Football’s Most Profitable Transfers of the Modern Era – Ranked

In modern football, smart recruitment and strategic sales have allowed clubs to turn relatively modest investments into blockbuster profits. Here's a detailed ranking of the 100 most profitable player transfers, from 100 to 1.

100 – Malcom: A Profit of €36.00m

Malcom was signed by Bordeaux from Corinthians for just €5m and sold to FC Barcelona for €41m. The French club profited €36m by flipping the Brazilian winger after a standout Ligue 1 spell.

99 – Ivan Toney: A Profit of €36.40m

Brentford picked up Ivan Toney from Peterborough United for €5.6m and sold him to Al-Ahli SFC for €42m. The Championship side turned a lower-league gamble into one of their most lucrative moves.

98 – Diego Costa: A Profit of €36.50m

Atlético de Madrid paid just €1.5m to SC Braga for Diego Costa before eventually selling him to Chelsea FC for €38m. His dominant displays in La Liga brought both goals and massive profit to the Spanish club.

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97 – Granit Xhaka: A Profit of €36.50m

Borussia Mönchengladbach bought Granit Xhaka from FC Basel for €8.5m and later sold him to Arsenal FC for €45m. The Swiss midfielder’s composure and leadership qualities helped raise his value significantly.

96 – Davinson Sánchez: A Profit of €36.50m

Ajax Amsterdam secured Davinson Sánchez from Atlético Nacional for €5.5m, then transferred him to Tottenham Hotspur for €42m. The Colombian defender’s short but impactful stay in Amsterdam yielded a €36.5m gain.

95 – Emiliano Buendía: A Profit of €36.90m

Norwich City purchased Buendía from Getafe CF for just €1.5m and later sold him to Aston Villa for €38.4m. The Argentine playmaker was instrumental in Norwich’s promotion and brought in nearly €37m in profit.

94 – Roberto Firmino: A Profit of €37.00m

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim signed Firmino from Tombense Futebol Clube for €4m and sold him to Liverpool FC for €41m. The Brazilian forward’s development in Germany paid off handsomely before he became a Premier League star.

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93 – Danny Drinkwater: A Profit of €37.00m

Leicester City picked up Drinkwater from Manchester United U21 for just €900k and sold him to Chelsea FC for €37.9m. The deal came after Leicester’s title-winning season, securing a remarkable €37m gain.

92 – Mauro Icardi: A Profit of €37.00m

Inter Milan acquired Mauro Icardi from UC Sampdoria for €13m and sold him to Paris Saint-Germain for €50m. Despite a tumultuous tenure, Inter secured a solid €37m profit from their prolific striker.

91 – Rúben Neves: A Profit of €37.10m

Wolverhampton Wanderers bought Neves from FC Porto for €17.9m and later transferred him to Al-Hilal SFC for €55m. The Portuguese midfielder captained Wolves in the Premier League before delivering a sizable return.

90 – James Rodríguez: A Profit of €37.65m

FC Porto signed James Rodríguez from Banfield for just €7.35m and sold him to AS Monaco for €45m. The Colombian’s dazzling form in Portugal led to a swift and highly profitable move to Ligue 1.

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89 – Christian Benteke: A Profit of €37.70m

Aston Villa picked up Benteke from Genk for €8.8m and sold him to Liverpool FC for €46.5m. The Belgian striker was a force in the Premier League and earned Villa nearly €38m in net gain.

88 – Patrik Schick: A Profit of €38.00m

UC Sampdoria signed Schick from Sparta Prague for just €4m and moved him to AS Roma for €42m. The Czech forward’s explosive performances caught attention quickly, and Sampdoria capitalized efficiently.

87 – Sébastien Haller: A Profit of €38.00m

Eintracht Frankfurt acquired Haller from FC Utrecht for €12m before West Ham United paid €50m for his services. The German side’s knack for identifying undervalued talent resulted in a big profit.

86 – Eliaquim Mangala: A Profit of €38.25m

FC Porto paid €6.75m to Standard Liège for Mangala and sold him to Manchester City for €45m. Though his time in England was mixed, Porto’s financial return was excellent.

