Some of the most legendary players in Premier League history also come with a heavy price tag. But year after year, club owners redefine how much they’re willing to shell out in order to sign the biggest footballers over to their club.
Sometimes, these investments pay out big time with massively successful seasons and performances. Other times, it takes awhile for a player to reach their potential – especially if they’re new to the Premier League. And sometimes these million-pound transfer fees amount to truly epic failures.
Either way, the skyrocketing transfer fees paid by Premier League players continues to signal exactly who a club thinks their next star player is. Read on to relive the biggest transfer fees in the history of the English Premier League.
Gareth Bale
Transfer Fee: £85,1 Million From: Tottenham Hotspur To: Real Madrid
Considered by some to be one of the greatest footballers currently in the game, Gareth Bale started off playing for Southampton before signing with Tottenham Hotspur. Though his early seasons were beset with injuries, he soon rose to global stardom as one of the League’s standout players.
Tottenham Hotspur fans were crushed to learn, in 2013, that Bale had transferred out of the Premier League to Real Madrid. At the time, his £85,1 million broke the record for the biggest transfer fee in football history.
Bale’s success at Real Madrid is still going strong. But it’s hard to deny that Bale undoubtedly developed his game during those years in the Premier League. His speed remains virtually unmatched in all of football.
Raheem Sterling
Transfer Fee: £44 Million From: Liverpool To: Manchester City
Jamaican-born winger Raheem Sterling burst onto the scene in England’s youth league, quickly drawing the attention of every club in the League. He was signed by Liverpool in 2010, where he quickly racked up a stellar reputation as one of the most promising new players on the field.
After being shortlisted for the prestigious PFA Young Player of the Year award multiple seasons in a row, Sterling hit a snag when it came time to renegotiate his Liverpool contract. He soon announced a transfer to Manchester City for roughly £44 million.
Sterling’s career with Man City has been incredibly successful, with Sterling scoring some of the biggest goals and hat tricks of his career during this time. He also played for England twice in the World Cup – first in 2014, and then again in 2018. Sterling recently spearheaded a campaign against what he says is a discriminating portrayal of black players by football pundits.
Mohamed Salah
Transfer Fee: £35,9 Million From: Roma To: Liverpool
Powerhouse forward Mohamed Salah is considered to be one of the best footballers currently in the sport. He’s received nearly every award imaginable, including the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award and a Premier League Golden Boot.
After starting off in the Egyptian league (his home country), he played for Basel and then transferred to Chelsea. A loan to Roma turned into a permanent contract. But his £35,9 million transfer to Liverpool in 2017 was a record-breaking payout for the club at the time.
Salah undeniably has been playing the best football of his life now that he dons a Liverpool jersey. Fans can be heard chanting at his games: “If he’s good enough for you, he’s good enough for me; if he scores another few, then I’ll be a Muslim too.”
Kevin De Bruyne
Transfer Fee: £65,1 Million From: VfL Wolfsburg To: Manchester City
Legendary midfielder Kevin De Bruyne was born in Belgium, but has been a star player in the Premier League for the last decade. Some people cite him as one of the greatest living football players currently in the game.
De Bruyne ping-ponged from Chelsea to Wolfsburg for a few seasons. But during the end of his time at Wolfsburg, he’d amassed a reputation as one of the most impressive goalscorers in Europe. Germany named him as their 2015 Footballer of the Year.
Manchester City paid a massive £65,1 million to sign De Bruyne in 2015 – one of the club’s smartest investments ever. A serious knee injury has him sitting out much of the 2018-19 season. But fans and club owners are praying for a speedy recovery. In the meantime, he recently signed with Jay-Z’s sports management firm. Cleary he has the future on his mind
Naby Keïta
Transfer Fee: £51,3 Million From: RB Leipzig To: Liverpool
After making a name for himself as a promising midfielder in the French football league, Naby Keïta eventually found himself in the Premier League playing for Liverpool. His £51,3 million transfer from RB Leipzig underscored Liverpool’s faith in his talent.
