Who are the top 10 most expensive football transfers ever ranked?

Who are the top 10 most expensive football transfers ever ranked?

Claudia Kogi, Jackline Wangare
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:58 PM

Football is inarguably one of the most popular sports in the modern-day world. Millions of spectators gather in stadiums and in front of televisions every week to watch their favourite clubs or national teams. The transfer window is usually one of the most interesting times in football. During this period, clubs get to sign players from other clubs, most times for a fee. Which are the most expensive football transfers to have ever happened?

most expensive football transfers in 2022
Photo: canva.com (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Over the last 15 or so years, players' transfer fees have risen significantly. Nowadays, it is common to come across various transfers exceeding hundreds of millions of dollars in a single transfer window.

The most expensive football transfers of all time

Here is a look at the most expensive transfers in football.

10. Gareth Bale: Tottenham to Real Madrid in 2013 for €100.8 million

list of the most expensive football transfers
Gareth Bale of Wales looks on during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier knockout round play-off match against Austria at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Photo: Dan Mullan
Source: Getty Images

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  • Full name: Gareth Frank Bale
  • Date of birth: 16 July 1989
  • Age: 33 years old as of 2022
  • Place of birth: Cardiff, Wales
  • Nationality: Welsh
  • Zodiac sign: Cancer
  • Position: Winger

Even though Gareth Bale suffered severe injuries during his time in Real Madrid, he stepped up with some significant goals and played his part in some forever adored moments in the team. To date, Bale is still one of the most expensive football transfers in the Premier League.

9. Paul Pogba: Juventus to Manchester United in 2016 for €105 million

most expensive football transfers in the premier league
Paul Pogba of France during the international friendly match against Ivory Coast at Orange Velodrome in Marseille. Photo: Sebastian Frej
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Paul Labile Pogba
  • Date of birth: 15 March 1993
  • Age: 29 years old as of 2022
  • Place of birth: Lagny-sur-Marne, France
  • Nationality: French
  • Zodiac sign: Aries
  • Position: Midfielder

Manchester United allowed Paul Pogba to leave Manchester United for a free transfer in 2012. At Juventus, the French midfielder became one of the best players in Serie A. Four years later, Manchester United bought Pogba for a then world-record fee.

8. Ousmane Dembele: Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona in 2017 for €105 million

Who is the most expensive player in football in 2022?
Ousmane Dembele of FC Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid Spain. Photo: David S. Bustamante
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Masour Ousmane Dembele
  • Date of birth: 15 May 1997
  • Age: 25 years old as of 2022
  • Place of birth: Vernon, France
  • Nationality: French
  • Zodiac sign: Taurus
  • Position: Winger

Barcelona has recently been in the middle of various high-profile transfers. In 2017, the club spent over €100 million to sign Dembele from Dortmund. Today, he remains one of the most expensive German football transfers.

7. Romelu Lukaku: Inter Milan to Chelsea in 2021 for €115 million

Who was the first 100-million-pound footballer?
Romelu Lukaku of Chelsea FC during the UEFA Champions League match against Lille OSC at Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille, France. Photo: ANP
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Romelu Menama Lukaku Bolingoli
  • Date of birth: 13 May 1993
  • Age: 29 years old as of 2022
  • Place of birth: Antwerp, Belgium
  • Nationality: Belgian
  • Zodiac sign: Taurus
  • Position: Striker

Tired of struggling without a legendary striker, Chelsea splashed a whooping €115 million to bring back Lukaku from Inter Milan.

6. Jack Grealish: Aston Villa to Manchester City in 2021 for €117 million

Who was the first 100-million-pound footballer?
Jack Grealish of England during the international friendly match against Switzerland at Wembley Stadium in London, United Kingdom. Photo: James Williamson
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Jack Peter Grealish
  • Date of birth: 10 September 1995
  • Age: 27 years old as of 2022
  • Place of birth: Birmingham, England
  • Nationality: English
  • Zodiac sign: Virgo
  • Position: Winger, attacking midfielder

Who is the most expensive transfer in the Premier League? The answer is Jack Grealish. Manchester City paid Aston Villa a whopping €117 million for Grealish to join its already fantastic squad.

5. Antoine Griezmann: Atletico Madrid to Barcelona in 2019 for €120 million

Who is the most expensive player in football in 2022?
Antoine Griezmann of Atletico Madrid during the La Liga Santander match against Rayo Vallecano at the Campo de Futbol de Vallecas in Madrid Spain. Photo: David S. Bustamante
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Antoine Griezmann
  • Date of birth: 21 March 1991
  • Age: 31 years old as of 2022
  • Place of birth: Macon, France
  • Nationality: French
  • Zodiac sign: Aries
  • Position: Forward, attacking midfielder

The Antoine Griezmann transfer saga is one that still shocked his fans. For starters, he rejected Barcelona in 2018, stating how he would never join the Catalan club only to sign for them barely a year later.

4. Philippe Coutinho: Liverpool to Barcelona in 2018 for €120 million

most expensive football transfers in the premier league
Philippe Coutinho of Brazil looks on during a match between Brazil and Chile as part of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifier in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo: Buda Mendes
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Philippe Coutinho Correia
  • Date of birth: 12 June 1992
  • Age: 30 years old as of 2022
  • Place of birth: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Nationality: Brazilian
  • Zodiac sign: Gemini
  • Position: Attacking midfielder, winger

Philippe Coutinho joined Barcelona from Liverpool in January 2018 in search of trophies. He is still regarded one of the most expensive transfers in the Premier League.

