Manchester United

Manchester United

Premier League • England

Man Utd biggest signings: Benjamin Sesko shoots into top five after big-money transfer

Antony, Paul Pogba and Harry Maguire

Man Utd spent a lot of money on Antony, Pogba and Maguire

Manchester United are one of the richest clubs in the world and they are no strangers to spending large sums of money in the transfer market.

But big price tags put a lot of pressure on a player’s shoulders and some of United’s signings have failed to produce the goods at Old Trafford.

We’ve taken a look at the 10 most expensive signings in Manchester United’s history and how those players subsequently fared after completing the move.

Note: we’ve taken into account any potential add-ons in the figures. Also, all stats are correct as of June 2025.

10. Bruno Fernandes – £67.7m

  • From: Sporting CP
  • Year: 2020
  • United appearances: 290

Following a poor start to the 2019/20 season, United used the January transfer window to sign Fernandes in a deal worth an initial £47million and another £20.7million in add-ons.

The Portugal international made a seamless transition to English football and has registered 98 goals and 86 assists in 290 appearances in all competitions.

He recently won the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award for a record-equalling fourth time and is widely regarded as the best United signing in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Despite United’s poor performances in 2024/25 and strong interest from Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, the 30-year-old has decided to stay at Old Trafford.

9. Casemiro – £70m

  • From: Real Madrid
  • Year: 2022
  • United appearances: 125

Eyebrows were raised when United agreed to pay Real Madrid an initial £60million and another £10million in add-ons for a 30-year-old Casemiro in the summer of 2022.

United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was also unimpressed by the deal and reportedly highlighted it as poor business during his takeover talks.

The Brazil international initially silenced his critics in 2022/23 and helped end United’s six-year trophy drought by scoring the opener against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final.

He struggled with form and fitness issues in the 2023/24 campaign and was linked with a move away but has since turned his fortunes around under Amorim.

8. Bryan Mbeumo – £71m

  • From: Brentford
  • Year: 2025
  • United appearances: N/A

A second new entry to this list from the 2025 summer transfer window, United pinpointed Mbeumo as a top target after his 20-goal haul in the 2024-25 Premier League season for Brentford.

Brentford rejected two bids for Mbeumo in June, which would have been worth £45m + £10m and £55m + £7.5m respectively.

In the end, United convinced them to accept a package worth £65m + £6m in add-ons. Mbeumo signed a five-year contract at Old Trafford with the option for an extra year.

7. Rasmus Hojlund – £72m

  • From: Atalanta
  • Year: 2023
  • United appearances: 95

Hojlund’s performances for Atalanta in the 2022/23 season caught the attention of several top clubs, including United and Paris Saint-Germain.

United won the race for his signature after agreeing to pay Atalanta an initial £64million for the striker, with a further £8million in potential add-ons.

The striker initially showed signs of promise in his debut season and netted 16 goals in all competitions, including five in the Champions League group stage.

But he failed to kick on in the 2024/25 campaign and his form actually regressed, scoring just 10 goals in 52 appearances in all competitions.

6. Jadon Sancho – £73m

  • From: Borussia Dortmund
  • Year: 2021
  • United appearances: 83

During his time at Borussia Dortmund, Sancho established himself as one of the most exciting attacking talents in the world.

United spent two years tirelessly chasing the winger before finally agreeing to a £73million deal with Dortmund in the summer of 2021.

But the England international has failed to live up to expectations at Old Trafford, registering just 12 goals and six assists in 83 appearances.

He spent the second half of the 2023/24 season on loan at Dortmund after a public bust-up with Erik ten Hag before joining Chelsea on a season-long loan deal.

Chelsea opted not to turn the move into a permanent deal and United are now looking to sell the 25-year-old.

5. Benjamin Sesko – £74m

  • From: RB Leipzig
  • Year: 2025
  • United appearances: N/A

Shooting into their top five most expensive signings of all time, United beat Newcastle to the signing of Slovenian striker Sesko in August 2025, with the striker signing a five-year deal at the time.

Arriving with a big reputation as one of the world’s most feared young frontmen, Sesko’s powerful 6ft 5in frame makes him a menace for opposing defenders, both in the air, where he is famed for his aerial ability and on the ground, where he has both quick feet and rapid acceleration.

Nicknamed The Beast, United will hope Sesko forms a dream new attacking trident with Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha and will be seen as a signing that really sparks the INEOS era into life.

4. Harry Maguire – £80m

  • From: Leicester City
  • Year: 2019
  • United appearances: 246

Brought in for £80million in the summer of 2019, Maguire replaced Virgil van Dijk as the most expensive defender in football history.

The England international enjoyed a very solid start to his United career and captained the club to a second-place finish in the Premier League in the 2020/21 campaign.

But his form took a nosedive amid United’s struggles in the 2021/22 season, and he became a figure of ridicule on social media.

The 32-year-old centre-back played a bit-part role under Ten Hag but has since become one of Amorim’s key men, taking up the central role in the manager’s back three.

3. Antony – £85.5m

  • From: Ajax
  • Year: 2022
  • United appearances: 96

Having worked with Antony at Ajax, Ten Hag brought him to United in a deal worth an initial £81.3million and another £4.2million in add-ons.

The Brazil international failed to justify that price tag, scoring 12 goals and registering five assists in 96 appearances in all competitions.

He was deemed surplus to requirements by Amorim and spent the second half of the 2024/25 season on loan at Real Betis, where he rediscovered his best form.

United are still looking to offload the 25-year-old this summer and are reportedly demanding a fee between £34million and £42million.

2. Paul Pogba – £89m

  • From: Juventus
  • Year: 2016
  • United appearances: 226

Four years after leaving United for Juventus on a free transfer, Pogba returned to Old Trafford in 2016 for a then-world-record transfer fee.

He enjoyed an impressive debut season in 2016/17, helping Jose Mourinho’s side lift the League Cup before scoring in the Europa League final win over Ajax.

But that was about as good as it got for the France international, who struggled with injury problems and also failed to showcase his talents on a consistent basis.

He became a polarising figure among United fans and left the club on a free transfer once again at the end of the 2021/22 season.

1. Romelu Lukaku – £90m

  • From: Everton
  • Year: 2017
  • United appearances: 96

After Wayne Rooney left United and returned to Everton in the summer of 2017, Lukaku moved in the opposite direction in a deal worth an initial £75million and another £15million in add-ons.

He scored an impressive 27 goals in all competitions in his debut season as United finished as runners-up in the Premier League and the FA Cup.

But the goals dried up in his second campaign, and the Belgium international became a much-maligned figure at Old Trafford.

United still managed to recoup most of the transfer fee when they sold Lukaku to Inter Milan for £73million in the summer of 2019.

READ MORE: Every completed Man Utd transfer in summer 2025: Signings, exits, loans

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