The Most Expensive Transfers of the 2020s
Billions of dollars flow through the sports industry every year, most prominently through the world’s largest leagues. There’s the glory and the patriotism of the NFL, the grit of the NHL, and the transcendent nature of football leagues around the globe that rake in the cash from tickets, suites, broadcasting, sponsors, and player transfers. Player transfers are a big deal in sports – high-profile or expensive transfers attract media buzz and affect player careers, while the financial impact can be astounding – astronomical numbers that become headline spectacles. Many people try to predict which transfers are going to happen so they can adjust their betting habits, but those who can’t might take a look at no wagering bonuses from casinos.com.
In football, we’ve seen numbers in the double-digit millions as far back as Zidane’s 2001 £46.6 million transfer from Juventus to Real Madrid, but we’ve more recently started to see triple-digit millions as an industry standard. Curious about the costliest transfers of the 2020s thus far? Let’s take a look.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United to Al Nassr, £172m)
As of late, Saudi Arabia has worked to diversify its economy away from oil and turn their attention to global sports. The Kingdom has hosted several UFC events and the Dakar Rally and is set to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. At this rate, they’re bound to be the source of plenty of transfer rumours in the future. They’ve made moves within football too, notably striking a two-and-a-half-year contract with Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo for £172 million. They also bought other high-profile players like Ruben Neves and Neymar Jr. to bolster their presence in global football.
Although Ronaldo was a free agent after leaving Manchester United, this sensational contract is too otherworldly to ignore.
Moisés Caicedo (Brighton to Chelsea, £115m)
Young defensive midfielder Moisés Caicedo was like any other Ecuadorian kid in Santo Domingo – he loved football and played on the scrubland pitches with what he had. With the help of football coach Iván Guerra, however, he got the aid he needed to buy football boots and start training at local soccer schools. Eventually, he went for trials with Independiente del Valle in the Ecuadorian Serie A and started his career. For three years after leaving Independiente del Valle, he played for Brighton, emerging as a player to watch during his 2022-2023 season. He won Player of the Season and Player’s Player that season but was traded to Chelsea for a total transfer fee of £115m.
Enzo Fernández (Benfica to Chelsea, £106.8m)
Moisés Caicedo wasn’t the only South American footballer that Chelsea acquired in 2023. Enzo Fernández spent his youth career and the start of his senior career with historic Argentine club River Plate before moving on with Benfica. He became a valuable scorer, with consistently impressive performances that featured a record of five consecutive wins and three clean sheets.
Unsurprisingly, his international success at the 2022 FIFA World Cup garnered some attention, and Chelsea ended up purchasing him for a £106.8 million package after a battle against Liverpool – a British-record transfer deal at the time.
Declan Rice (West Ham to Arsenal, £105m)
Declan Rice was thrust into the world of football early on at the age of seven. He spent most of his youth career with Chelsea and his last two with West Ham United, where he showed exceptional prowess and mastery over the sport. Rice went on to sign his very first professional contract with West Ham, winning Young Hammer of the Year for three consecutive seasons and earning captaincy at the tender age of 20. In his 2022-2023 season, Declan made the most interceptions and won possession more than any other player in the Premier League.
His £100 million contract (with £5 million in add-ons) that marked his move to Arsenal rivalled Jack Grealish’s record, replacing him as the most expensive English player.
Jack Grealish (Aston Villa to Manchester City, £100m)
Known for his long locks, short socks, defensive techniques, and dribbling, Jack Grealish once held the title for the most expensive British player ever for his transfer deal of £100m to Manchester City. He spent a massive portion of his life with Aston Villa, joining the club at age six and making a name for himself until his departure to Manchester City in 2021.
Although Grealish found himself in hot water a couple of times early in his career, he used those as learning lessons and bounced back at his new club. He’s since won a Premier League title and boasts wins for the Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FA Cup. appoint him.
Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan to Chelsea, £97.5m)
Romelu Lukaku has had a decorated career, which has been characterised by bouts in a variety of Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, Everton, and his current club, Chelsea. His rise to stardom came during his time with Everton, where he scored his first goal against his former club. He continued showing his stripes as a striker and became a much-loved footballer thanks to his humble attitude.
He scored over 50 Premier League goals before the age of 23, alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Owen, and Wayne Rooney. Lukaku is an all-time top goalscorer (even though his current performance in the 2024 Euro Cup says otherwise), so it’s not much of a surprise that Chelsea wanted him back after a seven-year hiatus.