Transfer fees: they're massive, routinely running to figures far in excess of what you or I would have in our wallets on a day-to-day basis.
The first £100m+ transfer didn't come until 2017, but we're now into double figures for deals of that magnitude. So exactly how much is a player really worth, anyway? One way to tell would be to look at the fees on previous transfer deals...
And so, here's the 100 most spenny transfer of all time, starting with the most expensive footballer of all time and working down. The numbers are given in pounds sterling, based on exchange rates at the time where required, but are not adjusted for inflation
The top 100
The 100 most expensive football transfers of all time
Fee | Player | Age | Nation | From | To | Season | Window |
£194.51m | Neymar | 25 | 🇧🇷 | Barcelona | Paris Saint-Germain | 2017/18 | Summer |
£159.22m | Kylian Mbappe | 19 | 🇫🇷 | Monaco | Paris Saint-Germain | 2018/19 | Summer |
£118.29m | Philippe Coutinho | 25 | 🇧🇷 | Liverpool | Barcelona | 2017/18 | Winter |
£118.29m | Ousmane Dembele | 20 | 🇫🇷 | Borussia Dortmund | Barcelona | 2017/18 | Summer |
£111.53m | Joao Felix | 19 | 🇵🇹 | Benfica | Atletico Madrid | 2019/20 | Summer |
£105.92m | Eden Hazard | 28 | 🇧🇪 | Chelsea | Real Madrid | 2019/20 | Summer |
£105.22m | Antoine Griezmann | 28 | 🇫🇷 | Atletico Madrid | Barcelona | 2019/20 | Summer |
£103.49m | Cristiano Ronaldo | 33 | 🇵🇹 | Real Madrid | Juventus | 2018/19 | Summer |
£103.13m | Enzo Fernandez | 22 | 🇦🇷 | Benfica | Chelsea | 2022/23 | Winter |
£101.39m | Declan Rice | 24 | 🏴 | West Ham United | Arsenal | 2023/24 | Summer |
£101.01m | Jack Grealish | 25 | 🏴 | Aston Villa | Manchester City | 2021/22 | Summer |
£100.87m | Moises Caicedo | 21 | 🇪🇨 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Chelsea | 2023/24 | Summer |
£98.26m | Jude Bellingham | 20 | 🏴 | Borussia Dortmund | Real Madrid | 2023/24 | Summer |
£97.14m | Romelu Lukaku | 28 | 🇧🇪 | Inter Milan | Chelsea | 2021/22 | Summer |
£85.83m | Paul Pogba | 23 | 🇫🇷 | Juventus | Manchester United | 2016/17 | Summer |
£85.77m | Gareth Bale | 24 | 🏴 | Tottenham | Real Madrid | 2013/14 | Summer |
£83.68m | Cristiano Ronaldo | 24 | 🇵🇹 | Manchester United | Real Madrid | 2009/10 | Summer |
£82.61m | Harry Kane | 30 | 🏴 | Tottenham | Bayern Munich | 2023/24 | Summer |
£82.61m | Randal Kolo Muani | 24 | 🇫🇷 | Eintracht Frankfurt | Paris Saint-Germain | 2023/24 | Summer |
£80.97m | Antony | 22 | 🇧🇷 | Ajax | Manchester United | 2022/23 | Summer |
£78.26m | Josko Gvardiol | 21 | 🇭🇷 | RB Leipzig | Manchester City | 2023/24 | Summer |
£78.26m | Neymar | 31 | 🇧🇷 | Paris Saint-Germain | Al-Hilal | 2023/24 | Summer |
£76.28m | Harry Maguire | 26 | 🏴 | Leicester City | Manchester United | 2019/20 | Summer |
£75.49m | Frenkie de Jong | 22 | 🇳🇱 | Ajax | Barcelona | 2019/20 | Summer |
£75.00m | Matthijs de Ligt | 19 | 🇳🇱 | Ajax | Juventus | 2019/20 | Summer |
£74.73m | Neymar | 21 | 🇧🇷 | Santos | Barcelona | 2013/14 | Summer |
£74.21m | Romelu Lukaku | 24 | 🇧🇪 | Everton | Manchester United | 2017/18 | Summer |
