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Most expensive soccer transfers all time in history

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Most Expensive Football Player Transfers Of All Time
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Most expensive soccer transfers 2025 – what’s the most expensive transfer in soccer history?

World’s most expensive soccer transfers all time? Have you ever wanted to find out which soccer transfers that are the all time most expensive in history? Well, if you have then worry not because we have prepared a list of the most expensive soccer transfers in history. Watch & Bet Football Live =>

Most Expensive Football Player Transfers

List of most expensive soccer transfers all time

The world of association football has witnessed a remarkable financial evolution over the past decades, with player transfer fees reaching astronomical figures that were once unimaginable.

The summer 2025 transfer window has proven to be one of the most explosive in history, with British transfer records shattered and global benchmarks reaffirmed as elite clubs continue to invest unprecedented sums in pursuit of talent.

The current transfer record remains Neymar’s 2017 move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain for €222 million (£200 million), but the latest window has introduced several new entries to the exclusive list of football’s most expensive transfers, highlighting the inflationary trajectory of player values in the modern game. Watch & Bet Football Live =>

What is the most expensive soccer transfer ever?

The most expensive soccer transfer in history is Neymar’s move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2017 for a staggering €222 million (£200 million).

This transfer shattered the previous record and significantly inflated the football transfer market. Neymar’s move was facilitated by PSG activating his release clause, and it remains the benchmark for all subsequent high-value transfers.

Despite his contributions to PSG, including multiple domestic titles, the transfer is often debated due to its financial impact and Neymar’s injury challenges during his tenure in Paris.

Is Lamine Yamal the most expensive player?

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No, Lamine Yamal is not the most expensive player in terms of transfer fees.

As of 2025, he holds the title of the most valuable player globally, with a market value of €279.7 million, but he has not been transferred for this amount.

The distinction between “most valuable” and “most expensive” is important: Yamal’s valuation reflects his potential, performance, and marketability, while transfer fees represent actual amounts paid between clubs.

The record for the most expensive transfer remains Neymar’s €222 million move to PSG in 2017.

Who is the biggest men’s football transfer?

The biggest men’s football transfer refers to the highest fee paid for a player, which is Neymar’s transfer from Barcelona to PSG in 2017 for €222 million (£200 million).

This move not only set the current world record but also dramatically shifted the financial landscape of football, influencing subsequent transfers like Kylian Mbappé’s €180 million move to PSG and recent high-profile deals such as Alexander Isak’s €144.5 million transfer to Liverpool in 2025.

Neymar’s transfer remains the most significant in history due to its unprecedented financial scale and global impact.

Who is the most expensive right back transfer?

The most expensive right-back transfer is Achraf Hakimi’s move from Inter Milan to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2021 for €68 million.

This transfer surpassed the previous record held by João Cancelo, who joined Manchester City from Juventus for €65 million in 2019.

Hakimi’s defensive prowess and attacking capabilities justified PSG’s investment, making him a key player in their squad. Other notable expensive right-backs include Ben White (€58.5 million to Arsenal) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (€55 million to Manchester United).

50 most expensive soccer transfers in history

This list shows soccer transfers and done deals by teams like PSG, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Man Utd, Man City and others teams are not afraid to spend to lure the best players into their teams.

Let’s now have a look at the list of most expensive soccer transfers in history. Here is the list with most expensive transfers in soccer of all times. Enjoy!

Here are the Top 50 most expensive soccer transfers:

Rank Player From To Position Fee (€ million) Year
50 Randal Kolo Muani Eintracht Frankfurt Paris Saint-Germain Forward €75 2023
49 Julián Álvarez Manchester City Atlético Madrid Forward €75 2024
48 Victor Osimhen Napoli Galatasaray Forward €75 2025
47 Nick Woltemade VfB Stuttgart Newcastle United Forward €75 2025
46 Bryan Mbeumo Brentford Manchester United Forward €75 2025
45 Frenkie de Jong Ajax Barcelona Midfielder €75 2019
44 Matthijs de Ligt Ajax Juventus Defender €75 2019
43 Kai Havertz Chelsea Arsenal Midfielder €75.3 2023
42 Ángel Di María Real Madrid Manchester United Forward €75.6 2014
41 Kevin De Bruyne VfL Wolfsburg Manchester City Midfielder €75.7 2015
40 Benjamin Šeško RB Leipzig Manchester United Forward €76.5 2025
39 Jhon Durán Aston Villa Al Nassr Forward €77 2025
38 Zinedine Zidane Juventus Real Madrid Midfielder €77.5 2001
37 James Rodríguez Monaco Real Madrid Midfielder €80 2014
36 Lucas Hernandez Atlético Madrid Bayern Munich Defender €80 2019
35 Aurélien Tchouaméni Monaco Real Madrid Midfielder €80 2022
34 Hugo Ekitike Eintracht Frankfurt Liverpool Forward €80 2025
33 Kepa Arrizabalaga Athletic Bilbao Chelsea Goalkeeper €80 2018
32 Nicolas Pépé Lille Arsenal Midfielder €80 2019
31 Romelu Lukaku Manchester United Inter Milan Forward €80 2019
30 Wesley Fofana Leicester City Chelsea Defender €80.9 2022
29 Luis Suárez Liverpool Barcelona Forward €82.3 2014
28 Virgil van Dijk Southampton Liverpool Defender €84.4 2018
27 Romelu Lukaku Everton Manchester United Forward €84.8 2017
26 Jadon Sancho Borussia Dortmund Manchester United Midfielder €85 2021
25 Harry Maguire Leicester City Manchester United Defender €86.6 2019
24 Gonzalo Higuaín Napoli Juventus Forward €90 2016
23 Neymar Paris Saint-Germain Al Hilal Forward €90 2023
22 Joško Gvardiol RB Leipzig Manchester City Defender €90 2023
21 Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United Real Madrid Forward €94 2009

You can find are the next 20 most expensive soccer transfers below in our list with the Top 20 most expensive soccer transfers.

