Top 10 Most Expensive Football Transfers
80m for Ronaldo? Seriously?
We’re less than a month into the summer 2009 transfer window, and we’ve already seen the world’s transfer record shattered not once, but twice.
After archrivals Barcelona grabbed headlines this past season on the way to completing a La Liga/Champions League/Copa del Rey treble, Real Madrid needed to make a big splash this summer, and they’ve done that and then some by signing the last two men crowned World Player of the Year.
Earlier this month, Real landed Kaka from AC Milan in a £56m deal, breaking the record that they’d held since 2001, when they signed Zinedine Zidane from Juventus for what now seems like a paltry £45.62m. While the previous record last nearly eight years, that one stood for only a few weeks, as Real blew it out of the water when they completed the long-awaited and highly-anticipated signing of Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo for a whopping £80m.
Before this summer, Real held the top two spots in the list of the world’s most expensive transfers, and now they hold the top four spots for most expensive purchases.
Top 10 Overall Transfers
1. Cristiano Ronaldo: Manchester United to Real Madrid - £80m (2009)
2. Kaka: AC Milan to Real Madrid - £56m (2009)
3. Zinedine Zidane: Juventus to Real Madrid - £45.62m (2001)
4. Luis Figo: Barcelona to Real Madrid - £37m (2000)
5. Hernan Crespo: Parma to Lazio - £35.5m (2000)
6. Gianluigi Buffon: Parma to Juventus - £32.6m (2001)
7. Robinho: Real Madrid to Manchester City - £32.5m (2008)
8. Christian Vieri: Lazio to Inter - £32m (1999)
9. Dimitar Berbatov: Tottenham to Manchester United - £30.75m (2008)
10. Andriy Shevchenko: AC Milan to Chelsea - £30m (2006)
Bumped from the top 10: Rio Ferdinand (Leeds to Manchester United - £29.1m in 2002), Gaizka Mendieta (Valencia to Lazio - £29m in 2001)
Ronaldo’s move from United to Real is certainly the most expensive transfer out of the Premier League, but as of now, the record for most expensive transfer into the Premier League remains the same, with Manchester City topping the charts with their £32.5m purchase of Robinho on deadline day last summer.
Top 10 Premier League Transfers
1. Robinho
2. Berbatov
3. Shevchenko
4. Rio Ferdinand: Leeds to Manchester United - £29.1m (2002)
5. Juan Sebastian Veron: Lazio to Manchester United - £28.1m (2001)
6. Michael Essien: Lyon to Chelsea - £24.43m (2005)
7. Didier Drogba: Marseille to Chelsea - £24m (2004)
8. Wayne Rooney: Everton to Manchester United - £23m initially (2004)
9. Shaun Wright-Phillips: Manchester City to Chelsea - £21m (2005)
10. Fernando Torres: Atletico Madrid to Liverpool - £20m (2007)
It’d be safe to assume that Ronaldo’s record won’t be broken for a while, but how much longer will the Premier League record last? Manchester United are in the market for a new forward, and whether they land David Villa, Karim Benzema, or Sergio Aguero, a purchase of any one of that trio will more than likely knock City’s Robinho move from top spot.
However, they aren’t the only ones who could be spending big this summer, and with two months to go before the window closes, don’t bank on these lists looking the same as they do now.
This page was last updated on 30 June 2009.
Also see: Football transfer records.
cool
Are these prices inflation-adjusted? That is, are they reported in real-values (instead of nominal values)? If they are nominal (which I doubt they are), then they doesn’t give much impression regarding the most expensive transfer(s).
I think fees should go even higher so that clubs become real careful about whom they sign. It is very embarrasing for a club to make an expensive mistake (Veron, Sheva). It brings them back to earth, kinda puts things into perspective, and kinda helps balancing out the wealth distribution.
We all focus on the exhorbitant amount that a club PAID for a player, but what about the ‘lucky’ club on the receiving end? The one that becomes rich overnight, just by selling some above-average player with a superstar price-tag. Isn’t that nice?
Wow, Carvalho cost more than Ruud. No doubt he’s a great defender, but I can’t believe Porto (it was them yeah?) milked Jose that much.
just cuz some big stars flop terribly doesnt mean they are duds………..do u really think sheva was an above average player with a superstar pricetag? do u really think he churned out flukes for milan? and very consistently at tht? its just a matter of adjustin to a new environment which unfortunately some dont do well as others…..
@srikanth
You’re missing my point completely, and NO, I don’t think Sheva is an above-average player, neither was Veron. That’s not the point. They were however undoubtedly ‘expensive mistakes’. (Btw, because of his age, Sheva does not really have the luxury of taking his time to adjust…that’s mainly what makes it a very costly ‘mistake’)
Above-average - the likes of Bent, Carrick, Carvalho, SWP, etc.