£74.17m | Virgil van Dijk | 26 | 🇳🇱 | Southampton | Liverpool | 2017/18 | Winter |
£73.57m | Gonzalo Higuain | 28 | 🇦🇷 | Napoli | Juventus | 2016/17 | Summer |
£73.07m | Jadon Sancho | 21 | 🏴 | Borussia Dortmund | Manchester United | 2021/22 | Summer |
£72.45m | Darwin Nunez | 23 | 🇺🇾 | Benfica | Liverpool | 2022/23 | Summer |
£71.78m | Dusan Vlahovic | 22 | 🇷🇸 | Fiorentina | Juventus | 2021/22 | Winter |
£71.64m | Arthur Melo | 24 | 🇧🇷 | Barcelona | Juventus | 2020/21 | Summer |
£71.11m | Kai Havertz | 21 | 🇩🇪 | Bayer Leverkusen | Chelsea | 2020/21 | Summer |
£70.77m | Kepa Arrizabalaga | 23 | 🇪🇸 | Athletic Club | Chelsea | 2018/19 | Summer |
£70.15m | Lucas Hernandez | 23 | 🇫🇷 | Atletico Madrid | Bayern Munich | 2019/20 | Summer |
£70.15m | Nicolas Pepe | 24 | 🇨🇮 | Lille | Arsenal | 2019/20 | Summer |
£70.13m | Victor Osimhen | 21 | 🇳🇬 | Lille | Napoli | 2020/21 | Summer |
£68.53m | Wesley Fofana | 21 | 🇫🇷 | Leicester City | Chelsea | 2022/23 | Summer |
£68.19m | Aurelien Tchouameni | 22 | 🇫🇷 | Monaco | Real Madrid | 2022/23 | Summer |
£67.65m | Rasmus Hojlund | 20 | 🇩🇰 | Atalanta | Manchester United | 2023/24 | Summer |
£65.84m | Luis Suarez | 27 | 🇺🇾 | Liverpool | Barcelona | 2014/15 | Summer |
£65.22m | Kai Havertz | 24 | 🇩🇪 | Chelsea | Arsenal | 2023/24 | Summer |
£65.17m | Jhon Duran | 21 | 🇨🇴 | Aston Villa | Al-Nassr | 2024/25 | Winter |
£64.88m | Romelu Lukaku | 26 | 🇧🇪 | Manchester United | Inter Milan | 2019/20 | Summer |
£63.69m | Thomas Lemar | 22 | 🇫🇷 | Monaco | Atletico Madrid | 2018/19 | Summer |
£63.64m | Ruben Dias | 23 | 🇵🇹 | Benfica | Manchester City | 2020/21 | Summer |
£63.48m | Julian Alvarez | 24 | 🇦🇷 | Manchester City | Atletico Madrid | 2024/25 | Summer |
£63.48m | Omar Marmoush | 25 | 🇪🇬 | Eintracht Frankfurt | Manchester City | 2024/25 | Winter |
£62.80m | Matheus Cunha | 26 | 🇧🇷 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Manchester United | 2025/26 | Summer |
£61.87m | Zlatan Ibrahimovic | 27 | 🇸🇪 | Inter Milan | Barcelona | 2009/10 | Summer |
£61.38m | Rodri | 23 | 🇪🇸 | Atletico Madrid | Manchester City | 2019/20 | Summer |
£60.87m | Dominik Szoboszlai | 22 | 🇭🇺 | RB Leipzig | Liverpool | 2023/24 | Summer |
£60.43m | James Rodriguez | 23 | 🇨🇴 | Monaco | Real Madrid | 2014/15 | Summer |
£60.43m | Angel Di Maria | 26 | 🇦🇷 | Real Madrid | Manchester United | 2014/15 | Summer |
£60.22m | Casemiro | 30 | 🇧🇷 | Real Madrid | Manchester United | 2022/23 | Summer |
£59.97m | Riyad Mahrez | 27 | 🇩🇿 | Leicester City | Manchester City | 2018/19 | Summer |
£59.67m | Mykhaylo Mudryk | 22 | 🇺🇦 | Shakhtar Donetsk | Chelsea | 2022/23 | Winter |
£59.67m | Alexander Isak | 22 | 🇸🇪 | Real Sociedad | Newcastle United | 2022/23 | Summer |
£59.65m | Kaka | 27 | 🇧🇷 | Milan | Real Madrid | 2009/10 | Summer |
£59.25m | Khvicha Kvaratskhelia | 23 | 🇬🇪 | Napoli | Paris Saint-Germain | 2024/25 | Winter |
£58.87m | Mason Mount | 24 | 🏴 | Chelsea | Manchester United | 2023/24 | Summer |
