15 Players with the Highest Transfer Fees Combined (Ranked)

Highlights

• Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s illustrious career earned him £144m in combined transfer fees across top European clubs.
• Alvaro Morata has built up fees of over £170m, despite struggling at several clubs.
• Neymar is the costliest player ever after moving to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, resulting in a staggering £342m in cumulative transfer fees.

Every season, the transfer window unleashes its whirlwind of financial frenzy, with money splurged across the football landscape. The Premier League has continually flexed its economic muscles, while Saudi Arabia has highlighted its power in recent windows by signing several world-class players.

Amid the constant chaos, players are racking up remarkable transfer fees throughout their careers. It epitomises the state of modern football that players can move to clubs for staggering prices, but it won’t be changing anytime soon. Teams can’t win without splurging cash in exchange for world-class players.

Given the transfer window is only going to become more chaotic, here is a look at the 15 players who have had the highest combined transfer fees throughout their careers. Not a single Englishman features but two of the greatest players of all time do make an appearance.

15 Eden Hazard – £128m

Eden Hazard was – at his best – one of the greatest Premier League players of all time. He was capable of consistently turning the swing of matches with his quick feet and flare – and that scared opponents.

His career began at French side Lille, where he showed his natural but raw talent week in and week out in Ligue 1. It earned him a move to English giants Chelsea, where he won the top division twice alongside two domestic cups and a pair of Europa League titles. Hazard carried the club on his back in some seasons before completing a childhood dream of moving to Real Madrid in 2019. His time at the Santiago Bernabeu was a disappointment to say the least, with injuries forcing the talented Belgian into an early retirement. A genuine case of what could have been.

14 Matthijs de Ligt – £130m

Matthijs de Ligt is one of the best centre-backs in the world, having continually evolved from a powerful and patient passer at Ajax to now being trusted in the heart of Bayern Munich’s defence. His rise to the top has been meteoric, considering he broke onto the scene at Ajax by reaching the Champions League semi-finals in 2019.

The Dutch giants came agonisingly close to reaching the final, but blew the opportunity against Tottenham Hotspur. Moves to Juventus and Bayern followed, where he won both respective league titles – Serie A and the Bundesliga. The world remains in his hands – and who knows how long he will stay in Germany for.

13 Kai Havertz – £132m

“60 million down the drain, Kai Havertz scores again,” the Arsenal fans chant whenever the German scores a goal for them. Eyebrows were raised when the Gunners spent over £60m on Havertz considering his struggles at Chelsea – barring a winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final.

The ephemeral playmaker never replicated the form he showed at Bayer Leverkusen which earned him a move to west London for £68m in the first place, but Mikel Arteta has sparked new life into him as a versatile midfielder and attacker. He’s been one of the most expensive players in history, but it remains to be seen if he has been truly worth it. However, if he can continue his form towards the end of the 2023/2024 season into the next campaign and onwards, then Arsenal will feel his decision to splash out big money on him will have been vindicated.

12 Gonzalo Higuain – £136m

At his peak, Gonzalo Higuain was one of the best strikers in the world. At Real Madrid, Napoli and Juventus, he showed remarkable goalscoring talent, proven by 335 goals in just over 700 appearances throughout his career. However, English fans remember him as one of the worst loan signings in Premier League history, after enduring a forgettable spell at Chelsea.

Before those lost six months in west London, his consistent talent in the final third saw him moving to a new club for an increased price every time. Higuain’s most expensive transfer saw him controversially leave Napoli to join rivals Juventus in 2016. It was a risk, but a trophy haul of three Serie A titles proved to be worth it.

11 Enzo Fernandez – £141m

Enzo Fernandez won the World Cup in 2022 with Argentina, being crowned as the young player of the tournament in the process. That period of his life kickstarted his career on a trajectory no one could possibly have imagined six months earlier. In the summer of 2022, he left his boyhood club River Plate for life in Europe at Benfica.

He was seen as a promising midfielder, but he needed time to adapt – and adapt is what he did. After winning the World Cup and putting in a string of dazzling performances in Portugal, he moved to Chelsea for over £100m. It’s yet to prove successful as the Blues struggle, but he’s only at the start of an eight-and-a-half-year contract.

10 Zlatan Ibrahimovic – £144m

A name that echoes across the football landscape, Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s career trajectory is a testament to his immense talent and larger-than-life persona. With a storied journey spanning numerous clubs, the enigmatic striker has left an indelible mark on the game. Ibrahimovic’s prowess has graced some of Europe’s most illustrious clubs, including Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United.

His journey has been defined by a string of successes, each contributing to his footballing legacy. Winning league titles everywhere but England, where he did manage to capture his only ever European trophy, Zlatan left memories everywhere he went, good and bad. As a footballer and character the kind we are unlikely to see in football again, he announced his retirement from the game in 2023 and received a beautiful goodbye from the Milan faithful.

9 Angel Di Maria – £153m

As a mercurial talent, Angel Di Maria stands as one of the underappreciated stars of his era. His versatility and flair have illuminated various stages of his career, while he was one of the best wingers the Champions League has seen. Di Maria’s journey kicked off with Benfica before Real Madrid secured his services. During his spell in the Spanish capital, he carved an indelible legacy, peaking with his contributions to Real Madrid’s Champions League triumph in 2014.

A transfer to Manchester United followed, though his time there was less fruitful. Marred by poor performances and off-the-field issues, including a burglary at his Manchester home, Di Maria found solace at Paris Saint-Germain, propelling the club to domestic dominance and contributing significantly to their European pursuits. His most recent moves have seen him travel to Italy and back to Benfica. However, these were free transfers, so they did not shift him further up this list.

