Listing the 10 most expensive striker transfers of all-time
Strikers are by far the most valuable commodity in the modern game and have always been highly valued since their job is doing the most important thing in football – to score goals.
Clubs have often spent huge amounts to sign strikers they desire to transcend to the next level and help them win silverware. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the 10 most expensive striker transfers in the history of football.
10. Luis Suárez | Liverpool to Barcelona for €81.7m
Suárez’s exit from Liverpool was one of the most dramatic events in the game at the time as the striker had expressed his desire to leave but the club blocked a move. He was also subject to interest from the Reds’ Premier League rivals Arsenal and almost joined them.
However, Barcelona came in with a huge bid that compelled Liverpool to part with their prized asset, making him one of the most expensive striker transfers. The Uruguayan played 133 games for the Reds, scoring 82 goals and providing 34 assists during his time at Merseyside.
9. Romelu Lukaku | Everton to Manchester United for €84.7m
Lukaku was among the most highly-rated and sought-after strikers in the Premier League in the mid-2010s after his sensational loan spells with West Bromwich Albion and Everton. Originally a Chelsea player, Lukaku struggled for game-time with the Blues and was compelled to move.
The Belgian was coming off the back of an incredible 2016/17 season where he bagged 26 goals and seven assists in 39 appearances for Everton across competitions. Manchester United appointed José Mourinho in 2017 and signed Lukaku for a massive fee, making him one of the most expensive striker transfers, but he could not justify the price.
8. Gonzalo Higuaín | Napoli to Juventus for €90m
Higuaín was another one of the great strikers in the 2010s, and his incredible tenure at Napoli further cemented his status. He made 146 appearances for Napoli, scoring 91 goals and providing 26 assists. His big move came after a scintillating 2015/16 season, where Higuaín bagged 38 goals and three assists in 42 appearances for Napoli.
That earned him a move to Juventus that summer and made him one of the most expensive striker transfers, with the player carrying forward with his goalscoring exploits and helping Juve win the Serie A title in his first season.
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7. Randal Kolo Muani | Eintracht Frankfurt to PSG for €95m
Probably one of the most surprising amounts shelled out for a player recently, the Parisians acquired Kolo Muani from Frankfurt in a knee-jerk reaction deal, prematurely adding him to the list of the most expensive striker transfers.
Kolo Muani was at Nantes during the 2021/22 season, where he scored 13 goals and provided seven assists in 41 games and was signed by Frankfurt. The following season, he amassed 23 goals and 17 assists in 46 appearances, which is mighty impressive but was probably too soon to be spending nearly 100 million on.
6. Harry Kane | Tottenham to Bayern Munich for €100m
In stark contrast to the players before him, Kane’s move fully deserves its place among the most expensive striker transfers. Harry Kane made 435 appearances for Spurs and is their all-time leading scorer with 280 goals and has also provided 61 assists. He left for Bavaria in search of trophies and has done well in his one season with the club so far.
Kane has made 45 appearances for Bayern across competitions and has scored an eye-watering 44 goals along with 12 assists. Despite going trophyless this season, he has set himself up well for his tenure with the club and deserves his spot among the most expensive striker transfers.
5. Romelu Lukaku | Inter Milan to Chelsea for €113m
The only player to feature twice on this list, Romelu Lukaku has been subject to some big-money moves in his time as a professional. He had an impressive 2020/21 season with Inter, scoring 30 goals and providing 10 assists in 44 appearances across competitions that year.
The following season, Chelsea wanted their star striker back and showed intent with a massive bid that Inter found hard to turn down. However, the Belgian was unfortunately unable to replicate that form again.
4. Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid to Juventus for €117m
Ronaldo’s move from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009 created shockwaves that lasted a few years, but he did more than enough to justify his price tag. The Portuguese sensation made a staggering 438 appearances for Los Blancos, scoring a club-record 450 goals and also providing 131 assists, doing more than enough to justify his spot among the most expensive striker transfers.
For Juventus to persuade Real to part with their prized possession, they had to break the bank to sign Ronaldo in 2018. He repaid their faith as well, scoring 101 goals and providing 22 assists in just 134 games, and winning two Serie A titles during his time with Juve.
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3. Antoine Griezmann | Atletico Madrid to Barcelona for €120m
Another move that did not quite work out for the new club, Griezmann’s move to Barcelona in 2019 was expected to be the club’s way of moving on from their retiring legends. However, the Frenchman was unable to properly acclimate himself to life at Camp Nou.
He ended up making 102 appearances for Barça, scoring 35 goals and also providing 17 assists in that time. However, having come off an incredible season with Atlético Madrid where he scored 21 goals and provided 10 assists in 48 appearances, a lot was expected of him which he was unable to deliver.
2. João Félix | Benfica to Atlético Madrid for €127.2m
João Félix had one of the quickest and most hyped climbs to the top but has since failed to fully justify the entire buzz. He had an incredible 2018/19 season with Benfica as a teenager, scoring 20 goals and providing 11 assists in 43 appearances, and was immediately approached by a host of top clubs.
Atlético were the first ones to directly activate the player’s release clause as they looked at him as one for the present and the future. He has made 131 appearances for Atleti, scoring 34 goals and providing 18 assists as well.
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1. Kylian Mbappé | AS Monaco to PSG for €180m
While the fee still seems very exorbitant, one can argue that Kylian Mbappé is good enough to justify even the most ridiculous amounts. Such was the hype around a French teenager who took the world by storm as he scored 21 goals and provided 16 assists in just 46 games in the 2017/18 season.
PSG were the quickest to move and signed Mbappé on an initial loan with an obligation to buy. He spent the next few years with the Parisians and established himself as one of, if not the greatest active footballer. Kylian Mbappé bagged an impressive 256 goals and 108 assists in 308 appearances for PSG. He also won six Ligue 1 titles, four Coupe de France cups and three Trophée des Champions, and has done more than enough to justify his spot at the top of the list of the most expensive striker transfers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who is the most expensive striker transfer in history?
A. Kylian Mbappé’s €180m move from AS Monaco to PSG holds the record of the most expensive striker transfer in football history.