What are the most expensive transfers in Premier League history? Read here to learn the biggest transfer fees Premier League clubs have paid for players.
Nineteen Premier League transfers have carried a fee of more than £60 million. With the drastic inflation in transfer fees across Europe, it’s no surprise the majority of the most expensive Premier League transfers have come in the 2020s.
Some players have lived up to the billing when signed for history-making sums, but plenty of the Premier League’s biggest transfers have ultimately disappointed. Reading on, see the full run down, or explore the latest Premier League odds to back your favourite teams and players.
The Premier League’s biggest transfers
Below is a table summarising the most expensive Premier League transfers (estimated):
Rank | Player | Fee | From | To | Season |
1 | Alexander Isak | £125 million | Newcastle | Liverpool | 2025-26 |
2 | Enzo Fernández | £106.8 million | Benfica | Chelsea | 2022-23 |
T-3 | Jack Grealish | £100 million | Aston Villa | Manchester City | 2021-22 |
T-3 | Florian Wirtz | £100 million | Bayer Leverkusen | Liverpool | 2025-26 |
T-3 | Declan Rice | £100 million | West Ham | Arsenal | 2023-24 |
T-3 | Moisés Caicedo | £100 million | Brighton | Chelsea | 2023-24 |
7 | Romelu Lukaku | £97.5 million | Inter | Chelsea | 2021-22 |
8 | Paul Pogba | £89.3 million | Juventus | Manchester United | 2016-17 |
9 | Antony | £81.3 million | Ajax | Manchester United | 2022-23 |
10 | Harry Maguire | £80 million | Leicester City | Manchester United | 2019-20 |
11 | Joško Gvardiol | £77 million | RB Leipzig | Manchester City | 2023-24 |
T-12 | Romelu Lukaku | £75 million | Everton | Manchester United | 2017-18 |
T-12 | Virgil van Dijk | £75 million | Southampton | Liverpool | 2017-18 |
14 | Jadon Sancho | £73 million | Borussia Dortmund | Manchester United | 2021-22 |
15 | Nicolas Pépé | £72 million | Lille | Arsenal | 2019-20 |
16 | Kepa Arrizabalaga | £71.6 million | Athletic Club | Chelsea | 2018-19 |
17 | Wesley Fofana | £70 million | Leicester City | Chelsea | 2022-23 |
18 | Hugo Ekitike | £69 million | Eintracht Frankfurt | Liverpool | 2025-26 |
19 | Benjamin Šeško | £66.3 million | RB Leipzig | Manchester United | 2025-26 |
20 | Angel di Maria | £59.7 million | Real Madrid | Manchester United | 2014-15 |
10. Harry Maguire, £80 million
Harry Maguire’s move certainly didn’t transform Manchester United’s short- or long-term future in the Premier League betting markets. But the England international has been a reassuring presence at Old Trafford – initially struggling with the pressure that comes with being one of the Premier League’s biggest transfers.
Maguire, who was the most expensive defender in football history at the time of the transfer, has made over 250 appearances for the Red Devils. His only silverware so far has been the EFL Cup in 2022-23 and the FA Cup in 2023-24.
9. Antony, £81.3 million
A close relationship with Manchester United’s manager at the time, Erik ten Hag, led to Antony becoming Eredivisie’s biggest transfer ever. Despite being expensive, it turned out to be one of the worst transfers in Premier League history.
Antony had two goal involvements in 1,460 league minutes for United before being loaned to Real Betis. The deal was made permanent in the 2025 summer window, with the Red Devils losing more than £60 million on the resale.
8. Paul Pogba, £89.3 million
Manchester United broke the world transfer record to sign Paul Pogba in 2016 – being the highest fee paid by an English club until 2021.
The Frenchman had moments of brilliance during his second Old Trafford spell but he wasn’t the transformative force that United’s hierarchy hoped. For the second time in his career, Pogba left United, signing with Juventus at the end of his contract in 2022.
