The English Premier League is regarded as the best league in the world with some of the richest clubs too. Its competitive nature has made it the most recognized and watch club football league. Hence, it is not strange to have some of the most expensive signings in the history of football. This article takes a loot at the Most Expensive Premier League Transfers of all time.
It is no news that some of the best players and coaches have graced the Premier League competition. Premier League teams like Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United are always ready to spend a huge amount of money to get their target players. No wonder players from the aforementioned clubs dominate the list of Most Expensive Premier League Transfers of all time.
Note that in 2020, a total of €1.3billion was spent during the English Premier League transfer window. Now, one might ask who are the players that make up the list of the most Most Expensive Premier League Transfers of all time. Well, the answer is just a step away.
Below are the Most Expensive Premier League Transfers Of All Time
10. Kai Havertz – £72m (from Leverkusen to Chelsea, 2020)
During the 2020 transfer window, Chelsea decided to go for a 21-year-old sensation called Kai Havertz. He had an impressive season at Leverkusen which attracted the big boys to him but he decided to join the Blues. After coming in as the most expensive transfer in the history of Chelsea, Havertz has failed to live up to expectations. Although he gave them the only goal which secured the Champions League title against Manchester City in 2021.
9. Kepa Arrizabalaga – £72m (from Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea, 2018)
Another Chelsea player on the list is their second goalkeeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga. The €73m transfer from Athletic Bilbao made Kepa the world’s most expensive goalkeeper. He joined Chelsea after they lost Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid. However, he lost his first-team place to Edouard Mendy after the new coach, Thomas Tuchel joined the club and couldn’t work with Kepa.
8. Nicolas Pepe – £72m (from Lille to Arsenal, 2019)
You’d expect a world-beater for £72 million, but Nicolas Pepe hasn’t delivered. In his debut season in the Premier League, the Ivorian scored only five goals, but he quadrupled his tally the following season. However, the improvement was accompanied by a drop from five to one assist. Pepe has been on and off since arriving from Ligue 1 and has struggled under the weight of his high price tag.
7. Jadon Sancho – £73m (from Dortmund to Man Utd, 2021)
The seventh place on the list is England forward, Jadon Sancho. He joined Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund in the 2021 summer transfer window. This is after Man United has tried signing him for over a year. He was a sensation at Borussia Dortmund but has struggled in his first season in England. Sancho is still a young player and hopes to improve under new manager Erik ten Hag.
6. Virgil van Dijk – £74.2m (from Southampton to Liverpool, 2018)
Considered one of the best signings made by Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk has been playing an important role in the defense area for Liverpool. He joined Liverpool from Southampton in 2018 and Jurgen Klopp has turned him into a world-class defender. Van Dijk went on to become the runner-up in the 2019 Ballon d’Or and hasn’t dropped in form since then.
5. Romelu Lukaku – £75m (from Everton to Man Utd, 2017)
Romelu Lukaku had an up-and-down spell at Manchester United after moving for a big fee after a string of excellent seasons at Everton. Before leaving Old Trafford and going on to greater heights at Inter, the Belgian scored 16 and 12 goals in his two Premier League seasons there.
Overall, he wasn’t the gigantic failure that he is sometimes made out to be, with two very productive seasons and a sale that recouped the majority of the amount that was paid for him.
4. Harry Maguire – £80m (from Leicester City to Man Utd, 2019)
Man United smashed the mark by signing Harry Maguire from Leicester 18 months after Liverpool made Virgil van Dijk the most expensive defender in history.
It took only half a season for the Englishman to become United’s permanent captain, and despite initial worries about the fee, he has quickly established himself as one of the first names on Solskjaer’s team sheet.
Maguire’s impact on the squad was noticed more while he was out of the lineup in his first two seasons, even though he typically performed well. In the 2021/22 season, however, his performance was very bad that many fans mocked him on and off the pitch.
3. Paul Pogba – £89m (from Juventus to Man Utd, 2016)
Paul Pogba returned to Manchester United in the summer of 2016 for a then-world-record transfer fee of £89 million. Pogba is another player who has sparked controversy, owing to the amount of money spent on him. His inconsistent performances have irritated fans.
Pogba is undoubtedly Man United’s most creative and impactful player when healthy and firing, possibly even more so than Bruno Fernandes, but his erratic performances mean he has never persuaded everyone. However, he’s ready to leave Manchester United very soon.
2. Romelu Lukaku – £96m (from Inter to Chelsea, 2021)
Lukaku joined Chelsea from Anderlecht at a young age, then went on loan to West Bromwich Albion and then Everton before sealing a permanent deal with the Toffees.
He would go on to star for Everton before joining Manchester United for £75 million. While he was far from a washout at United, he eventually fell out of favor and joined Inter in 2019, later claiming that he believed he was made a scapegoat by some at the club for their on-field shortcomings.
He would repair his reputation at Inter and rediscover his greatest form, earning a spectacular £96 million return to Chelsea.
1. Jack Grealish – £100m (from Aston Villa to Man City, 2021)
With Aston Villa, Jack Grealish became one of the most exciting players in the Premier League, with the third-highest assist total in the league despite missing three months of playing.
Even before the 2020 European Championship began, he piqued the curiosity of Manchester City and Manchester United, who were reportedly considering a £100 million transfer.
During the Euros, his stock increased as well, as he came off the bench to assist on both goals as England defeated Germany in the first knockout round. He joined Manchester City afterward for English record transfer fee worth £100 million in 2021.
