What Are the 10 Most Expensive Transfers in Football History?
Five of the ten most expensive transfers in football history were completed in 2026, and one player appears on the list twice. Here are the ten biggest transfer fees ever paid, ranked from lowest to highest.
Where the data comes from
The ranking is based on data compiled on Wikipedia as of 1 September 2026. The transfers are listed in ascending order of fee.
Each deal is shown in both euros and pounds. There is a tie for eighth place, so the list has no number nine.
Numbers 10 to 6: Enzo Fernández, Diomande, Barcola, João Félix and Anderson
Number ten: Enzo Fernández. In 2023, Chelsea paid Benfica €121 million for him, or £106.8 million. This is his first appearance on the list, but not his only one.
Number eight (joint): Yan Diomande. Real Madrid paid RB Leipzig €125 million in 2026, or £107 million. The deal made him the most expensive African footballer in history.
Number eight (joint): Bradley Barcola. His move from Paris Saint-Germain to Liverpool in 2026 cost €125 million. In pounds it came to slightly less than Diomande's fee: £106 million.
Number seven: João Félix. Atlético Madrid paid Benfica €126 million in 2019, or £113 million. It is the only 2019 deal on the list and one of two signings by a Spanish club among the ten most expensive.
Number six: Elliot Anderson. Manchester City signed him from Nottingham Forest in 2026 for €135.5 million, or £116 million. With this deal, the list passes €130 million for the first time.
Numbers 5 to 3: Rogers, Isak and Enzo Fernández again
Number five: Morgan Rogers. Chelsea paid Aston Villa €137.3 million in 2026, or £117 million. He is the second player on the list to join Chelsea, after Enzo Fernández in 2023.
Number four: Alexander Isak. Liverpool paid Newcastle United €144.5 million in 2025, or £125 million. It is the only 2025 deal in the ranking and one of Liverpool's two signings on the list, along with Barcola.
Number three: Enzo Fernández, for the second time. He moved from Chelsea to Manchester City in 2026 for €145.8 million, or £125 million. He is the only footballer to appear twice among the ten most expensive transfers in history.
The top two: Mbappé and Neymar
Number two: Kylian Mbappé. In 2017 he moved from Monaco to Paris Saint-Germain for €180 million, or £165.7 million.
Number one: Neymar. In 2017 he moved from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain for €222 million, or £200 million. It remains the world transfer record, €42 million more than the second-highest fee.
These are the only two 2017 deals on the list. Both went to the same club: Paris Saint-Germain.
What the data shows
Half of the ten most expensive transfers in history were completed in 2026. In addition, nine of them reached or exceeded €125 million.
Even so, no recent deal has come close to the record. The €222 million Neymar cost in 2017 has still not been surpassed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most expensive transfer in football history?
Neymar's move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 for €222 million. It remains the world transfer record.
Which player appears twice among the 10 most expensive transfers?
Enzo Fernández. He features for his move from Benfica to Chelsea in 2023 (€121 million) and for his move from Chelsea to Manchester City in 2026 (€145.8 million).
How many of the 10 most expensive transfers took place in 2026?
Five: Diomande, Barcola, Anderson, Rogers and Enzo Fernández's move to Manchester City. That is half the list.
Which Spanish clubs appear on the list?
Atlético Madrid, for João Félix in 2019 (€126 million), and Real Madrid, for Yan Diomande in 2026 (€125 million).
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_expensive_association_football_transfers
Informative article written with the help of AI tools from the verified script of the video. The video is in Spanish.