So far, it remains to be seen if the transfer was really worth what Liverpool paid. His scoring potential as seen during his season with RB Leipzig hasn’t really been matched yet. Despite an impressive goal during Guinea’s bid for the 2018 World Cup, his international career hasn’t really soared either.
Keïta was charged with falsifying documents to obtain a German driver’s license during his time playing in Germany’s football league. Though the conviction amounted only to fines in the end, you can be sure it hurt his PR – and any future transfers Liverpool may seek. Especially if his game doesn’t pick up soon.
Juan Mata
Transfer Fee: £38,3 Million From: Chelsea To: Manchester United
If there’s one player Manchester United fans cherish most, it might be Spanish footballer Juan Mata. Initially recruited into the Premier League by Chelsea, he transferred to Manchester United in 2013 for a staggering £38,3 million.
Though not the fastest man on the field by any means, Mata’s impressive ball handling and prowess at the free kick makes him a reliable asset to the team. He often comes through in a pinch, often scoring the winning goal in a fiercely-fought match.
Mata is also a favourite for his charitable heart. In 2017 he pledged to donate one percent of his entire annual salary to philanthropic causes. Through this promise he started the Common Goal charity movement, which has since partnered with the UN and FIFA video games to raise awareness for charity.
Sadio Mané
Transfer Fee: £35,2 Million From: Southampton To: Liverpool
Originally from Senegal, Liverpool winger Sadio Mané made his Premier League debut with Southampton in 2014 (he transferred from the Austrian league). But his massive 2016 transfer fee of £35,2 million to Liverpool made him the Premier League’s most expensive player of African descent at the time.
Few would argue that the high fee wasn’t worth every last penny. Mané has proven himself time and time again to be one of Liverpool’s most essential point scorers. He recently posted his fiftieth goal for Liverpool, in fact, in his third season.
In addition to representing Senegal at the Olympics and the Africa Cup of Nations, he was on Senegal’s squad for the 2018 World Cup.
Jorginho
Transfer Fee: £48,8 Million From: SSC Napoli To: Chelsea
Jorginho was one of Napoli’s biggest football stars prior to his Premier League debut in 2018. Thanks to his impressive skill, Napoli was able to win both the Supercoppa Italiana and the Coppa Italia in 2014.
After being rumoured as a top pick for Manchester City, Chelsea swept in for a last-minute transfer, signing Jorginho for a £48,8 million transfer. He scored a goal in his debut match for the club. A promising sign of even more good things to come.
Jorginho’s since broken the Premier League’s attempted passes record, and cemented himself as a solid point scorer for Chelsea’s offense. He plays for the Italian national team (though is also eligible to play for Brazil).
Aymeric Laporte
Transfer Fee: £57 Million From: Athletic Bilbao To: Manchester City
Young french footballer Aymeric Laporte was a star in France’s youth league. He was recruited by Athletic Bilbao and played his first professional game in 2010 ate age sixteen. A versatile centre back, Laporte played 220 matched for Bilbao before transferring to Man City.
His rumoured £57 million transfer fee in 2018 was thought to be a record-breaking sum for both Manchester City and Bilbao at the time. He’s since been a welcomed member of Man City, though it would seem his potential as a point-scorer has yet to be fully realised.
Laporte initially sought Spanish citizenship in order to qualify for Spain’s national team in the 2018 World Cup. But after getting the call to rep France, he decided to stick with his French citizenship – though notably, he didn’t end up playing in the World Cup.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Transfer Fee: £56 Million From: Borussia Dortmund To: Arsenal
Arsenal’s star striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hails from the Gabonese Republic. His impressive youth career caught the attention of leagues all over the world. Prior to his tenure at Arsenal, he has stints in Milan and France before coming to the Premier League.
At roughly £56 million, Aubameyang became the most expensive Gabonese footballer in Premier League history when he transferred to Arsenal in 2017. So far, Aubameyang’s been worth every last penny.
