Top 10 Most Expensive Premier League Transfers of All Time (Ranked)

Florian Wirtz joined Liverpool recently to become Liverpool’s most expensive Premier League transfer ever. The German international is moving to Anfield after making a grand name for himself at Bayer Leverkusen. With the transfer window now open, similar deals might take place. Let us take a look at the most expensive Premier League transfers of all time.

Transfers are the most exciting part of an offseason or any club. The fans will be anxious about their club’s business, and the executives will be running around with deal sheets in their hands, along with a list of potential targets. After Neymar Jr’s transfer broke the transfer market, the fees were inflated. Hundreds of millions are being thrown around like it means nothing. Players have become proportionate to the revenues being generated by the club.

As the transfer fees keep getting bigger, let us track down the Premier League most expensive transfers and the most expensive EPL player ever:

List of Premier League Most Expensive Transfers Ever

The Premier League was formed in 1992 when the top clubs decided to break away from the Football League. It was due to the lucrative TV money on offer. As money was injected into clubs, the clubs spent it on buying expensive players who could transform the club’s fortunes. Hence, the most expensive player in EPL tag changed from time to time. After the turn of the millennium, the question of who is the most expensive player in the Premier League changed so frequently that it became hard to keep track of it. Especially since the mega transfer of Neymar in 2017, the record has been broken several times, even in the Premier League.

Although different sources use different transfer fees, we have used the transfer fee inclusive of add-ons reported by trusted news handles while making the list of the most expensive Premier League transfers. Below, find out who is the most expensive EPL player ever:

Rank	Play	From	To	Position	Transfer Fee (in million £)	Year
10	Harry Maguire	Leicester City	Manchester United	Centre-back	75	2019
9	Josko Gvardiol	RB Leipzig	Manchester City	Centre-back	77	2023
8	Antony	Ajax	Manchester United	Right-Winger	82	2022
7	Paul Pogba	Juventus	Manchester United	Midfielder	90	2016
6	Romelu Lukaku	Inter Milan	Chelsea	Striker	97.5	2021
5	Jack Grealish	Aston Villa	Manchester City	Left-Winger	100	2021
4	Declan Rice	West Ham United	Arsenal	Midfielder	105	2023
3	Enzo Fernandez	Benfica	Chelsea	Midfielder	107	2023
2	Moises Caicedo	Brighton	Chelsea	Midfielder	115	2023
1	Florian Wirtz	Bayer Leverkusen	Liverpool	Midfielder	116.5	2025

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Who is the Most Expensive Player in Premier League History?

The most expensive player in the Premier League tag was broken multiple times in 2023 itself, as seen in the table above. Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United are the usual culprits that splashed the biggest money. Arsenal and Liverpool have one player each, as five of the so-called top six had a hand in all 10 of the most expensive Premier League transfers.

While the verdict has already been passed on a few of the Premier League most expensive transfers, the jury is still out on the remaining. Especially on Florian Wirtz, the most expensive player in EPL who is yet to kick a ball.

10 Harry Maguire (Manchester United, 32)

When Virgil van Dijk was signed by Liverpool for a world record fee in 2018, becoming one of the most expensive Premier League transfers. Harry Maguire was Manchester United’s attempt at getting their own van Dijk. Maguire is an old-school defender who thrives in duels and enjoys defending his box from crosses and shots. He made a name for himself at Leicester and earned a big-money move. Manchester United made him the most expensive defender in the Premier League, breaking van Dijk’s record.

Maguire was expected to be United’s leader do defence for a decade or so. Although he is still at the club six years later, the texture didn’t go quite as delightfully as expected. Maguire’s antique techniques didn’t allow him to thrive as the best centre-back in the world at any point. He struggled to play out from the back, and, concerningly, he always had a mistake in him. Be it giving away penalties or poor passes, or misreading the situation, he committed plenty of errors leading to goals. He was scapegoated by fans and mercilessly hounded by rival fans and even pundits at times.

Maguire lost his spot in the team and was even stripped of the captaincy. But he had excellent fortitude and mental character to go through them all and come out positively. Under Ruben Amorim’s three-at-the-back system, he found a place for himself and became a key member of the defence. Through his aggression and an eye for late goals, he won back the fans and is set to continue at the club.