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85 – Nico González: A Profit of €38.80m

FC Porto signed Nico González from FC Barcelona for €21.2m and sold him to Manchester City for €60m. The Spanish midfielder became one of Porto’s most profitable exports in recent years.

84 – Fabinho: A Profit of €39.00m

AS Monaco secured Fabinho from Rio Ave FC for just €6m and later sold him to Liverpool FC for €45m. The Brazilian anchorman was a key part of Monaco’s title-winning side before netting the club a tidy profit.

83 – Romelu Lukaku: A Profit of €39.00m

Inter Milan signed Lukaku from Manchester United for €74m and flipped him to Chelsea FC for €113m. Despite mixed form on the pitch, the Nerazzurri pulled in a remarkable €39m surplus.

82 – Gylfi Sigurdsson: A Profit of €39.30m

Swansea City bought Sigurdsson from Tottenham Hotspur for €10.1m and sold him to Everton FC for €49.4m. The Icelandic playmaker became Swansea’s biggest financial success story.

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81 – Raphinha: A Profit of €39.40m

Leeds United landed Raphinha from Stade Rennais for €18.6m and sold him to FC Barcelona for €58m. His flair and output in the Premier League earned the Yorkshire club nearly €40m in return.

80 – Ederson: A Profit of €39.50m

SL Benfica signed Ederson from Rio Ave FC for just €500k before selling him to Manchester City for €40m. That transfer set a new benchmark for goalkeeper fees and gave Benfica an incredible return.

79 – Abdukodir Khusanov: A Profit of €39.55m

RC Lens bought Khusanov for only €450k from Energetik-BGU Minsk and later sold him to Manchester City for €40m. The Uzbek defender’s rapid rise turned into an almost immediate profit.

78 – Georginio Rutter: A Profit of €39.75m

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim picked up Rutter from Stade Rennais FC for just €750k and sold him to Leeds United for €40.5m. A short stint and eye-catching form led to a swift and lucrative sale.

77 – Roméo Lavia: A Profit of €39.84m

Southampton bought Lavia from Manchester City U21 for €22.26m and sold him to Chelsea for €62.1m. The Belgian midfielder’s calm presence in midfield generated nearly €40m in surplus.

76 – Dean Huijsen: A Profit of €39.87m

AFC Bournemouth brought in Huijsen from Juventus FC for €19.63m and transferred him to Real Madrid for €59.5m. His development in England gave the Cherries a significant windfall.

75 – Erling Haaland: A Profit of €40.00m

Borussia Dortmund snapped up Haaland for €20m from Red Bull Salzburg and sold him to Manchester City for €60m. Though modest in today’s market, the deal was massively profitable and transformed Dortmund’s frontline.

74 – Moussa Diaby: A Profit of €40.00m

Bayer Leverkusen secured Diaby from PSG for €15m and moved him to Aston Villa for €55m. The French winger delivered on expectations, both on the pitch and in the balance sheet.

73 – Galeno: A Profit of €40.09m

FC Porto acquired Galeno from SC Braga for €9.91m and sold him to Al-Ahli SFC for €50m. The winger’s value skyrocketed during his stint in Portugal.

72 – Pavel Nedved: A Profit of €40.35m

SS Lazio purchased Nedved from 1.FC Kosice for just €4.65m and sold him to Juventus for €45m. The Czech legend's move paid off for Lazio both competitively and financially.

71 – Christopher Nkunku: A Profit of €40.50m

RB Leipzig bought Nkunku from PSG for €19.5m and sold him to Chelsea for €60m. The French attacking midfielder became one of the Bundesliga’s most valuable exports.

70 – Luka Jović: A Profit of €40.67m

Eintracht Frankfurt signed Luka Jović permanently from Benfica for €22.34m and sold him to Real Madrid for €63m. Despite struggling in Spain, the German club enjoyed a massive return.

