Top 5 most expensive players in transfer market history

09.08.26 17:30 Serie A Brazil

Santos FC

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Athletico Paranaense

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Some players have commanded staggering fees in a single transfer, while others have racked up astronomical totals over the course of their careers. Here’s the Top 5 as revealed by the X account of Onefootball.

Leading the pack is the inescapable Neymar. The Brazilian tops the list thanks to his record-breaking move from Barça to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, which cost a jaw-dropping €222 million. Al-Hilal also shelled out €90 million to sign him in 2023 before he returned to Santos on a free transfer.

Romelu Lukaku has cost clubs a combined €370 million, including €84.7 million paid by Manchester United in 2017 and €74 million by Inter Milan two years later. His most expensive transfer remains the €113 million move from Inter to Chelsea in 2021.

Cristiano Ronaldo ranks third, with a total of €274 million in transfer fees, including €94 million paid by Real Madrid to Manchester United in 2009 and €117 million when Juventus signed him from Los Blancos in 2018.

Alexander Isak, transferred from Newcastle to Liverpool for €145 million, and Ousmane Dembélé, signed by Barça from Dortmund for €148 million, round out the Top 5.

The five players with the highest cumulative transfer fees:

1- Neymar – €400M

2- Romelu Lukaku – €370M

3- Cristiano Ronaldo – €247M

4- Alexander Isak – €246M

5- Ousmane Dembélé – €233M

Imed Ben Amara |

Editorar, fr

Imed Ben Amara - bilingual sports writer and web editor with experience in football content creation. Since 2021, he has contributed to Foot Africa, providing news coverage and analysis.

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