Position	Transfer Fee (in million £)	Goals	Assists	Trophies
Centre-back	75	36	13	FA Cup (23/24), EFL Cup (22/23)

9 Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City, 23)

Croatia had another World Cup in 2022 as they finished third in the tournament, following up their runner-up finish from the 2018 edition. This time their defence stood out, and Josko Gvardiol in particular made heads turn. The ex-RB Leipzig centre-back was the epitome of a modern-day defender. He could play centrally or deputise on the left as a full-back. He is a fantastic ball player with an expansive passing range. He is also an aggressive defender who never shies away from challenges.

Pep Guardiola saw these qualities and made him the most expensive defender in the Premier League by signing him in 2023. Gvardiol was slowly incorporated into the team. He saw plenty of minutes at left-back first. He showcased his goal-scoring skill by scoring some world-class goals for them, including some tap-ins and headers with late runs into the box. He helped them to a Premier League title. Recently, Gvardiol made the move to centre-back and is looking home. With Rayan Air Nouri’s signing, he will start the next season at centre-back. The 23-year-old is set to play a key role in City’s quest for the league title again.

Position	Transfer Fee (in million £)	Goals	Assists	Trophies
Centre-back	77	20	8	Premier League (23/24), UEFA Super Cup (23/24), FIFA Club World Cup (2023), Community Shield (24/25), DFB Pokal (22/23, 21/22), HNL (20/21, 19/20), Super Cup (19/20)

8 Antony (Manchester United, 25)

Manchester United, especially in the post-Sir Alexander Ferguson era, has been terrible in the transfer market. They constantly overpaid for players they didn’t need, be it was transfer fees or be it wages. It wasn’t the fault of the players, but it was a sign of the club being poorly run by the officials at the top. Antony certainly falls into this category. The Brazilian winger is by no means a £80 million signing and remains among the most expensive Premier League transfers. Not demeaning the player, but Ajax themselves wouldn’t have expected such a fee from United late in the window of 2022 due to their desperation. Antony performed well at Ajax. He needed a certain setup to succeed.

When his ex-boss Erik ten Hag signed him, the expectation was that he would at least use him wisely. It fell apart very quickly as Antony found the Premier League too fast for his pace. The game was happening at a hundred miles an hour, and he reacted half a second slow to everything. Through a string of poor performances, he lost his place in the squad. He became a rotation player gradually. When Ruben Amorim took over, he found no space in the squad at all.

Antony went on loan to Real Betis, where he found some joy. The winger had a smile on his face as he said he enjoyed football again. He is set to leave the club on a permanent move, and it is certain that the Red Devils will see a huge loss on this signing.

Position	Transfer Fee (in million £)	Goals	Assists	Trophies
Right-winger	82	52	37	FA Cup (23/24), EFL Cup (22/23), Eredivisie (21/22, 20/21), KNVB Cup (20/21)

7 Paul Pogba (AS Monaco, 32)

Paul Pogba left Manchester United as a teenager. The gifted midfielder then dominated Serie A with Juventus. He was one of the best midfielders in the world who could glide around with the ball at his feet. His ball-winning prowess, along with his eye for a pass and goal, made him stand a tier apart from the rest. He was expected to be the best and hold that position for many years. Manchester United paid £90 million for him in 2016, making him one of the most expensive Premier League transfers.

It was touted as a prodigal son’s homecoming and celebrated with love. He was supposed to help United get back on its perch as they searched for an identity in the post Sir Alexander Ferguson era. What unfolded was sheer tragedy. Pogba never truly got in with managers at the club. His attitude problems meant he fell out of favour with Jose Mourinho first. He won the World Cup in 2018 and seemed to have turned a page in his career.

However, the problems at the club level persisted. He was never a dependable figure for the club as he battled injuries, inconsistencies and sometimes his own teammates or managers. He received a straight red card against Liverpool in 2021, just minutes after coming on. That proved to be the final nail in the coffin as he left the club for a second time as a free agent in 2022. It truly remained a case of what if. Pogba recently signed with AS Monaco after returning from a ban, looking to make amends in his career.

Position	Transfer Fee (in million £)	Goals	Assists	Trophies
Midfielder	90	73	79	Premier League (10/11), Europa League (16/17), EFL Cup (16/17), Community Shield (11/12), Serie A (15/16,  14/15, 13/14, 12/13), Super Cup (15/16, 13/14, 12/13), Coppa Italia (23/24, 15/16, 14/15)

6 Romelu Lukaku (Napoli, 32)

Well, here we are again. Romelu Lukaku has been synonymous with big-money deals and rightfully deserves a place among the most expensive Premier League transfers. The Belgian international, though, is a stranger to seeing success with those big-money moves. The Belgian, after a horror show at Manchester United, rejuvenated himself at Inter Milan. Alongside Lautaro Martinez, he formed one of the most deadly strike duos in the world. He led Inter Milan to a Scudetto title and was the best striker in the world. It finally looked like he got consistency in his game and maturity to maintain those levels.