69 – Bremer: A Profit of €41.10m

Torino picked up Bremer from Atlético Mineiro for €5.8m and sold him to Juventus for €46.9m. The centre-back’s rise in Serie A was swift and highly profitable.

68 – Joelinton: A Profit of €41.30m

TSG Hoffenheim acquired Joelinton for just €2.2m from Sport Club do Recife and later transferred him to Newcastle United for €43.5m. A low-cost project turned into a €41.3m win.

67 – Ángel Di María: A Profit of €42.00m

Real Madrid signed Di María from Benfica for €33m and sold him to Manchester United for €75m. Though his time in England was short-lived, the profit for Madrid was anything but.

66 – Pedro Neto: A Profit of €42.10m

Wolverhampton Wanderers signed Pedro Neto from Lazio for €17.9m and sold him to Chelsea FC for €60m. The Portuguese winger’s flair and directness translated into a massive return.

65 – Maximilian Kilman: A Profit of €42.75m

Wolves purchased Kilman for just €4.75m from Maidenhead United and later sold him to West Ham United for €47.5m. The move is one of the best non-league-to-top-flight financial stories in England.

64 – Nemanja Matic: A Profit of €42.95m

Chelsea bought Matic from VSS Kosice for €1.75m and later sold him to Manchester United for €44.7m. The Serbian midfielder brought both stability and financial reward to Stamford Bridge.

63 – Éder Militão: A Profit of €43.00m

FC Porto signed Militão from São Paulo FC for €7m and sold him to Real Madrid for €50m. A classic example of Porto’s elite scouting and selling strategy.

62 – Ferland Mendy: A Profit of €43.00m

Lyon acquired Mendy from Le Havre for €5m and moved him to Real Madrid for €48m. The French full-back delivered strong performances that boosted his market value in just two seasons.

61 – Dominic Solanke: A Profit of €43.10m

Bournemouth bought Solanke from Liverpool for €21.2m and sold him to Tottenham Hotspur for €64.3m. Initially seen as a gamble, the English striker developed into a hot asset.

60 – Michael Olise: A Profit of €43.70m

Crystal Palace signed Michael Olise from Reading FC for €9.3m and sold him to Bayern Munich for €53m. The French-English winger dazzled in the Premier League, delivering the Eagles a massive profit.

59 – Alex Teixeira: A Profit of €44.00m

Shakhtar Donetsk picked up Teixeira from Vasco da Gama for €6m and sold him to Jiangsu FC for €50m. The Brazilian attacker’s move to China resulted in a huge financial return for the Ukrainian club.

58 – Fred: A Profit of €44.00m

Shakhtar Donetsk acquired Fred from Internacional for €15m and sold him to Manchester United for €59m. The energetic midfielder brought in significant funds for the Ukrainian side after a solid European run.

57 – Teun Koopmeiners: A Profit of €44.40m

Atalanta bought Koopmeiners from AZ Alkmaar for €14m and later transferred him to Juventus for €58.4m. The Dutch playmaker’s consistency earned his club a tidy gain.

56 – Benjamin Mendy: A Profit of €44.50m

AS Monaco acquired Mendy from Marseille for €13m and sold him to Manchester City for €57.5m. The move reflected Monaco’s golden era of talent flipping.

55 – Sandro Tonali: A Profit of €44.62m

AC Milan signed Tonali from Brescia Calcio for €14.28m and sold him to Newcastle United for €58.9m. The midfield general became a headline deal during Newcastle’s project build-up.

54 – Zlatan Ibrahimović: A Profit of €44.70m

Inter Milan purchased Zlatan from Juventus for €24.8m and offloaded him to Barcelona for €69.5m. The Swede’s impact across Europe always matched his transfer value.

53 – Wesley Fofana: A Profit of €45.40m

Leicester City secured Fofana from Saint-Étienne for €35m and sold him to Chelsea for €80.4m. Despite injury setbacks, the Foxes gained a huge margin on their defensive investment.

52 – Xavi Simons: A Profit of €46.00m

PSG signed Simons from PSV for just €4m and sold him to RB Leipzig for €50m. The Dutch-Surinamese midfielder is one of Europe’s fastest-rising stars.