Top 20 most expensive soccer transfers

Top 20 most expensive soccer transfers

Here are the Top 20 most expensive soccer transfers:

Rank Player From To Position Fee (€ million) Year
20 Antony Ajax Manchester United Forward €95 2022
19 Gareth Bale Tottenham Hotspur Real Madrid Forward €100 2013
18 Harry Kane Tottenham Hotspur Bayern Munich Forward €100 2023
17 Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid Juventus Forward €100 2018
16 Eden Hazard Chelsea Real Madrid Forward €100 2019
15 Jude Bellingham Borussia Dortmund Real Madrid Midfielder €103 2023
14 Paul Pogba Juventus Manchester United Midfielder €105 2016
13 Ousmane Dembélé Borussia Dortmund Barcelona Forward €105 2017
12 Romelu Lukaku Inter Milan Chelsea Forward €115 2021
11 Moisés Caicedo Brighton & Hove Albion Chelsea Midfielder €116.3 2023

You can find are the next 10 most expensive soccer transfers below in our list with the Top 10 most expensive soccer transfers.

Top 10 most expensive soccer transfers

Top 10 most expensive soccer transfers

Here are the Top 10 most expensive soccer transfers:

Rank Player From To Position Fee (€ million) Year
10 Declan Rice West Ham United Arsenal Midfielder €116.5 2023
9 Florian Wirtz Bayer Leverkusen Liverpool Midfielder €117.5 2025
8 Jack Grealish Aston Villa Manchester City Midfielder €117.7 2021
7 Philippe Coutinho Liverpool Barcelona Midfielder €118.4 2018
6 Antoine Griezmann Atlético Madrid Barcelona Forward €120 2019
5 Enzo Fernández Benfica Chelsea Midfielder €121 2023
4 João Félix Benfica Atlético Madrid Forward €126 2019
3 Alexander Isak Newcastle United Liverpool Forward €144.5 2025
2 Kylian Mbappé Monaco Paris Saint-Germain Forward €180 2017
1 Neymar Barcelona Paris Saint-Germain Forward €222 2017

PSG transfers are the two most expensive soccer transfers in history

PSG transfers are the two most expensive transfers in soccer history

Paris Saint-Germain is the team behind the two most expensive transfers in soccer history. PSG, the French Ligue 1 club, paid Barcelona and Monaco huge amounts for their top forward players Neymar and Kylian Mbappé.

# PSG transfers From Transfer Fee Year
MEUR MGBP
1 Neymar Barcelona €222 £198 2017
2 Kylian Mbappé Monaco €180 £163 2018

Neymar is the most expensive transfer in soccer history

© Bildbyrån

Neymar is the most expensive transfer in soccer history

Who is the most expensive soccer player? What is the most expensive soccer transfer in history?

Neymar is the most expensive player following his transfer from Barcelona to PSG in the summer of 2017 for a world-record fee of almost £200 million surpassing the record set by Paul Pogba in 2016 after joining Manchester United. Watch & Bet Football Live =>

Most expensive football player in Premier League

The most expensive football player in Premier League history is Alexander Isak, whose 2025 transfer from Newcastle United to Liverpool set a new British record fee of £125 million (approximately €144.5 million).

This move surpassed the previous record held by Moisés Caicedo, who joined Chelsea for £115 million in 2023. Isak’s transfer was characterized by a protracted and acrimonious saga, involving the player’s refusal to participate in preseason activities and public statements criticizing Newcastle’s management.

The deal includes a six-year contract, with Liverpool bearing a total financial commitment exceeding £200 million when accounting for wages and ancillary fees.

Isak’s arrival at Liverpool highlights the escalating financial power of Premier League clubs and the strategic premium placed on elite attacking talent.

His record-breaking transfer underscores the league’s continued dominance in global football economics, driven by lucrative broadcasting deals and competitive ambitions

Breaking Down the 2025 Transfer Window: A New Era of Spending

Liverpool emerged as the most active big-spender, securing three of the window’s most expensive transfers: Alexander Isak from Newcastle United for €144.5 million (£125 million), Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for €117.5 million (£100 million potentially rising to £116 million with add-ons), and Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt for €80 million (£69 million potentially rising to £79 million with add-ons).

The Isak transfer is particularly fascinating due to the financial complexities involved. While Liverpool stated they paid a fixed fee of £125 million, Newcastle claimed the deal was worth £130 million to them, possibly due to solidarity payments to Isak’s former clubs (AIK, Borussia Dortmund, and Real Sociedad).

The Swedish striker’s acrimonious departure from Newcastle—which involved a missed pre-season tour and training alone—added drama to one of the summer’s most protracted transfer sagas.

Manchester United also featured prominently in the high-spending category, acquiring Benjamin Šeško from RB Leipzig for €76.5 million (£66.3 million potentially rising to £73.4 million with add-ons) and Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford for €75 million (£65 million potentially rising to £71 million with add-ons).

These signings represent Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ambitious approach to rebuilding the squad despite previous cost-cutting measures.

Other notable 2025 transfers include Nick Woltemade’s move from Stuttgart to Newcastle United for €75 million (£64.9 million potentially rising to £69 million with add-ons), which ironically helped facilitate Isak’s record-breaking transfer to Liverpool, and Victor Osimhen’s surprising move from Napoli to Galatasaray for €75 million (£64.8 million), which represented something of an underwhelming outcome for a player long linked with Premier League clubs.

Most expensive transfer in soccer history

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