Chelsea thought they could get the same player at Inter Milan when they re-signed him for a mouth-watering fee. The stage was set for Lukaku. Second chance at the club that forced him out the first time as a youngster, now as the most expensive striker in the world.He scored on his debut against Arsenal to excellent fanfare. It turned out to be a false dawn as he failed to kick on at Chelsea. Then came the infamous interview, which ended his chances of succeeding at the club.

He admitted that he never should’ve left Inter Milan just two months after landing in London. Through a series of rifts with managers and tactical mismatches, Lukaku was frozen out at Chelsea and forced to go on loan. In the summer of 2024, he found a permanent move to yet another Serie A club, Napoli, where he reunited with his ex-boss, Antonio Conte. Lukaku found his groove once more and led them to a Scudetto title. You just can not understand why this doesn’t happen in the Premier League.

Position	Transfer Fee (in million £)	Goals	Assists	Trophies
Striker	97.5	315	87	FA Cup (11/12), Champions League (11/12), FIFA Club World Cup (21), Serie A (20/21, 24/25), Super Cup (22/23), Coppa Italia (22/23), First Division A (09/10), Super Cup (10/11)

5 Jack Grealish (Manchester City, 29)

Jack Grealish was one of the best players in the Premier League. He single-handedly kept his Aston Villa in the Premier League with his scintillating performances. Grealish was an exciting player who always took on players and made play happen. His flair was off the charts as he was the main man with everything going through him at Villa Park. As a boyhood Villan, he enjoyed football until the desire to challenge for silverware arose in him.

Manchester City paid the £100 million release clause as they wanted a homegrown superstar to appeal to a newer generation. Grealish was scorned by Aston Villa’s fanbase for wanting to leave as the move was poorly received. Once he arrived at the Etihad Stadium, he became just another piece in Pep Guardiola’s well-oiled machine. He had to become a passer who circulated the ball, as he seldom had the chance to take on players.

He found the titles he was looking for as he won the Premier League and the Champions League with them, but he lost his flair and talent, which made him a crowd-puller. He fell out of favour with Guardiola recently, and he is destined for an exit this window.

Position	Transfer Fee (in million £)	Goals	Assists	Trophies
Left-winger	100	54	61	Premier League (21/22, 22/23, 23/24), Champions League (22/23), UEFA Super Cup (23/24), FIFA Club World Cup (2023), Community Shield (24/25)

4 Declan Rice (Arsenal, 26)

England produced multiple world-class midfielders during their golden generation, and then suddenly there was a gap. Declan Rice was spawned at West Ham United to bridge that gap. He is one of the finest modern-day defensive midfielders. His tackling is well-complemented by his long reach. He has a strong reading of the game, which helps him sniff out danger early and save his side from trouble. He is lethal with the ball as well. Rice’s ball striking is as pure as it gets, and he can deliver whipping corners along with sensational curling free kicks. His Conference League triumph with West Ham immortalised his legacy.

To take the next step in his career and constantly challenge for big trophies, he opted to join London rivals Arsenal. The Gunners needed an elite midfielder to propel them to the next level, and Rice was an ideal candidate in the right age group. A record £105 million was shelled out for him. Ever since he arrived at the Emirates Stadium, he has been world-class. He deputised as centre back, played as a box-to-box midfielder and also as a holding midfielder according to his boss Mikel Arteta’s demands.

He excelled in every single role as the Gunners became a force to be reckoned with again. His brace of free kicks against Real Madrid stood out in the Champions League quarter-finals. However, the club fell short of success multiple times. Despite that, Rice’s price tag was never questioned because of his phenomenal performances.

Position	Transfer Fee (in million £)	Goals	Assists	Trophies
Midfielder	105	31	32	Conference League (22/23), Community Shield (23/24)

3 Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea, 24)

Enzo Fernandez turned heads at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and went on to find a place among the most expensive Premier League transfers. He was an integral part of the World Cup-winning Argentina squad and even won the Young Player of the Tournament award. His ball-playing ability, tempo control and box crashing made him a unique asset. He returned to Benfica immediately as the club had no intentions of selling him. He even kissed the badge after scoring a goal in early 2023. Chelsea wanted to make a statement signing in the Todd Boehly era. They staved off competition from Liverpool to lure him away from Benfica in the winter window of 2023 to sign Fernandez for a British record fee back then.   