51 – Luis Díaz: A Profit of €46.78m

FC Porto purchased Luis Díaz from Junior FC for €7.22m and sold him to Liverpool for €54m. His flair and explosiveness delivered Porto nearly €47m in profit.

50 – Kyle Walker: A Profit of €46.80m

Tottenham Hotspur signed Walker from Sheffield United for €5.9m and sold him to Manchester City for €52.7m. The pacey right-back became a cornerstone at City and yielded Spurs nearly €47m in profit.

49 – Marc Cucurella: A Profit of €47.30m

Brighton & Hove Albion picked up Cucurella from Getafe CF for €18m and moved him to Chelsea for €65.3m. The Spanish full-back's rapid value rise rewarded Brighton handsomely.

48 – Jorginho: A Profit of €47.50m

Napoli acquired Jorginho from Hellas Verona for €9.5m and sold him to Chelsea for €57m. The Italian-Brazilian midfielder’s metronomic style delivered a big return for the Serie A club.

47 – Jhon Durán: A Profit of €47.50m

Aston Villa signed Durán from Chicago Fire FC for €29.5m and sold him to Al-Nassr FC for €77m. The Colombian striker’s swift impact earned the Villans a significant boost.

46 – Romelu Lukaku: A Profit of €49.34m

Everton landed Lukaku from Chelsea for €35.36m and sold him to Manchester United for €84.7m. The Belgian forward’s consistent scoring made him a key asset and a major profit center.

45 – Arthur Melo: A Profit of €49.60m

Barcelona bought Arthur from Grêmio for €31m and sold him to Juventus for €80.6m. Though the Brazilian didn’t fully settle, the transfer brought Barça a windfall.

44 – Rodri: A Profit of €50.00m

Atlético Madrid signed Rodri from Villarreal for €20m and sold him to Manchester City for €70m. The Spaniard has since flourished, and Atleti enjoyed a clean €50m margin.

43 – Lisandro Martínez: A Profit of €50.37m

Ajax signed Martínez from Defensa y Justicia for €7m and sold him to Manchester United for €57.37m. The Argentine center-back helped Ajax to domestic success and delivered a sharp return.

42 – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: A Profit of €50.75m

Borussia Dortmund brought Aubameyang in from Saint-Étienne for €13m and sold him to Arsenal for €63.75m. His goalscoring prowess turned into a tidy business move for the Bundesliga side.

41 – Gonzalo Higuaín: A Profit of €51.00m

Napoli secured Higuaín from Real Madrid for €39m and sold him to Juventus for €90m. The controversial intra-league transfer became one of Serie A’s costliest but most profitable transactions for Napoli.

40 – Darwin Núñez: A Profit of €51.00m

Benfica signed Darwin Núñez from UD Almería for €34m and sold him to Liverpool FC for €85m. The Uruguayan striker made an instant impact in Portugal, delivering the club a spectacular profit.

39 – John Stones: A Profit of €52.10m

Everton bought Stones from Barnsley FC for just €3.5m and sold him to Manchester City for €55.6m. The English center-back’s development brought Everton a strong return on investment.

38 – Edinson Cavani: A Profit of €52.50m

Napoli signed Cavani from Palermo FC for €12m and sold him to Paris Saint-Germain for €64.5m. The Uruguayan goal machine’s rise made him a standout success for the Serie A side.

37 – Hernán Crespo: A Profit of €52.68m

Parma purchased Crespo from River Plate for €4.13m and sold him to Lazio for €56.81m. One of the biggest deals of its time, Crespo’s move gave Parma a massive margin.

36 – Josko Gvardiol: A Profit of €53.20m

RB Leipzig secured Gvardiol from Dinamo Zagreb for €36.8m and later sold him to Manchester City for €90m. The Croatian defender became one of the Bundesliga’s most profitable exports.

35 – Julián Álvarez: A Profit of €53.60m

Manchester City bought Álvarez from River Plate for €21.4m and transferred him to Atlético de Madrid for €75m. The Argentine forward’s rise at City turned him into a marketable asset.