£58.45m | Achraf Hakimi | 22 | 🇲🇦 | Inter Milan | Paris Saint-Germain | 2021/22 | Summer |
£57.83m | Alvaro Morata | 24 | 🇪🇸 | Real Madrid | Chelsea | 2017/18 | Summer |
£57.11m | Matthijs de Ligt | 22 | 🇳🇱 | Juventus | Bayern Munich | 2022/23 | Summer |
£56.99m | Bruno Fernandes | 25 | 🇵🇹 | Sporting | Manchester United | 2019/20 | Winter |
£56.99m | Joao Cancelo | 25 | 🇵🇹 | Juventus | Manchester City | 2019/20 | Summer |
£56.95m | Aymeric Laporte | 23 | 🇪🇸 | Athletic Club | Manchester City | 2017/18 | Winter |
£56.61m | Christian Pulisic | 20 | 🇺🇸 | Borussia Dortmund | Chelsea | 2018/19 | Winter |
£56.52m | Goncalo Ramos | 22 | 🇵🇹 | Benfica | Paris Saint-Germain | 2023/24 | Winter |
£55.86m | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | 28 | 🇬🇦 | Borussia Dortmund | Arsenal | 2017/18 | Winter |
£55.66m | Marc Cucurella | 24 | 🇪🇸 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Chelsea | 2022/23 | Summer |
£55.28m | Alisson | 25 | 🇧🇷 | AS Roma | Liverpool | 2018/19 | Summer |
£55.24m | Luka Jovic | 21 | 🇷🇸 | Eintracht Frankfurt | Real Madrid | 2019/20 | Summer |
£55.14m | Kevin De Bruyne | 24 | 🇧🇪 | Wolfsburg | Manchester City | 2015/16 | Summer |
£54.77m | Edinson Cavani | 26 | 🇺🇾 | Napoli | Paris Saint-Germain | 2013/14 | Summer |
£54.42m | Dominic Solanke | 26 | 🏴 | Bournemouth | Tottenham | 2024/25 | Summer |
£54.36m | Tanguy Ndombele | 22 | 🇫🇷 | Lyon | Tottenham | 2019/20 | Summer |
£54.00m | Romeo Lavia | 19 | 🇧🇪 | Southampton | Chelsea | 2023/24 | Summer |
£53.91m | Matheus Nunes | 25 | 🇵🇹 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Manchester City | 2023/24 | Summer |
£53.33m | Miralem Pjanic | 30 | 🇧🇦 | Juventus | Barcelona | 2020/21 | Summer |
£53.07m | Naby Keita | 23 | 🇬🇳 | RB Leipzig | Liverpool | 2018/19 | Summer |
£52.57m | Diego Costa | 29 | 🇧🇷 | Chelsea | Atletico Madrid | 2017/18 | Winter |
£52.47m | Leny Yoro | 18 | 🇫🇷 | Lille | Manchester United | 2024/25 | Summer |
£52.17m | Christopher Nkunku | 25 | 🇫🇷 | RB Leipzig | Chelsea | 2023/24 | Summer |
£52.17m | Manuel Ugarte | 22 | 🇺🇾 | Sporting | Paris Saint-Germain | 2023/24 | Summer |
£52.17m | Otavio | 28 | 🇵🇹 | Porto | Al-Nassr | 2023/24 | Summer |
£52.17m | Malcom | 26 | 🇧🇷 | Zenit Saint-Petersburg | Al-Hilal | 2023/24 | Summer |
£52.17m | Jeremy Doku | 21 | 🇧🇪 | Stade Rennais | Manchester City | 2023/24 | Summer |
£51.14m | Erling Haaland | 21 | 🇳🇴 | Borussia Dortmund | Manchester City | 2022/23 | Summer |
£50.78m | Moussa Diaby | 25 | 🇫🇷 | Aston Villa | Al-Ittihad | 2024/25 | Summer |
£50.78m | Pedro Neto | 24 | 🇵🇹 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Chelsea | 2024/25 | Summer |
£50.78m | Nico Gonzalez | 23 | 🇪🇸 | Porto | Manchester City | 2024/25 | Winter |
£50.71m | Joao Neves | 19 | 🇵🇹 | Benfica | Paris Saint-Germain | 2024/25 | Summer |
£49.05m | Oscar | 25 | 🇧🇷 | Chelsea | SH SIPG | 2016/17 | Winter |
£48.18m | Zinedine Zidane | 29 | 🇫🇷 | Juventus | Real Madrid | 2001/02 | Summer |
£46.22m | Raheem Sterling | 20 | 🏴 | Liverpool | Manchester City | 2015/16 | Summer |