The Argentine struggled to replicate his heroics in England as he struggled to adjust to new surroundings. Coupled with the constant changes in management, his role wasn’t clear, which didn’t help his case. Enzo Maresca was the saviour as he unlocked Fernandez by not putting pressure on him. As a result, he showed his best self at Chelsea during the second half of the 2024/25 season. He supplied assists from deep and got them match-winning goals by arriving late in the box. There is even talk of Real Madrid eying the midfielder, but he is happy to be a part of the Chelsea project for years to come.

Position	Transfer Fee (in million £)	Goals	Assists	Trophies
Midfielder	107	33	39	Conference League (24/25), Liga Profesional (2021), Recopa Sudamericana (2019), Trofeo de Campeones (2021), Copa Argentina (2019), Copa Sudamericana (2020), Recopa Sudamericana (2021)

2 Moises Caicedo (Chelsea, 23)

Brighton and Hove Albion have a way of discovering gems, polishing them and selling them off for bumper profits. Venezuelan Moises Caicedo made a name for himself as one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the world at the Amex Stadium. There was an intense transfer battle between Liverpool and Chelsea for the ball winner. The Reds even had a bid of £111 million accepted. However, Caicedo set his sights on a move to London as he had a gentleman’s deal with them. Putting an end to a long transfer saga, he put pen to paper with the London side in a deal that would easily rise to £115 million, including achievable add-ons.

It wasn’t easy for Caicedo to settle in at Chelsea initially. He was part of a bloated squad, and the constant change in management and tactics didn’t help him. Enzo Maresca’s arrival in 2024 changed his game and career. He was given the freedom to roam the park by winning the ball and driving forward with it. His tackling and goalscoring made him a superb player on the ball as he rediscovered his Brighton form. He led Chelsea to a Conference League title and a Champions League finish. In the coming season, he is set to play a key role as they mount a Premier League title challenge.

Position	Transfer Fee (in million £)	Goals	Assists	Trophies
Midfielder	115	13	13	Copa Sudamericana (2019), Conference League (24/25)

1 Florian Wirtz (Liverpool, 22)

Liverpool rarely spends in the transfer market. But when they spend in the market, they make sure they spend it big and spend it wisely. That said, Florian Wirtz comes into the squad as the most expensive player in the EPL. He is also the club’s record signing. Pressure is a small word that the shoulders of the playmaker would carry. The supremely talented German international will be under tight scrutiny for every action he takes on the pitch. After all, he was sought out by multiple top clubs like Bayern Munich and Manchester City for his chance creation and difference-making abilities. It was the Reds who convinced him to sign for them in a record deal.

Especially, the coming 25/26 season will be an emotional one for the club. Having lost Diogo Jota tragically, the club will be grieving. On the pitch, performances become secondary during these times. But the former number 10 of Bayer Leverkusen can bring some joy to the fans with his playing style. After all, winning a trophy for their number 20 would be a fitting tribute. The jury would be on hold for the most expensive player in EPL.

Position	Transfer Fee (in million £)	Goals	Assists	Trophies
Midfielder	116.5	57	62	Bundesliga (23/24), DFB Pokal (23/24), Super Cup (24/25)

Honourable Mentions

In addition to the top 10 most expensive transfers in Premier League history, several notable transfers deserve recognition but have not been included in the main list due to ongoing uncertainties surrounding their final transfer fees. Here is the detailed profile of potential players who can be one of the expensive signings in the Premier League.

1. Higo Ekitike (23, Liverpool)

Hugo Ekitike’s transfer to Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2025 is a significant move, with a reported fee of £79 million, including £10 million in add-ons. The deal’s final amount is still uncertain due to ongoing negotiations over performance-based clauses. Ekitike’s impressive 22 goals and 12 assists last season made him attract attention from several big clubs like Liverpool, Chelsea and others, but in the end, Ekitike decided to represent the most successful club in the history of Premier League.

The uncertainty around the final deal excludes the ex-Eintracht Frankfurt forward from the list of the top 10 most expensive Premier League transfers. However, with the current transfer fee of £79 million, he could’ve ranked 9th in Premier League most expensive transfers list.

Position	Transfer Fee (in million £)	Goals	Assists	Trophies
Forward	79	50	25	2x French champion, 1x French Super Cup winner

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