34 – Kevin De Bruyne: A Profit of €54.00m

Wolfsburg acquired De Bruyne from Chelsea FC for €22m and sold him to Manchester City for €76m. The Belgian’s breakout in Germany rewarded the Bundesliga side greatly.

33 – Tanguy Ndombélé: A Profit of €54.00m

Lyon signed Ndombélé from Amiens SC for €8m and sold him to Tottenham Hotspur for €62m. The French midfielder delivered strong performances en route to a massive gain.

32 – Alisson: A Profit of €54.50m

AS Roma purchased Alisson from Internacional for €8m and sold him to Liverpool FC for €62.5m. The Brazilian’s consistent goalkeeping brought Roma a top-tier return.

31 – Anthony Martial: A Profit of €55.00m

AS Monaco acquired Martial from Lyon B for €5m and transferred him to Manchester United for €60m. The young French forward brought quick financial success to Monaco’s project.

30 – Alexander Isak: A Profit of €55.00m

Real Sociedad signed Isak from Borussia Dortmund for €15m and sold him to Newcastle United for €70m. The Swedish striker’s growth in La Liga earned Sociedad a strong return.

29 – Luis Suárez: A Profit of €55.22m

Liverpool brought Suárez from Ajax for €26.5m and sold him to FC Barcelona for €81.72m. His world-class form in the Premier League turned into one of the most lucrative sales in the club’s history.

28 – Bruno Fernandes: A Profit of €55.30m

Sporting CP bought Fernandes from Sampdoria for €9.7m and later sold him to Manchester United for €65m. The Portuguese midfielder became a star and one of the club’s most profitable sales.

27 – Victor Osimhen: A Profit of €56.50m

Lille acquired Osimhen from Charleroi for €22.4m and sold him to Napoli for €78.9m. The Nigerian forward exploded in Ligue 1 and earned the French side a huge gain.

26 – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia: A Profit of €56.70m

Napoli signed Kvaratskhelia from Dinamo Batumi for just €13.3m and sold him to PSG for €70m. The Georgian winger became one of Europe’s most exciting talents and a financial gem for Napoli.

25 – Rasmus Højlund: A Profit of €56.80m

Atalanta acquired Højlund from Sturm Graz for €21m and sold him to Manchester United for €77.8m. The Danish striker’s physicality and promise translated into rapid profit.

24 – Luís Figo: A Profit of €57.50m

Barcelona purchased Figo from Sporting CP for €2.5m and controversially sold him to Real Madrid for €60m. Despite the backlash, the deal brought in a massive return for Barça.

23 – Otávio: A Profit of €57.50m

FC Porto picked up Otávio from Internacional for €2.5m and sold him to Al-Nassr FC for €60m. The Brazilian playmaker became another testament to Porto’s elite business model.

22 – Kaká: A Profit of €58.50m

AC Milan signed Kaká from São Paulo for €8.5m and sold him to Real Madrid for €67m. One of the most graceful players of his era also became a financial masterstroke.

21 – Nicolas Pépé: A Profit of €62.00m

Lille signed Pépé from Angers for €18m and transferred him to Arsenal for €80m. The Ivorian winger’s explosive campaign led to one of Ligue 1’s biggest profits.

20 – Aurélien Tchouaméni: A Profit of €62.00m

AS Monaco acquired Tchouaméni from Bordeaux for €18m and sold him to Real Madrid for €80m. The French midfielder’s composure and defensive range delivered a major payday to the Ligue 1 club.

19 – Jadon Sancho: A Profit of €64.41m

Borussia Dortmund bought Sancho from Manchester City U18 for €20.59m and sold him to Manchester United for €85m. The English winger’s success in Germany brought a huge profit for Dortmund.

18 – Casemiro: A Profit of €64.65m

Real Madrid signed Casemiro from São Paulo for just €6m and sold him to Manchester United for €70.65m. After years of dominance in midfield, Madrid cashed in with a brilliant return.

