The football transfer market has seen some jaw-dropping amounts over the years as top clubs spend extortionate figures to sign elite players. From Neymar’s world record transfer to PSG to Chelsea’s big-money signing of Enzo Fernández, here are the five biggest football transfers of all time.
5 Most Costly Transfers of All Time
- Neymar – $258 Million (Barcelona to PSG)
Paris Saint-Germain broke the record for a transfer deal in world football in 2017 when they bought Neymar from Barcelona for a world record fee of $258 million.
At the time, Neymar was one of the best players in the world, and PSG took this decisive step to become recognised in European football. Since then, Neymar has become a major factor in making PSG comfortably the best they have ever been in Ligue 1, while winning various domestic trophies.
- Kylian Mbappe – $209 Million (PSG to Monaco)
After Neymar’s transfer, the transfer of Kylian Mbappe to Paris Saint-Germain was the second-highest-priced football transfer in history. He had first come in on loan in 2017, whose deal was finalized in 2018 at a transfer price of $209 million. He became PSG’s integral player, guiding the team to the 2020 UEFA Champions League Final.
- Philippe Coutinho – $169 Million (Liverpool to Barcelona)
Barcelona responded with a signing in January 2018 with the acquisition of Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool for an astonishing $169 million. Despite the exorbitant expense, Barcelona did not get what they wanted from Coutinho and sent him on loan to multiple teams, including Bayern Munich and Aston Villa.
- João Félix – $146 Million (Benfica to Atlético Madrid)
In 2019, João Félix was the most talked-about player when Atlético Madrid secured his signature from Benfica for $146m – it was one of the most expensive teenage signings in the history of football. Félix had a stellar start but struggled for consistency and ultimately lost his place at the Spanish side.
- Enzo Fernández – $141 Million (Benfica to Chelsea)
After a sizeable involvement over this last year in aiding Argentina to its FIFA World Cup success in 2022, the stock of Enzo Fernández rose significantly. Chelsea signed him from Benfica in January 2023 for a staggering $141 million. Chelsea viewed this transfer as a first real step heading in an age direction of talent, as they started the process of changing their squad for the long haul in midfield.
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