Other reason I want prices to increase is because I want to setup trials for my son at United in a couple of years time
Just for the record…
Roman took a gamble on Sheva. If I had Roman’s money, I would have done the exact same thing. If it worked, it would have been mind-blowing!
u forgot beckham’s move to real madrid
Wheres Anelka to Real Madrid?
Good point Haider!
Based on what City’s new owners are saying watch the top 10 translate into a whole new order in the next couple of years!
Hilarious…us Chelsea boys get shite all the time about hwo much we spend, yet United is on the list as often as we are…
It doesn’t matter whom you are; spending money wins titles!
Where is José Enrique in that list?
Chelsea get all the bashing, but Utd seem to spend as heavily as chelsea do . Just last year, they spend around 60 MM on Nani , Anderson & Owen Hargareves. Carrick, Evra , Vidic a year back.
Tevez signing will cost another 30 MM this year
“Chelsea get all the bashing, but Utd seem to spend as heavily as chelsea do”
The only way to stay on the pace is to spend and keep your team competitive. I get tired going over this but let’s do it 1 more time.
Since the PL began Utd have been the definitive case study in excellence in running a successful footbal club/ sports business. They have for some years outspent their main rivals to stay at the top, grow their brand and continue winning trophies. The model for success is simple really.
When the PL began Utd were on a perfectly even playing field (so to speak)with their rivals but through excellence they have EARNED the ability to spend and stay at the top.
Chelsea on the other hand achieved very little before RA arrived and started to throw money around like an Arab in a brothel.
There’s a subtle difference in the two situations but, it seems, too subtle for the likes of Brian W and Henry to understand.
There’s no difference BD,e xcept for this notion in the head of United supporters that “it’s wrong to spend gobs of money…unless it’s us doing the spending!”
I have no complaints that the United model is the case study in achieving domestic and Euorpean success in football. But throwing money around is throwing money around, and Chelsea have achieved success following the same model.
“Earned” the right to stay at the top? United haven’t earned anything. They have the respect for being a top club, successful in their endeavors…and the hatred of non-Reds because of hypocritical, self-glorifying statements such as that. That argument is pathetic as Scousers clinging to their history as an excuse for not doing anything relevant in the last decade.
Correction: United HAVE earned their right to stay at the top - but that does not preclude anyone else from doing the same, nor does it give United the inalienable right to cast down judgment on other clubs that also spend as much as they do.
Brian W, the problem is most people think that there IS a difference.
As for these comments:
“this notion in the head of United supporters that “it’s wrong to spend gobs of money…unless it’s us doing the spending!—
and
“nor does it give United the inalienable right to cast down judgment on other clubs that also spend as much as they do.”
Absolute nonsense! Your inventing things to try and suport your own position. Utd fans do no such thing. What they DO do, along with fans of other teams, is slag off Chelsea for buying the League, with no pedigree or hard work backing it up.
It comes down to respect, something which is earned. While Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal fans may have bitter rivalries, they nevertheless respect each other as clubs.
Nobody respects Chelsea and that’s what rankles with you and leads you to make irrational statements as you have.
I’m on record as saying that in a free market economy anyone is entitled to buy a club and pour money into it and buy success as Chelsea have and I have no issue with that, being a good capitalist.
Just don’t turn around afterwards and try to pretend that success wasn’t bought and that running a club at massive losses when your rivals are constrained by having to balance the books, isn’t a huge advantage and one that, frankly, diminishes any achievements.
By the way, if you wish to produce supporting evidence for your statements I’m all ears!
My evidence is two Premier League titles, a UEFA finalist, and the highest current coefficient in the competition, as well as an FA Cup victory over yours truly.
Don’ try to be a hero and say that there’s a difference in spending money to win. You wanted eveidence of what I said? It’s your own statements and attitude - that United and no one else has somehow earned the right to do that.
To win, you have to spend heavily. It doesn’t matter how you do it, and the last 4 years of champions have proved that. We spent and won twice. You spent and won twice.
I don’t are if anyone respects us. Frankly, as a Red, you have no idea howthe lot of us feel. The fact that all the other teams in the country besides three would kill to be us is statement enough that we are respected, and I would suspect that even a fair share of Liverpool and Arsenal supporters would die to be in the position we are in.
I won’t argue that we have a financial advantage over everyone, except, maybe, Manchester City. But no one is stopping a more wealthy businessman or woman, in your self-titled Free market economy, from coming in to OT and doing the same thing Roman has. If that happened, I guarantee the hatred towards Chelsea finances would imemdiately cease to exist.
to be fair - Torres cost 20m plus Luis Garcia, so it’s more like 26m…
Brian W, the evidence I was asking for was in relation to Utd fans complaining about any other teams spending money. They don’t and there is none, other than the Chelsea situation, along with everyone else.
zidane rules
i think they should make a whole new team of manchester city and united sure manchester have robinho but united has one downfall they need lampard and figo on there team as well as other players because there defence is weak. i mean i’m playing fifa 08 at the moment and i have signed eto’o, henry,boswinga,david james,del peiro,santa cruz, martins,owen and some other great players what i’m trying to say that alex ferguso needs to re-think is transfer and get some decent players for once.
