The 10 most expensive Premier League transfers of all time: £241m Liverpool duo take top two spots

Paul Pogba, Florian Wirtz and Jack Grealish

Pogba, Wirtz and Grealish all cost a lot of money

The Premier League is the richest league in the world and English sides have made a lot of mega-money purchases in recent years.

Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City regularly flex their financial muscles, but the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool are now starting to splash the cash as well.

We’ve taken a look at the 10 most expensive Premier League signings of all time and how they fared after making the big-money move.

Note: all transfer fees are inclusive of potential add-ons, although not all will have been fully activated.

10. Mykhailo Mudryk – £88.5m

  • Year: 2023
  • From: Shakhtar Donetsk
  • To: Chelsea

Arsenal identified Mudryk as a top target in January 2023 but they were unable to agree a transfer fee with Shakhtar Donetsk, who rejected two bids from the Gunners.

Chelsea hijacked the deal and secured his signature after paying an initial £62million and a further £26.5million in potential add-ons.

The Ukraine international has struggled to make a major impact at Stamford Bridge, scoring 10 goals and registering 11 assists in 73 appearances in all competitions.

His Chelsea career went from bad to worse with news of his failed drugs test in November 2024, and he is now facing a lengthy ban, potentially for as long as four years.

9. Paul Pogba – £89m

  • Year: 2016
  • From: Juventus
  • To: Manchester United

After leaving Manchester United on a free transfer in 2012, Pogba returned to the club in a then-world-record transfer deal in the summer of 2016.

He enjoyed an impressive debut season in 2016/17, helping Jose Mourinho’s side lift the League Cup and 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 a lack of consistency in the following five seasons.

He was even booed by home fans during his final game at Old Trafford and rejoined Juventus on a free transfer in the summer of 2022.

8. Romelu Lukaku – £90m

  • Year: 2017
  • From: Everton
  • To: Manchester United

Lukaku spent four seasons at Everton before joining Manchester United in a deal worth an initial £75million and another £15million in potential add-ons.

The Belgium international hit the ground running and broke Sir Bobby Charlton’s long-standing record by scoring 10 goals in his first nine appearances for the club.

But he failed to maintain that goalscoring form and came under fire for his fitness and professionalism in the 2018/19 season.

The striker was sold to Inter Milan in the summer of 2019, having registered 42 goals and 12 assists in 96 appearances for United.

7. Romelu Lukaku – £97.5m

  • Year: 2021
  • From: Inter Milan
  • To: Chelsea

Lukaku rebuilt his reputation at Inter, scoring 64 goals in 95 appearances in all competitions and helping them win the Serie A title.

Chelsea, who sold the striker to Everton for £28million in 2014, then brought him back to Stamford Bridge in a £97.5million deal in the summer of 2021.

But he failed to live up to expectations, scoring 15 goals in 54 appearances in 2021/22 before being sent back to Inter on a season-long loan deal.

The 32-year-old had another loan spell at Roma in 2023/24 and was then sold to Napoli in a deal worth an initial £25.2million.

6. Jack Grealish – £100m

  • Year: 2021
  • From: Aston Villa
  • To: Manchester City

While Aston Villa hoped that a £100million release clause in Grealish’s contract would be enough to fend off any suitors, Manchester City triggered it in the summer of 2021.

He initially struggled to adjust to the tactical demands of Pep Guardiola and played a bit-part role in his debut season at the Etihad.

The England international looked to have turned things around after helping City win the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Champions League in 2022/23.

But he fell by the wayside in the following two seasons and is now at Everton on a season-long loan deal, which includes an option to buy for £50million.

5. Declan Rice – £105m

  • Year: 2023
  • From: West Ham
  • To: Arsenal

Rice led West Ham United to Europa Conference League glory in 2022/23 before expressing his desire to play in the Champions League.

Manchester City were only willing to spend £90million on the midfielder but Arsenal agreed to meet West Ham’s asking price, paying an initial £100million and £5million in add-ons.

“When the transfer was going through I was very nervous because of the price tag,” he said. “It’s natural to think about that. You’re a human being bought for £105m, it doesn’t feel very normal!

“But that was because of what I’d done at West Ham, what they valued me at. When I signed for Arsenal I just thought, ‘I just need to be Declan Rice’, be myself, don’t be any different, everything will go smoothly.”

The England international has gone from strength to strength at the Emirates and won the Arsenal Player of the Year award in 2024/25.

4. Enzo Fernandez – £106.8m

  • Year: 2023
  • From: Benfica
  • To: Chelsea

Fernandez shot to prominence at the 2022 World Cup, helping Argentina lift the trophy for a third time while also winning the Young Player of the Tournament award.

His performances attracted interest from a host of top European clubs and Chelsea activated the £106.8million release clause in his Benfica contract in January 2023.

The midfielder initially struggled with the pace and physicality of the Premier League and also played through much of the 2023/24 season with a sports hernia.

He improved under Enzo Maresca in 2024/25, helping the Blues secure a top-four finish in the Premier League before scoring in the UEFA Conference League final win over Real Betis.

3. Moises Caicedo – £115m

  • Year: 2023
  • From: Brighton
  • To: Chelsea

Chelsea fought off competition from Liverpool to sign Caicedo in a deal worth an initial £100million and another £15million in potential bonuses.

He endured a slow start to life at Stamford Bridge but rediscovered his best form in 2024/25, winning their Player of the Season award and the Players’ Player of the Season Award.

“The beginning was tough for me, because you are at a big club, the price, you always have to win every game,” Caicedo said.

“It was tough for me because when I was in Brighton, the pressure is less. At Chelsea, it is different. I felt a lot of pressure because, you know… the club, the history, the players who were there.

“But after the last four or five months, I felt more comfortable at the club.”

2. Florian Wirtz – £116m

  • Year: 2025
  • From: Bayer Leverkusen
  • To: Liverpool

Having established himself as one of the best midfielders in Europe at Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz joined Liverpool in a deal worth an initial £100million and another £16million in potential add-ons.

“I just want to play football and how much money the clubs pay between each other, it doesn’t matter,” the Germany international said when asked about the fee.

“I came because I thought I could fit in this team and I am enjoying to stay with these players. I am a player who needs freedom on the pitch and the manager gives it to me.

“I will try to find the right places to be and the right spaces to get on the ball and to be dangerous and create chances.”

1. Alexander Isak – £125m

  • Year: 2025
  • From: Newcastle United
  • To: Liverpool

Wirtz had a very brief stint as the most expensive player in Premier League history as Liverpool broke the British transfer record twice in the space of a few weeks.

He has now been joined at Anfield by Isak, who completed a £125million move from Newcastle United on transfer deadline day following a summer-long saga.

The transfer fee moves the 25-year-old Sweden international straight to the top of this list, and he also is also the sixth most expensive player of all time.

READ MORE: Every Premier League club’s record signing as Alexander Isak replaces Florian Wirtz at Liverpool

Alexander Isak Declan Rice Moises Caicedo

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