Every club needs a central midfielder and the more prolific they are, the more interest they would attract in the transfer market. The interest top clubs have in the services of such central midfielders will determine their prices in the transfer market and eventually earn them a place on the list of the most expensive central midfielders in the world.
Though most critics in the world believe that the prices of players are too high, that has not stopped top clubs to go for the best and the most expensive central midfielders in the world due to how important their roles are in a team.
Every football fan knows that a good central midfielder no matter the price is required for any club to do well in the competitive game of football. Hence, some top clubs can pay any amount to get the player of their choice to their club especially clubs in mainstream Europe.
Below is the list of the most Expensive Central Midfielders in the World
- Paul Pogba – €105.0M
Manchester United central midfielder, Paul Pogba tops the list of the most expensive central midfielders in the world. The 28-year-old French footballer moved from Juventus to Manchester United on August 9, 2016, for a transfer fee worth €105 million.
- Frenkie de Jong – €86.0M
Frenkie de Jong left Ajax to join FC Barcelona on July 1, 2019, for a transfer fee worth €86 million. This made the 24-year-old Dutch midfielder the second most expensive central midfielder in the world.
- Arthur – €72.0M
Arthur joined Juventus from FC Barcelona on September 1, 2020, for a transfer fee worth €72 million. The deal made him the third most expensive central midfielder in the world.
- Tanguy Ndombélé – €60.0M
Tanguy Ndombélé joined the list of the most expensive central midfielders in the world when the 24-year-old French midfielder left Olympique Lyon to join Tottenham Hotspur on July 2, 2019, for €60 million.
- Naby Keïta – €60.0M
Naby Keïta joined the list of the most expensive central midfielders in the world on July 1, 2018, when Liverpool signed him from RB Leipzig for a transfer fee worth €60 million.
- Miralem Pjanić – €60.0M
Miralem Pjanić became one of the most expensive central midfielders in the world when he moved from Juventus to FC Barcelona on September 1, 2020, for a transfer fee of €60 million.
- Fred – €59.0M
Fred moved from Shakhtar Donetsk to Manchester United on July 1, 2018, for a transfer fee worth €59 million which made him the 7th most expensive central midfielder in the world.
- Youri Tielemans – €45.0M
Youri Tielemans became one of the most expensive central midfielders in the world after he moved from Monaco to Leicester City on July 8, 2019, for a transfer fee worth €45 million.
- Mateo Kovacic – €45.0M
Mateo Kovacic left Real Madrid for Chelsea on July 1, 2019, after a season-long loan deal with the Premier League club. Chelsea paid €45 million to make his move permanent.
- Juan Sebastián Verón – €42.60m
Juan Sebastián Verón has retired from football since May 27, 2017. But no central midfielder has been able to displace him as the 10th most expensive central midfielder in the world. The retired Argentine footballer who is now 46-year-old joined the top 10 list on July 13, 2001, when he moved to Manchester United from Lazio for a transfer fee worth €42.60 million.
