Most Expensive Football Transfers of All Time

All of the top 50 most expensive football transfers above €70 million have taken place since the start of the 2000s.

At the dawn of the new millennium, Zinedine Zidane’s move from Juventus to Real Madrid in 2001 set a new benchmark, becoming the most expensive football transfer in history at the time.

For years, no other deal matched its scale—until 2013, when Gareth Bale joined Real Madrid from Tottenham, becoming the first player to breach the nine-digit fee.

That record was soon overtaken by Paul Pogba’s transfer from Juventus to Manchester United in 2016, signaling the start of a trend that would see transfer fees rise dramatically year after year.

In 2017, clubs spent a staggering €412 million on just three players — a turning point that reshaped the modern transfer market and pushed valuations into uncharted territory.

In just the last seven years, these blockbuster deals have amounted to more than €5.09 billion, with Premier League clubs and emerging football markets like Saudi Arabia leading the charge in financial dominance.

And the trend continues in 2025. Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz is reportedly making a move for €136.3 million, positioning himself among the Most Expensive Premier League Transfers of 2025, and the summer window is still open.

More record-breaking deals could be confirmed before the season kicks off.

10 Most Expensive Football Transfers – The Biggest Deals in History

1. Neymar to PSG – €222 Million (2017)

Neymar’s €222 million move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 remains the Most Expensive Football transfer – The Biggest deal in History.

PSG triggered his release clause to sign him in a deal that shocked the world and reshaped the transfer market. It wasn’t just a record-breaking move — it symbolized the financial rise of state-backed clubs and changed how top players were valued.

Neymar left Barcelona to step out of Lionel Messi’s shadow and lead a project of his own. At PSG, he won multiple domestic titles and played a key role in their 2020 Champions League final run.

Over six seasons, he made 173 appearances, scoring 118 goals and providing 68 assists.

Before that, Neymar was already a global star at Santos (136 goals, 64 assists in 225 games) and a key part of the iconic “MSN” trio at Barcelona (105 goals, 60 assists in 186 games).

In 2023, he joined Al Hilal but was limited by injury (7 games, 1 goal). In 2025, Neymar returned to Santos, marking a symbolic homecoming.

2. Kylian Mbappé to PSG – €180 Million (2018)

Kylian Mbappé’s €180 million move from AS Monaco to Paris Saint-Germain in 2018 is the second most expensive transfer in football history — and the most expensive ever for a teenager.

Initially joining PSG on loan in 2017, the deal became permanent the following summer, marking a generational talent’s rapid rise to global superstardom.

At just 18, Mbappé was already a Ligue 1 winner and a breakout star at Monaco, where he scored 27 goals and 16 assists in 60 games.

During his time at PSG (2017–2024), Mbappé became the club’s all-time top scorer, with 256 goals and 108 assists in 308 appearances.

He won 6 Ligue 1 titles, multiple domestic cups, and reached the 2020 UEFA Champions League final.

In 2024, Mbappé made his long-awaited free transfer to Real Madrid, seeking Champions League glory and a new challenge in Spain.

3. Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona – €145 Million (2018)

Philippe Coutinho’s €145 million move from Liverpool to Barcelona in January 2018 was one of the most talked-about transfers of the decade. Barcelona splashed big money on Coutinho after Neymar’s departure.

After forcing a mid-season exit from Anfield, Coutinho became Barcelona’s most expensive signing, seen as a long-term replacement for Andrés Iniesta and Neymar.

Despite high expectations, the deal didn’t quite deliver the returns, making it one of the most debated signings in modern football.

At Liverpool, Coutinho had established himself as one of the Premier League’s most creative midfielders, scoring 54 goals and providing 45 assists in 201 appearances.

However, at Barcelona, Coutinho struggled to live up to his price tag. Despite flashes of brilliance, he couldn’t find consistent form. Across five years (including loan spells), he made 106 appearances, scoring 26 goals and adding 13 assists.

In a twist of fate, he was loaned to Bayern Munich for the 2019–20 season, where he scored twice against Barcelona in the infamous 8–2 defeat in the Champions League.

He later joined Aston Villa, but injuries and inconsistency continued. He is currently on loan at Vasco da Gama in Brazil from Aston Villa.

