From Neymar to Alexander Isak, SportsClub writer Dylan Appolis looks at the top 20 most expensive transfers in football history.

NEYMAR
Transfer: Barcelona to PSG, 2017
Fee: £200 million

Paris Saint-Germain shattered the transfer record in 2017 when they signed Neymar from Barcelona for £200 million. The Brazilian produced an outstanding return, making 173 appearances with 118 goals and 79 assists across seven years. Though he never delivered the coveted Champions League crown, he won 13 trophies, including five Ligue 1 titles, three Coupe de France titles, two Coupe de la Ligue titles, and three Trophée des Champions. He eventually departed for Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League. His career is currently on the wane, having returned to boyhood club Santos after a spell in Saudi Arabia.

KYLIAN MBAPPÉ
Transfer: AS Monaco to PSG, 2018
Fee: £165.7 million

PSG initially signed Kylian Mbappé on loan from Monaco to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations, before making the deal permanent in 2018 for £165.7 million. The French striker became a club legend, surpassing Edinson Cavani to become PSG’s all-time leading scorer with 256 goals in 308 appearances. He lifted 18 trophies, including six Ligue 1 titles, before leaving for Real Madrid. Ironically, his move to Real was as a free agent, meaning he cost them nothing, though they are paying plenty in wages to have him in Madrid.

PHILIPPE COUTINHO
Transfer: Liverpool to Barcelona, 2018
Fee: £142 million

Barcelona made Philippe Coutinho their most expensive signing when they paid Liverpool £142 million in 2018, intending for him to succeed Andrés Iniesta. Instead, his time at Camp Nou was largely disappointing. After one full season, he was loaned to Bayern Munich, later suffering a long-term injury. Across 106 appearances, he contributed 25 goals and 14 assists before joining Aston Villa in 2022. It was quite a spectacular fall from grace from his Anfield days.

ALEXANDER ISAK
Transfer: Newcastle United to Liverpool, 2025
Fee: £125 million

Alexander Isak became the most expensive player in British football history when Liverpool signed him from Newcastle United for £125m on deadline day in September 2025. His arrival also broke Florian Wirtz’s short-lived Premier League transfer record. At Newcastle, the Swede had been prolific, scoring 62 goals with 11 assists in 109 appearances, finishing second in the 2024–25 scoring charts behind Mohamed Salah and helping the Magpies win their first silverware in 56 years. The transfer was a protracted saga as Isak forced his way out of Newcastle, who did not want to sell for any price. But the alternative was to have an unhappy player on their hands who had essentially gone on strike.

FLORIAN WIRTZ
Transfer: Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool, 2025
Fee: £116 million

Before Isak’s arrival, Florian Wirtz briefly held the British transfer record when Liverpool bought him from Bayer Leverkusen for £116 million. His record lasted exactly two months. A generational talent, Wirtz had been instrumental in Leverkusen’s historic unbeaten 2023–24 Bundesliga title campaign. In five-and-a-half years, he recorded 57 goals and 65 assists in 197 appearances before his Premier League move. It was a slow start to his time at Anfield, but players often need a period of time to bed in, such is the quicker pace of the Premier League.

MOISÉS CAICEDO
Transfer: Brighton to Chelsea, 2023
Fee: £115 million

Chelsea secured Moisés Caicedo for £115 million in August 2023, handing him an eight-year contract in what was then a British-record deal. The Ecuadorian midfielder endured a difficult debut season, struggling under the weight of expectation, but grew into his role. By 2024-25 he was among the Premier League’s standout performers and also helped Chelsea to the FIFA Club World Cup title.

JOÃO FÉLIX
Transfer: Benfica to Atlético Madrid, 2019
Fee: £113 million

Atlético Madrid broke their transfer record in 2019 by signing João Félix from Benfica for £113 million, the Portuguese club’s biggest-ever sale. Though his spell was disrupted by injuries and clashes with Diego Simeone, Félix still produced moments of brilliance and helped Atlético to the 2020–21 La Liga title. Loan spells at Chelsea, Barcelona and AC Milan followed before a permanent move to Al-Nassr. It is fair to say that overall, the fee did not match the output from the player.

ANTOINE GRIEZMANN
Transfer: Atlético Madrid to Barcelona, 2019
Fee: £107 million

Barcelona triggered Antoine Griezmann’s £107 million release clause in 2019, prising him away from Atlético Madrid. It was these funds that allowed Atleti to move for Felix as a replacement. However, the Frenchman never fully settled at Camp Nou and eventually returned to his old side in Madrid, first on loan and later permanently, for a fraction of the original fee.

ENZO FERNÁNDEZ
Transfer: Benfica to Chelsea, 2023
Fee: £106.8 million

Fresh from winning the 2022 World Cup, Enzo Fernández moved from Benfica to Chelsea in January 2023 for £106.8 million, signing an eight-and-a-half-year contract. Despite Chelsea’s struggles, Fernández impressed and is now in his fourth season with the club, serving as captain. He has become a crucial player for them in the midfield.

DECLAN RICE
Transfer: West Ham United to Arsenal, 2023
Fee: £105 million

Arsenal made Declan Rice their record signing in 2023, paying £105 million to West Ham United. The deal also set a record for a transfer between two British clubs. Rice quickly became a key figure at the Emirates, delivering consistency and leadership. Although Arsenal are still chasing major silverware, he has been among their most reliable performers since arriving.