8 Kylian Mbappe – £160m

Kylian Mbappe astoundingly secures his place in this list with a single transfer (so far) – his move from Monaco to PSG. This monumental deal ranks as the second-costliest transfer ever. Mbappe’s inclusion underscores PSG’s substantial investment in his exceptional talents.

As a World Cup winner, he justifies his valuation, although his lack of success in the Champions League perhaps holds him back in the estimation of those watching around the world. The Frenchman has already confirmed his decision to leave PSG on a free transfer when his contract expires, and all signs point towards him joining Real Madrid in La Liga. It feels like a move destined to happen, and one Mbappe will feel can catapult him into the Ballon d’Or conversation sooner rather than later.

7 Philippe Coutinho – £160.4m

Philippe Coutinho’s Premier League brilliance didn’t translate seamlessly to La Liga. His trajectory began at Inter, where his promise surfaced. Subsequently, Liverpool’s strategic signing unveiled his creative prowess, enhancing the Premier League. Barcelona hoped to capitalize on his talent, but the venture faltered.

A loan move to Bayern Munich did garner more success for the Brazillian. While not always a regular starter, he was able to win his only Champions League title during his time in Germany. This even included him scoring twice against his parent club in Bayern’s infamous 8-2 victory over Barcelona. His £18.2m permanent move to Aston Villa in 2022 sealed his English return. He has since fallen out of favour and another transfer may be on the horizon.

6 Antoine Griezmann – £162m

Following in the footsteps of Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele, Barcelona took a further gamble on Antoine Griezmann, splashing yet more cash. Griezmann’s journey began with Atletico Madrid, where he solidified his prowess after a transfer from Real Sociedad. However, his transition to Barcelona presented challenges.

Occupying similar zones to Lionel Messi, Griezmann’s integration proved complex. Despite a creditable performance in 2020/21, contributing 20 goals and 12 assists, the move didn’t develop as envisioned. Ironically, had Barcelona refrained from signing Griezmann, the funds could potentially have retained Messi for the 2021/22 season and beyond. His time back in the Spanish capital has proved successful, though.

5 Alvaro Morata – £170m

Alvaro Morata’s surprise presence at this rank arises from six transfers, cumulatively amounting to a considerable sum. Perhaps even stranger, Morata has enjoyed multiple spells at every team he has played for with the exception of Chelsea. The switch between Real Madrid and Juventus, and back again, surpassed £50m.

Chelsea’s expenditure crossed £60m, while Atletico Madrid’s significant payout marked his return to Spain. Juventus paid an additional £18m in a two-year loan deal. For someone with a record of not being efficient in front of goal, Morata has been able to convince enough powers that be that he is worth spending the big bucks on.

4 Ousmane Dembele – £198m

Ousmane Dembele claims the fourth position with a £45m summer move in 2023 to PSG from Barcelona. His path to this spot unfolded with a £122m transfer to Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 – a deal that broke the Spanish record. The preceding year, his £30m move to BVB from Stade Rennais set the tone.

PSG’s move for Dembele gathered pace after Lionel Messi’s departure to Inter Miami. Barcelona manager Xavi made it clear he wanted to keep the Frenchman despite his injury record being less than stellar. However, a cash-strapped Barca couldn’t turn down the offer from the French giants and Dembele was once again on his way.

3 Cristiano Ronaldo – £216m

When you are one of the greatest players to ever play the game, your services are likely to come at a premium. Case in point, Cristiano Ronaldo. Following his Ballon d’Or win in 2008, Ronaldo’s stature secured him a record-breaking £83m transfer to Real Madrid. Subsequent years witnessed his dominance, heralding four Champions League victories, before Juventus sought to replicate this success in 2018.

Unfortunately, Ronaldo was not able to secure the elusive European crown for the Italian giants. He made his homecoming to Manchester United in 2022, but his contract was terminated just a year later. Ronaldo’s second spell with Manchester United in 2021 materialized for £14.45m, while a shift to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr followed 18 months later, albeit on a free.

2 Romelu Lukaku – £290m

Romelu Lukaku follows as the second-costliest player in history, having been overtaken in the summer of 2023. Lukaku’s career path has seen him don multiple club jerseys in rapid succession. His permanence at a club has rarely extended beyond three years, resulting in six permanent transfers.

Chelsea marked his starting point in 2011, followed by loans to West Brom and Everton, with the latter making his move permanent for £28m. Lukaku then transferred to Manchester United for an initial £65m, escalating to £78m with add-ons. Inter Milan beckoned next, where his Italian journey flourished. Upon his return to Chelsea, Lukaku marked his second debut with a goal against Arsenal. However, his fortunes shifted, prompting a loan return to Inter midway through 2021-22. The Italian giants couldn’t make it permanent though, and the Belgian was forced to start another loan move, this time at Roma, for the 2023/24 season.

1 Neymar – £342m

Reclaiming the spot that he had held previously before Lukaku overtook him, Neymar is once again the costliest footballer of all time. Neymar’s journey of record-breaking transactions began when he made the world-record move to PSG. Previously, he had transferred to Barcelona for a staggering £77.5m after leaving Santos in 2013. His sojourn continued to Al-Hilal for roughly £77m, proving that Neymar’s acquisitions have never come at a bargain.

When totalled, Neymar’s expenditures tally around £342m – an astronomical sum for a player who has made less than 22 league appearances each season since departing Barcelona. Yet, his undeniable talent ranks him among the finest players globally, and quality rarely comes without a hefty price tag. His arrival in Saudi Arabia added more superstar power to the fastest-growing league in the world.

All stats via Transfermarkt. Correct as of 11 April 2024.