4. João Félix to Atlético Madrid – €126 Million (2019)

In July 2019, João Félix’s €126 million transfer from Benfica to Atlético Madrid became one of the biggest football transfers ever.

Atlético saw Félix as a future superstar and a key player to replace the likes of Antoine Griezmann. At Benfica, Félix was a rising star, scoring 20 goals and providing 11 assists in just 43 appearances.

However, Félix struggled to consistently perform at Atlético Madrid. Despite flashes of brilliance, he found it difficult to fit fully into Diego Simeone’s intense tactical setup.

Over five years, including loan spells, he made around 100 appearances, scoring roughly 20 goals and assisting 15.

In January 2023, Félix was loaned to Chelsea, where he scored on his debut and showed promise but returned to Atlético after a brief spell.

Later, a loan to Barcelona in the 2023–24 season offered another chance, but injuries and stiff competition limited his impact. Most recently, he joined AC Milan on loan in early 2025.

5. Enzo Fernández to Chelsea – €121 Million (2023)

In January 2023, Chelsea broke the British transfer record by signing Enzo Fernández from Benfica for €121 million.

The move came just months after Enzo’s standout performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where he won the tournament’s Best Young Player award and helped Argentina lift the trophy in Qatar.

At Benfica, Fernández had quickly become a midfield star. Despite only joining from River Plate in mid-2022, his composure, passing range, and ability to control the tempo made him a hot commodity in Europe.

He contributed 4 goals and 6 assists in 29 appearances for the Portuguese side before securing his big-money move to London.

6. Antoine Griezmann to Barcelona – €120 Million (2019)

Barcelona spent big to lure Griezmann from their rivals Atlético. In July 2019, Antoine Griezmann completed a blockbuster €120 million move from Atlético Madrid to Barcelona after months of transfer drama.

At Atlético, Griezmann was a superstar, scoring 133 goals and providing 50+ assists across 257 appearances.

Despite a few key goals and moments of brilliance, he never truly clicked in Barça’s system or alongside Messi.

Over two seasons, he made 102 appearances, scoring 35 goals and providing 17 assists — numbers below expectations given his price tag.

However, Griezmann struggled to replicate that form at Barcelona. In 2021, Barcelona loaned him back to Atlético Madrid, and a permanent return followed.

7. Jack Grealish to Manchester City – €117 Million (2021)

In August 2021, Jack Grealish became the most expensive English player in football history after completing a €117 million (£100 million) move from Aston Villa to Manchester City.

At Aston Villa, Grealish had emerged as the club’s talisman and captain. Across 213 appearances, he scored 32 goals and delivered 43 assists.

At Manchester City, Grealish initially faced a slow start, struggling to match the output expected from such a high transfer fee.

However, in the 2022–23 season, he played a crucial role as City won a historic treble — the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League.

8. Declan Rice (€117M, West Ham to Arsenal, 2023)

In July 2023, Declan Rice became the most expensive English player in football history after completing a €117 million (£105 million) transfer from West Ham United to Arsenal.

At West Ham, Rice had developed into one of the Premier League’s most complete midfielders, combining leadership, defensive solidity, and ball-carrying ability.

He captained the Hammers to UEFA Conference League glory in 2023, their first major European title in decades.

Across 245 appearances, he scored 15 goals and earned a reputation as a consistent performer and future England captain.

Joining Arsenal, Rice slotted straight into the heart of midfield. he is seen as one of the leaders of Arteta’s evolving squad.

9. Moisés Caicedo (€116M, Brighton to Chelsea, 2023)

In August 2023, Chelsea completed the signing of Ecuadorian midfielder Moisés Caicedo from Brighton for a Premier League record fee of €116 million (£115 million).

After a dramatic transfer saga involving Liverpool, Caicedo chose Chelsea, making him one of the most expensive midfielders in football history.

At Brighton, Caicedo rose rapidly under Roberto De Zerbi. In just 53 appearances for the Seagulls, he became one of the league’s most sought-after midfielders and played a key role in Brighton’s historic qualification for European competition.

Chelsea signed Caicedo as part of their midfield rebuild, pairing him with fellow record signing Enzo Fernández. However, his debut season (2023–24) was turbulent.

10. Romelu Lukaku (€115M, Inter to Chelsea, 2021)

Top 50 Football Transfers Over €70 Million

A look at the 50 biggest football transfers that each exceeded €70 million since 2000.