Premier League’s priciest: The most expensive transfers of all time
The English Premier League (EPL) is one of the biggest and most exciting football leagues in the world. Fans around the globe watch it closely, and players dream of playing in it. Because of the league’s popularity and high level of competition, teams often spend huge amounts of money to sign top players.
Some transfers cost millions of dollars, as clubs do whatever it takes to get ahead. To find out which ones cost the most, here are EPL’s most expensive transfers.
Enzo Fernández (Benfica to Chelsea)
In January 2023, Chelsea shocked the football world by signing Enzo Fernández from Portuguese club Benfica for a reported €121 million (around £107 million). This made Enzo the most expensive player in Premier League history at the time.
Chelsea was impressed by Enzo’s amazing performance for Argentina in the 2022 World Cup, where he helped the team win the trophy. As a midfielder, Enzo is known for his smart passes and the ability to control the game, which led Chelsea to acquire the player.
Jack Grealish (Aston Villa to Manchester City)
In 2021, Manchester City spent a then-record €117.5 million to sign Jack Grealish from Aston Villa. Grealish had become a fan favourite at Villa for his leadership on the field and outstanding gameplay.
City believed adding Grealish would bring even more power to their already strong squad. Their decision became final since they’ve witnessed his impressive feat of having one of the highest tallies of assists, plus his athleticism when he played against Germany.
Declan Rice (West Ham to Arsenal)
In the summer of 2023, Arsenal signed Declan Rice from West Ham United for around €116.6 million. It was one of the biggest signings in the club’s history. Since Manchester City was also eyeing him, Arsenal went ahead and signed him quickly.
Rice had been West Ham’s captain and most reliable player. Because of this, many wanted to get him to their team, and one of them was Arsenal. They saw him as the missing piece to help them secure a Premier League title. Even though they haven’t secured one yet after Rice’s addition to their roster, the next season is about to start, so they’ll have a chance.
Moises Caicedo (Brighton to Chelsea)
Chelsea appears again on this list after signing Moises Caicedo from Brighton for about €116 million in August 2023. He was having a difficult time choosing which one to join: Liverpool or Chelsea. However, the latter’s offer resonated with him the most.
Caicedo had a good season with Brighton, helping them finish high in the table. He is a talented midfielder who can play both defensively and offensively. Chelsea saw this potential, so they signed him, hoping he would strengthen their team for future leagues and tournaments.
Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan to Chelsea)
Chelsea is one of the most competitive teams in the EPL, which is why they’ve been having transfers left and right. In 2021, Chelsea also paid €113 million to bring back Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan. Lukaku had previously played for Chelsea but had made a name for himself in Italy.
Despite being a great player for Chelsea, he was loaned to Inter again for the 2022-2023 Season. After that, he was loaned to Roma for the 2023-24 campaign. He is permanently staying with Napoli after they had a €30 million deal in 2024.
Paul Pogba (Juventus to Manchester United)
In 2016, Paul Pogba made headlines when he returned to Manchester United from Juventus for a then-record €105 million. United had let Pogba go for free a few years earlier, but they were willing to buy him back again for good when he became a football legend.
Many thought he wouldn’t come back to Man UTD, but when he returned to the club, fans were excited to see him back in a red uniform. After he failed to secure his position permanently, he returned to Juventus again for free.
Exploring the multi-million dollar world of EPL transfers
These are just some of the most expensive football transfers in the EPL. Since the league was a highly competitive field, transfers can reach hundreds of millions. However, not all were successful, as some players returned to their previous teams.
