Ranking The Biggest Signing Ever Made by Every La Liga Club
La Liga has long been home to some of the most passionate clubs and iconic footballing stories in Europe. While giants like Real Madrid and Barcelona dominate headlines with nine-figure transfers, every club in Spain’s top flight has its own moment of bold ambition.
In this article, we take a look at the most expensive signing in the history of each La Liga club, starting from No. 20 and working our way up to the biggest transfer of them all. From historic splashes in the late '90s to modern record-breakers, these moves reflect not just financial muscle—but hopes, risks, and game-changing intent.
20. Deportivo Alavés – John Guidetti – £3.4M
Swedish striker John Guidetti became Alavés' most expensive signing when he joined from Celta Vigo in the 2018/19 season. While not a blockbuster move, it reflected the club’s intent to boost its attacking options.
19. Real Oviedo – Fabio Pinto – £3.8M
Back in the 1998/99 season, Portuguese forward Fabio Pinto arrived at Oviedo for what remains their record transfer. Though his impact was modest, it marked a bold move for the club at the time.
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18. Elche CF – Raúl Guti – £4.3M
Elche broke their transfer record with the £4.3M acquisition of Guti in the 2020/21 season. The midfielder was brought in to strengthen the squad as the club fought to remain competitive in La Liga.
17. Osasuna – Ante Budimir – £6.8M
Croatian striker Budimir made his move permanent in 2021/22 after impressing on loan. Osasuna committed £6.8M to secure his services, reflecting their faith in his goal-scoring ability.
16. Mallorca – Vedat Muriqi – £6.8M
Kosovan international Muriqi was signed in 2022/23 for £6.8M, making him Mallorca’s most expensive player. His physical presence and work rate added much-needed strength up front.
15. Levante – Nikola Vukcevic – £7.2M
In 2018/19, Levante spent £7.2M on Montenegrin midfielder Vukcevic. Although inconsistent, his arrival was a statement that the club was ready to invest in midfield solidity.
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14. Rayo Vallecano – Raúl de Tomás – £9.4M
De Tomás became a club-record signing in 2022/23 after a previous successful spell. Rayo paid £9.4M to bring him back, hoping to recapture his scoring magic.
13. Getafe – Marc Cucurella – £10M
In the 2020/21 season, Getafe splashed £10M on the talented Spanish fullback. Cucurella’s energetic performances quickly earned him attention from bigger clubs.
12. Celta Vigo – Jørgen Strand Larsen – £12.8M
The Norwegian forward joined Celta in 2022/23 for £12.8M. A tall and dynamic striker, he was signed to add a different dimension to the Galician club’s attack.
11. Girona – Yaser Asprilla – £15.3M
Girona set a new record in 2024/25 by spending £15.3M on the Colombian talent. Asprilla represents the club’s growing ambition and investment in young, exciting players.
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10. Real Sociedad – Umar Sadiq – £17M
Sociedad spent £17M in 2022/23 to secure Nigerian striker Sadiq from Almería. Though a major outlay for the club, his powerful presence added depth to their forward line.
9. Espanyol – Raúl de Tomás – £19.1M
Espanyol broke the bank in 2019/20 by signing De Tomás from Benfica for £19.1M. His goals were crucial, and he became a fan favorite almost instantly.
8. Villarreal – Arnaut Danjuma – £20M
The Yellow Submarine spent £20M in 2021/22 on Dutch winger Danjuma, who dazzled in European competition. His explosive pace made him one of the most exciting signings in the club’s recent history.
7. Real Betis – Denílson – £25.5M
In a shock move in 1998/99, Betis paid £25.5M for Brazilian winger Denílson, making him the world’s most expensive player at the time. Though his impact was mixed, it remains a historic moment for the club.
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6. Athletic Club – Iñigo Martínez – £27.2M
Martínez made the controversial switch from Real Sociedad in 2017/18 for £27.2M. Athletic’s strict Basque-only policy means breaking the bank for top regional talent, and Martínez was one such investment.
5. Sevilla – Jules Koundé – £29.8M
French defender Koundé was brought in for £29.8M during the 2019/20 season. He became one of La Liga’s top center-backs and was later sold to Barcelona for a significant profit.
4. Valencia – Gonçalo Guedes – £34M
Valencia signed the Portuguese attacker permanently in 2018/19 for £34M after an impressive loan spell. Guedes added flair and goals during a period of European qualification pushes.
3. Real Madrid – Eden Hazard – £102.7M
Madrid paid £102.7M to Chelsea in 2019/20 for Belgian superstar Hazard. Unfortunately, injuries plagued his time at the Bernabéu, making it one of the club’s most disappointing big-money deals.
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2. Atlético Madrid – João Félix – £108.1M
Atleti broke their transfer record in 2019/20 by paying £108.1M for the Portuguese prodigy. While he showed glimpses of brilliance, consistency remained elusive amid multiple loans.
1. Barcelona – Ousmane Dembélé – £114.8M
After selling Neymar, Barça reinvested £114.8M in French winger Dembélé in 2017/18. Despite a slow and injury-hit start, his raw talent and pace made him a key figure in recent campaigns.