17 – Riyad Mahrez: A Profit of €67.30m

Leicester City picked up Mahrez from Le Havre for only €500k and transferred him to Manchester City for €67.8m. One of the most iconic value buys in Premier League history, yielding a huge surplus.

16 – Thomas Lemar: A Profit of €68.00m

AS Monaco bought Lemar from SM Caen for €4m and sold him to Atlético Madrid for €72m. The Frenchman’s quick rise in Ligue 1 became yet another successful flip for Monaco.

15 – Virgil van Dijk: A Profit of €68.95m

Southampton signed Van Dijk from Celtic for €15.7m and sold him to Liverpool for €84.65m. His commanding defensive presence turned into a transformative profit for the Saints.

14 – Harry Maguire: A Profit of €73.30m

Leicester City acquired Maguire from Hull City for €13.7m and moved him to Manchester United for €87m. Though controversial, the sale marked Leicester’s biggest ever margin on a defender.

13 – Zinédine Zidane: A Profit of €74.00m

Juventus signed Zidane from Bordeaux for €3.5m and sold him to Real Madrid for €77.5m. The French maestro’s Galáctico move earned Juve a golden windfall.

12 – Cristiano Ronaldo: A Profit of €75.00m

Manchester United bought Ronaldo from Sporting CP for €19m and sold him to Real Madrid for €94m. The Portuguese icon became the most expensive player in history at the time, generating an elite profit.

11 – Enzo Fernández: A Profit of €76.75m

Benfica signed Enzo from River Plate for €44.25m and sold him to Chelsea for €121m. A short yet explosive spell in Lisbon turned into one of the quickest and most profitable deals in modern football.

10 – Antony: A Profit of €79.25m

Ajax Amsterdam signed Antony from São Paulo FC for €15.75m and sold him to Manchester United for €95m. The Brazilian winger's flair and output in the Eredivisie secured Ajax a massive financial return.

9 – Dušan Vlahović: A Profit of €80.30m

Fiorentina acquired Vlahović from FK Partizan for just €3.2m and sold him to Juventus for €83.5m. The Serbian striker's scoring form gave La Viola one of their most successful sales ever.

8 – Jude Bellingham: A Profit of €82.85m

Borussia Dortmund bought Bellingham from Birmingham City for €30.15m and later sold him to Real Madrid for €113m. The English starlet proved to be yet another masterstroke by Dortmund’s recruitment team.

7 – Eden Hazard: A Profit of €85.80m

Chelsea signed Hazard from Lille for €35m and sold him to Real Madrid for €120.8m. Despite his struggles in Spain, the Belgian winger gave Chelsea a major windfall after years of brilliance.

6 – Gareth Bale: A Profit of €86.30m

Tottenham Hotspur bought Bale from Southampton for €14.7m and transferred him to Real Madrid for €101m. His world-record move at the time marked a historic profit for Spurs.

5 – Moisés Caicedo: A Profit of €87.80m

Brighton signed Caicedo from Independiente del Valle for €28.2m and sold him to Chelsea for €116m. The Ecuadorian midfielder’s Premier League breakthrough led to a record-breaking deal for the Seagulls.

4 – Antoine Griezmann: A Profit of €90.00m

Atlético Madrid acquired Griezmann from Real Sociedad for €30m and sold him to Barcelona for €120m. Despite the complexities that followed, Atleti made a clean €90m profit on the French forward.

3 – Ousmane Dembélé: A Profit of €100.00m

Borussia Dortmund bought Dembélé from Rennes for €35m and sold him to Barcelona for €135m. A single stunning season in Germany turned into a triple-digit margin.

2 – Philippe Coutinho: A Profit of €122.00m

Liverpool signed Coutinho from Inter Milan for €13m and sold him to Barcelona for €135m. One of the greatest financial deals in Premier League history, despite the Brazilian's mixed spell in Spain.

1 – Neymar: A Profit of €134.00m

Barcelona acquired Neymar from Santos for €88m and sold him to Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record €222m. The most expensive transfer in football history also became the most profitable, reshaping the market permanently.