In the 2018-19 season alone, Aubameyang’s minutes-per-goal ratio stands at a whopping 104.6 – the best in the history of English football. In addition to racking up goals, he’s been directly responsible for countless assists, making him one of Arsenal’s most crucial players.
Robinho
Transfer Fee: £32,5 Million From: Real Madrid To: Manchester City
The world had such high hopes for Robinho. Hand-picked by Pelé as the next great Brazilian footballer, Robinho’s early years were certainly promising. Following solid seasons with Santos and Real Madrid, he made a last-minute transfer to Manchester City (though initially Chelsea had made the bid).
Robinho ended up being Man City’s top point scorer in his debut season. But the next season, his play deteriorated swiftly and permanently. Though injury was partly to blame, he simply stopped putting points on the board. He transferred out of the Premier League before completing his second season at Man city.
His personal life may hold some answers. Robinho was sentenced to nine years in prison in Italy. Robinho has seemingly eluded prison by staying away from the country. He currently plays in the Turkish football league for Super Lig.
Mesut Özil
Transfer Fee: £42,5 Million From: Real Madrid To: Arsenal
Another legendary footballer already written into sports history books, Mesut Özil rocketed to fame as one of Real Madrid’s best attacking midfielders. His performance caught attention from nearly every scout in the Premier League.
Özil would eventually transfer to Arsenal in 2013 for an estimated £42,5 million – the most ever paid for a German footballer in Premier League history. Things initially got off to a rocky start. But within two seasons, Özil was living up to the very high expectations fans and owners had for him.
Özil faced controversy on the international stage after posing for a picture with Turkish president Tayyip Erdoğan (a leader perceived by some as a ruthless dictator). He formally retired from the German national team to protest the backlash he received.
Ashley Young
Transfer Fee: £15,4 Million From: Aston Villa To: Manchester United
Star English footballer Ashley Young broke out of the youth leagues playing for Watford. He signed with Aston Villa in 2007, breaking their record for the highest player in club history. By the end of the 2010-11 season he was one of Aston Villa’s most prized goal scorers.
Aston Villa fans were very sorry to see him transfer to Manchester United in 2011. But since then, Young’s talent has truly exploded well past expectations. Manchester fought hard to keep Young happy, signing him and re-signing him repeatedly as his contracts expired.
Young’s appearances were limited in recent seasons. But he just signed a new contract keeping him in a Manchester United jersey until 2020. On the international side he played for the English national squad in the 2018 World Cup, helping lead England to one of its best FIFA performances in decades.
Philippe Coutinho
Transfer Fee: £105 Million From: Liverpool To: Barcelona
Brazilian-born winger Philippe Coutinho shattered records left and right during his time in the Premier League playing for Liverpool. To this day he remains the League’s top Brazilian point scorer in history.
But his big price tag, coupled with sporadic injuries, ultimately led to his transfer out of the Premier League to Barcelona in 2018. Barcelona paid a record-setting £105 million to bring him to La Liga.
Known as “The Kid” and the “Little Magician” to his fans, Coutinho played for the Brazilian national team in the 2018 World Cup, scoring in his debut match against Switzerland. You can be sure Liverpool fans miss him dearly, though the door is always open for a return to the Premier League.
Fernando Torres
Transfer Fee: £50,1 Million From: Liverpool To: Chelsea
Spanish footballer Fernando Torres currently plays in Japan, but was once among the hottest players in the Premier League. He started off as a star player for Atlético Madrid, eventually earning him a transfer to Liverpool in 2007.
But when Chelsea paid to transfer him from Liverpool in 2011, they paid big time. At the time, his £50,1 million broke the record for the most expensive in Premier League history (and the sixth biggest in the entire history of the sport worldwide).
Torres’ time playing for Chelsea remain some of the highlights of the club’s history. A talented striker, he made many last-minute goals that would win Chelsea many fiercely-fought matches. Many fans were quite sorry to see him go in 2014, when he loaned to Milan.