Could Subpremier be the new Subprime?
The total cost of the 10 most expensive transfers in the English Premier league was around £250m. While these 10 superstars and their less expensive team mates may be drawing the crowds, by the time their clubs have paid massive wage bills, weekly running costs and the service costs of their burgeoning debt mountain, few if any of the clubs are profitable. Questions are beginning to be asked about their financial viability and the depth of their owner’s pockets. It is interesting to note that the directional flow of players is mainly one way into the UK while the cash to pay for them is nearly all flowing in the other direction. If problems arise that require clubs and their owners to realise their “assetsâ€, this may produce shortfalls that see subprime being replaced by subpremier!
simon, you obviously do not know what players to buy on fifa 08 because all of them are old and a rip off. proper players buy up and coming talents which are cheap yet grow up to be over the overall of most of that list. And another thing is that alex ferguson dos not buy expensive rip offs and Knows more about football than you’ll ever do.
when clubs pay that amount of money on a player they almost never get the money back because the only proper player who has repayed the money with being the key man in winning trophies has probably been zidane
David; im sure beckham has justified his large transferee fees, he won Madrid the title in his last season, they were sixth before he got recalled, was influential to the team and the main reason Fabio got sacked is because he let becks go. Not to mention the millions of merchandise he sells across the globe!! Spending £20mill on becks is justified by shirt sales and sponsorship alone.
at the end of the day, its been shown with the likes of madrid, chelsea, juve, and utd in recent season…if u spend u win, u win u get money, u spend again, u win again.
The Berbatov transfer was £30.75 million for both him and Frazier Campbell on a season-long loan. Hull bid £7 million for Campbell in September 2008.
Makes me Laaaugh!!! Look at the prem list, little old Torres hitting humbelly at 20mil and definately the best signing!
It really is funny how Robbie Keane cost more than Fernando Torres
bollocks. Torres was for 20m + Luis Garcia, valued at 7m by Liv before the transfer. Keane was for 19-20m plus the donation to charity, definitely below 27m.
zidane was the only player that was worth his price, even payin 100million at that time would of still made it a great deal.
all the others r over the top by 8-10mil except torres.
for the future transfers, i belive only kaka will break zidanes deal, and will b worth every penny. c ronaldo to will break the top price but he is not the class of zidane or even kaka, thus will turn out to be a over paid price.
i think that zidane waspropably the only one to deserve a price like that.are there insurances being taken out in the case of say a veron or bellamy.
do u remember when chris sutton went for 5 million pounds as the highgest.would we ever see the first 100 million player and what is the cut.
wht is for sure is that if they where a 100mil deal the player will get min 10% on the fee, so 10 mil just for the player is somein.
papers where sayin month a go for kaka to chelsea for 100mil euro, thats 80mil pounds, but i dont no if he would go to chelsea.
insurance is on injurys i thk only.
IT’S ALL FALSE ECONOMY ANYHOW!!
wHILST MANURE FANS MAY BRAG AND BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE THE DIVINE RIGHT TO SPEND MILLIONS EVERY YEAR THEY ARE ACTUALLY MILLIONS OF POUNDS IN DEBT ( AS ARE LIVERPOOL ). I THINK THINGS WOULD BE FAR MORE INTERESTING IF THE PREMIERSHIP RAN THINGS ALONG THE LINES OF THE NFL WITH A SIMILAR DRAFT PICK SYSTEM, IT WOULD BE FAR FAIRER AND WOULD STOP THE INCESSANT BRAGGING OF MANCS AND SCOUSERS. TRANSFERS ARE TRANSFERS NOT SOME ‘ HOW BIG IS YOURS PURILE SCHOOLBOY COMPETITION’. MANURE, LIVERPOOL, CHELSKI AND ARSENAL ALL RUN AT STRATOSPHERIC LOSSES BUT SOMEHOW SEEM ALLOWED TO CONTINUE BUYING PLAYERS FOR THE NATIONAL DEBT OF LIBERIA…
we want only the truth
formal pollo player,amoako bismark has sighed for a free transfer.
besides KAKA, lads watch out for players like messi, villa and even samuel eto they can break records too with an absolute surity
hey u forgot ronaldinho to milan
not a very expensive transfer that one…
These are not inflation adjusted. For example, Zidane was £70 million after “increase” due to inflation. also, this list needs to be updated. 2nd now should be kaka.
I think that Zidane was the most expensive player in the world,but KAKA has an offer from Man City of 123 or 125M
I dont remember well and he declined,and I’m verry verry surprized that he accept a offer from RMad,even for less money than he cold have at ManCity :-O;what is the think?
/:)
I belive that this site needs to be updated:)
zidane deserves the most expensive player transfer