£45.71m | Angel Di Maria | 27 | 🇦🇷 | Manchester United | Paris Saint-Germain | 2015/16 | Summer |
£43.53m | Anthony Martial | 19 | 🇫🇷 | Monaco | Manchester United | 2015/16 | Summer |
£43.48m | Kim Min-jae | 27 | 🇰🇷 | Napoli | Bayern Munich | 2023/24 | Summer |
The biggest move, naturally, is Neymar's £194.5m move from Barcelona to PSG in 2017.
The scale of that fee also qualifies that move as one of the most shocking transfers ever, alongside a transfer that doesn't quite make the list: Luis Figo's stunning move from Barcelona to Real Madrid in summer 2000.
That means Zinedine Zidane's switch to Real the following year is the oldest transfer still in the top 100 - though that's likely to be bumped out sooner rather than later, at which point it will be Cristiano Ronaldo's move from Manchester United to (you guessed it) Real Madrid in 2009.
Arsenal's acquisition of Declan Rice in 2023 makes him the most expensive English player of all time, just pipping Jack Grealish's move from Aston Villa to Manchester City two years earlier.
Philippe Coutinho remains the most expensive Premier League player of all time following his move from Liverpool to Barcelona in January 2018.
At time of writing this looks like it could soon by gazumped by Liverpool's club-record transfer bid for Florian Wirtz, but Enzo Fernandez is currently the most expensively-acquired by a Premier League club, when he moved from Benfica to Chelsea in 2023
Benfica have been the biggest beneficiaries overall from the top 100 transfers, incidentally.
The Portuguese side have been the selling club in six of the 100 deals, the joint-most alongside Borussia Dortmund, but have made about £4.7m more than the German side. Benfica are also the only club to date to have sold two players for £100m+ (Joao Felix to Atletico Madrid being the other).
Manchester City have the most entries in the top 100 (14), just ahead of Chelsea and Manchester United (13 each) - though Chelsea have just about spent the most of anybody on top 100 players, at £898.3m.
PSG (£813.9m) are the only other club to even come close to that Premier League trio for spending and have ten entries in the list. Real Madrid have nine, Barcelona eight.
Ready for some more trivia? Lovely. Nicolas Pepe is the most expensive African player of all time, although that is much to his chagrin... and to Arsenal's.
South Korean international Kim Min-Jae is the most expensive Asian player of all time: he moved from Napoli to Bayern Munich for €50m in 2023. North America has just one representative in the top 100 transfers list, meanwhile, via USA international Christian Pulisic's move from Borussia Dortmund to Chelsea in 2019.
Over half of the top 100 transfers have been moves for players aged 21 to 25. Leny Yoro is the youngest entrant: he was 18 when he left Lille to join Manchester United last year.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the oldest, meanwhile, joining Juventus from Real Madrid for £103.5m in 2018, when he was 33.
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