Ángel Di María
Transfer Fee: £59,7 Million From: Real Madrid To: Manchester United
Ángel Di María burst onto the scene as one of the strongest, fastest midfielders in Real Madrid during the 2010-11 season. The Argentine national played for Madrid for four seasons, building up an impressive reputation as a solid (if somewhat erratic) point-scorer.
Manchester United made a huge investment when they transferred him to the Premier League in 2014. Unfortunately, fans will recall how poorly that first season worked out for all sides. Despite the record-breaking fee for a five-year contract, María transferred out of the Premier League after just one season.
Now playing for Paris Saint-Germain, María has fared somewhat better on the field. He played for his national team of Argentina in the 2018 World Cup.
Benjamin Mendy
Transfer Fee: £49,2 Million From: Monaco To: Manchester City
Young French football star Benjamin Mendy is currently sidelined due to an ugly injury. But Man City fans are likely praying for a quick recovery so that their beloved defendor can return to the field.
Prior to his massive transfer to Manchester City, Mendy had soared to international fame as one of the key players in Monaco’s lineup. He was one of the UNFP’s Team of the Year in 2017 during his career-high final season at Monaco.
Mendy may perhaps be better-known to fans for his social media presence than his actual gameplay. He’s still relatively new to the club – and thanks to surgery on his left knee, is out of the game for another several weeks.
Paul Pogba
Transfer Fee: £89,3 Million From: Juventus To: Manchester United
French footballer Paul Pogba shattered sports history when he transferred to Manchester United from Juventus for a whopping £89,3 pounds. This staggering sum remains the highest transfer fee in Premier League history.
But was it worth it? Well, that depends who you ask. Pogba’s last few seasons have seen a mixed bag of results. While no one can deny his sheer speed and power, his form has been inconsistent since his transfer (his second) in 2016. This was reportedly due to a decaying relationship with former Manchester United manager José Mourinho.
Under new management, however, Pogba’s performance has seemingly bounced back to its promised potential. But so far many are still on the bench as to whether or not his price tag was worth the cost.
Alisson Becker
Transfer Fee: £67 Million From: Roma To: Liverpool
Liverpool’s goalkeeper, Alisson, is one of the absolute best on the field. Originally from Brazil, he made a big splash on the youth circuit before accepting a transfer to Roma in 2016. He quickly caught the attention of Premier League recruiters.
When Liverpool agreed to pay a massive £67 million transfer fee, it shattered the record for the biggest fee ever paid for a goalkeeper. Though this record would be smashed just a few weeks later, it remains a truly impressive sum.
And so far, Liverpool has a lot to gloat about. Becker’s 2018-19 season has seen a record-high 17 clean sheets – the highest for a Premier League goalkeeper in his debut season, ever.
John Stones
Transfer Fee: £47,6 Million From: Everton To: Manchester City
English footballer John Stones kicked off his professional career in the Premier League playing for Everton. During this time he emerged as one of the club’s star players until a serious ankle injury threatened to remove him from the game.
He eventually bounced back from injury, eventually signing with Manchester City in 2015. Despite the massive £47,6 million transfer fee, Man City fans soon soured to Stones, citing his middling performance on the field.
Much of Stones’ recent career has been riddled with injuries, much of it sustained during his international career representing England (he played in the 2018 World Cup). Still, his incredibly versatility as a defender gives some fans hope that he might live up to that investment Man City owners paid.
Kepa
Transfer Fee: £68,5 Million From: Athletic Bilbao To: Chelsea
Some say Kepa Arrizabalaga is among the greatest goalkeepers currently in football. This hype would certainly explain the whopping £68,5 million Chelsea paid to transfer him from Athletic Bilbao in 2018. But Kepa’s skills speak for themselves.
Kepa’s first season with Chelsea was initially off to a fantastic start. But things hit a snag following a miscommunication during an attempted substitute – one which cost Chelsea to lose the 2019 EFL Cup Final to longtime rival Manchester City.
On the international level, Kepa played for Spain in the 2018 World Cup (he was unable to compete in the 2013 World Cup because of an injury). At only 24 years of age, Kepa’s star is undoubtedly still on the rise.