldo – £103.49m (Real Madrid → Juventus)

In 2018/19, Juventus signed Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid in a stunning move. Despite being 33, he continued to deliver goals and brought worldwide attention to Serie A.

9. Antoine Griezmann – £105.22m (Atlético Madrid → Barcelona)

Barcelona triggered Griezmann’s release clause from Atlético Madrid in 2019/20. However, the French forward struggled to consistently replicate his best form at the Camp Nou.

8. Eden Hazard – £105.92m (Chelsea → Real Madrid)

Hazard’s dream move from Chelsea to Real Madrid came in 2019/20, but injuries severely hampered his impact. Once one of the Premier League’s brightest stars, he never lived up to the fee in Spain.

7. Florian Wirtz – £107.76m (Bayer Leverkusen → Liverpool)

Liverpool made a record signing by bringing Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in 2025/26. The German midfielder was seen as a generational talent, capable of dictating games with his creativity and vision.

6. Jude Bellingham – £110.43m (Borussia Dortmund → Real Madrid)

Real Madrid captured Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund in 2023/24, investing in a long-term midfield star. His maturity, drive, and leadership at just 20 years old made him one of football’s hottest prospects.

5. João Félix – £111.53m (Benfica → Atlético Madrid)

Atlético Madrid signed Félix from Benfica in 2019/20 as a teenager tipped for greatness. Though he showed flashes of brilliance, the huge fee brought pressure he often struggled to meet.

4. Philippe Coutinho – £118.29m (Liverpool → Barcelona)

Barcelona signed Coutinho from Liverpool in 2017/18, making him one of the priciest midfielders ever. Despite his talent, he struggled to settle and became a symbol of Barça’s questionable transfer policy.

3. Ousmane Dembélé – £129.68m (Borussia Dortmund → Barcelona)

After a breakout season at Dortmund, Dembélé joined Barcelona in 2017/18. Injuries prevented him from consistently showing his best, though his skill and pace made him an exciting addition.

2. Kylian Mbappé – £159.22m (Monaco → Paris Saint-Germain)

Paris Saint-Germain signed Mbappé permanently from Monaco in 2018/19, after his explosive breakthrough. He quickly justified the fee, becoming one of the best forwards in the world.

1. Neymar – £194.52m (Barcelona → Paris Saint-Germain)

In 2017/18, Neymar’s transfer from Barcelona to PSG shattered the world record. At 25, he became the face of the French club’s project, a deal that redefined the scale of football transfers.