7. Romelu Lukaku, £97.5 million
Romelu Lukaku appears twice in the top 12 Premier League most expensive transfers. The pricier of the two mega deals came when the Belgian returned to the Premier League with Chelsea. The Blues paid Inter £97.5 million for his services after he’d scored 64 goals across two seasons in Italy.
Lukaku only lasted one season at Chelsea before he was loaned back to Inter. In August 2024, Chelsea sold Lukaku to Napoli for around £25 million.
T-3. Moisés Caicedo, £100 million
The summer of 2023 saw Chelsea and Liverpool battle for Moisés Caicedo’s signature. Liverpool had a bid north of £100 million accepted, but Chelsea trumped the Reds’ offer with a deal that could rise to £115 million with add-ons. Caicedo then signed an astonishing eight-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
After a difficult first season with the London club, the midfielder justified his price tag in his second season, proving himself as one of the world’s best central midfielders.
T-3. Declan Rice, £100 million
Atop the list of the biggest Arsenal transfers ever, Declan Rice absolutely smashed the club’s previous transfer record of £72 million.
A talismanic, all-action midfielder, Rice was initially used in a deeper role. He has, however, been allowed to play as an eight since the arrival of Martin Zubimendi. This seems to have brought the best out of Rice, as he looks to end the Gunners’ long wait for a Premier League title.
T-3. Florian Wirtz, £100 million
Fresh off 44 goal contributions across his last two Bundesliga seasons, including a league title with Bayer Leverkusen, Florian Wirtz was a man in demand in the summer of 2025. Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Chelsea were reportedly interested in the German when he penned a long-term contract with Liverpool.
It’s currently too early to judge whether Wirtz has been, or will be, a success at Anfield. He’s still only 23 years old and has understandably needed time to settle into the Premier League.
T-3. Jack Grealish, £100 million
As a three-time Premier League champion and treble winner with Manchester City, it’s probably harsh to say Jack Grealish was a disappointment after being signed for £100 million. Still, he never topped 12 goal involvements in a league season for City before being loaned to Everton in 2025-26.
When given the freedom to create, Grealish has consistently been one of the best players to watch in the Premier League. Grealish spent the 2025/26 season on loan at Everton, and although it’s hard to predict what the future holds, it looks like he’ll leave City permanently in the coming transfer windows.
2. Enzo Fernández, £106.8 million
After an elongated transfer saga, with both Chelsea and Liverpool showing interest, Enzo Fernández became one of the highest-profile deadline day signings in Premier League history. Signing in January 2023, he held the record for the most expensive transfer in Premier League history for two-and-a-half years.
Various Chelsea managers have been torn between playing Fernández alongside Caicedo or using the Argentine in a more advanced role.
1. Alexander Isak, £125 million
After becoming one of the world’s best strikers at Newcastle, Alexander Isak demanded a transfer following the 2024-25 season. The Swede even went on strike when the Magpies didn’t quickly sell him.
Liverpool ultimately got their man but had to part with the third-largest transfer fee in football history. Isak’s first season has been largely derailed by injuries, hampering any chances of justifying the fee.
Who are the most expensive English players in Premier League history?
Jack Grealish, Declan Rice, Harry Maguire, and Jadon Sancho are the most expensive English players in Premier League history. Grealish and Rice are tied for the highest transfer fee at £100 million, with Maguire and Sancho going to Manchester United for £80 million and £73 million, respectively.
Grealish, Rice, and Maguire account for three of the ten most expensive transfers in the Premier League. Sancho’s deal was a blockbuster at the time, but he never really settled at Old Trafford.
Of the quartet, Rice is the only deal that has been an unqualified success. Maguire has had a solid career with Manchester United, despite often being on the end of some undue criticism. Grealish played a key role in Manchester City winning plenty of trophies, but his individual performances only sporadically lived up to the price tag.