3. Joao Felix: Benfica to Atletico Madrid in 2019 for €126m

list of the most expensive football transfers
Joao Felix of Portugal reacts during the warm up prior to the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier knockout round play-off match between Portugal and Turkey in Porto, Porto. Photo: Jose Manuel Alvarez
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Joao Felix Sequeira
  • Date of birth: 10 November 1999
  • Age: 23 years old as of 2022
  • Place of birth: Viseu, Portugal
  • Nationality: Portuguese
  • Zodiac sign: Scorpio
  • Position: Forward, attacking midfielder

Joao Felix is one of the world's most exciting prospects. He sealed a move to Atletico in 2019 despite being courted by almost all of Europe's biggest clubs in the months before the move was made official.

2. Kylian Mbappe: Monaco to PSG in 2017 for €145.6 million

most expensive football transfers in 2022
Kylian Mbappe of France warms up before the International friendly match between France and Ivory Coast at Stade Velodrome in Marseille, France. Photo: John Berry
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Kylian Mbappe Lottin
  • Date of birth: 20 December 1998
  • Age: 23 years old as of 2022
  • Place of birth: Paris, France
  • Nationality: French
  • Zodiac sign: Sagittarius
  • Position: Forward

PSG made a significant effort to sign Mbappe from Monaco in 2017. Since his transfer, he has helped the club win numerous titles, including the Ligue 1 cup numerous times.

1. Neymar: Barcelona to PSG in 2017 for €222 million

list of the most expensive football transfers
Neymar Jr of Brazil runs with the ball during a match against Chile as part of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifier in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo: Buda Mendes
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Neymar da Silva Santos Junior
  • Date of birth: 5 February 1992
  • Age: 30 years old as of 2022
  • Place of birth: Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil
  • Nationality: Brazilian
  • Zodiac sign: Aquarius
  • Position: Forward

What is the most expensive football transfer ever? Neymar's move from Barcelona to PSG in 2017 was record-breaking. His €222 million move remains the most expensive to date. No other transfer has come close, five years down the line.

Summary

Here is a list of the most expensive football transfers of all time.

Player

Position

From

To

Year

Fee

Neymar

Forward

Barcelona

PSG

2017

€222 million

Kylian Mbappe

Forward

Monaco

PSG

2017

€145.6 million

Joao Felix

Forward

Benfica

Atletico Madrid

2019

€126 million

Philippe Coutinho

Midfielder

Liverpool

Barcelona

2018

€120 million

Antoine Griezmann

Forward

Atletico Madrid

Barcelona

2019

€120 million

Jack Grealish

Forward

Aston Villa

Manchester City

2021

€117 million

Romelu Lukaku

Forward

Inter

Chelsea

2021

€115 million

Ousmane Dembele

Forward

Borussia Dortmund

Barcelona

2017

€105 million

Paul Pogba

Midfielder

Juventus

Manchester United

2016

€105 million

Gareth Bale

Forward

Tottenham

Real Madrid

2013

€100.8 million

Which is the most expensive women's football transfer?

Pernille Harder became the most expensive women's football transfer when she moved from VfL Wolfsburg Women to Chelsea F.C. Women for a $333,655 fee.

Who is the most expensive football defender transfer?

Harry Maguire is regarded as the most expensive defender of all time, with a transfer fee of €87m.

What is the biggest British transfer in football history?

The most significant British football transfer occurred when Gareth Bale left Tottenham for Real Madrid in 2013.

What was the most expensive transfer window in football history?

The 2021 summer transfer window was one of the most incredible in history despite the economic effects of the global pandemic. Some of the costliest transfers of all time were completed, with Manchester City making its most significant deal of the summer by signing Jack Grealish from Aston Villa.

Who is the most expensive player in football in 2022?

Neymar's €222 million move from Barcelona to PSG makes him the world's most expensive football player today.

Which are the most expensive football transfers in 2022?

Antony to Manchester United (£85.5m) and Wesley Fofana to Chelsea (£72.3m) are the most expensive transfers in 2022.

Who was the first 100-million-pound footballer?

Paul Pogba became the first £100 million footballer when he moved from Inter Milan to Manchester United in 2016. His value included his transfer fee and other financial agreements between the two clubs.

The most expensive football transfers in club football have seen players change clubs for colossal sums. As clubs become stronger financially, the money they can pay to acquire their desired players keeps rising.

READ ALSO: Maradona to Mertens: List of top 10 Napoli legends of all time ranked

Sportsbrief.com recently published a list of Napoli's top legends. The team has been home to some of the most incredible names in football history, from Diego Maradona to Edinson Cavani.

The team has won nearly everything and made a name in European football. Is your favourite Napoli footballer on the list?

Authors
Claudia Kogi photo
Claudia Kogi
Claudia Kogi is a Kenyan content creator with over 3 years of experience. Claudia joined Sportsbrief.com as a writer in January 2022, covering sports and relatable content.
Jackline Wangare photo
Jackline Wangare
Jackline Simwa is a content writer at Sports Brief covering sports and lifestyle topics. Previously, she worked at The Campanile by Kenyatta University and as a Content Creator (Briefly.co.za, Legit.ng, Tuko.co.ke, Yen.com.gh).
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Transfers