Soccer’s Most Costly Transfers: Isak Joins Neymar, Mbappé in Prime 5

It has been all about splashing the money for Liverpool. 

The defending English Premier League champions spent an unbelievable $570 million in switch charges this summer season, headlined by two blockbuster offers in German playmaker Florian Wirtz and Swedish striker Alexander Isak. 

The duo is anticipated to proceed bringing some critical silverware to Anfield, together with one more Champions League title. So, the place do these offers rank among the many most costly in soccer historical past? This is a have a look at the highest 10 and the way they performed out:

1. Neymar: $239 million (Barcelona to PSG, 2017)

It was all the time going to be tough for Neymar to reside as much as the $239 million price ticket that PSG paid Barcelona for his abilities in 2017, however accidents made it even tougher for him to justify it. He wasn’t in a position to carry PSG its Champions League victory. Nonetheless, he had an excellent profession with the membership, recording 118 targets and 77 assists in 173 appearances, and profitable 13 trophies in six years. A disappointing spell at Saudi aspect Al-Hilal prompted a return to his boyhood membership Santos in Brazil earlier this yr in hopes of staying within the combine for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

Neymar stays the most costly switch in soccer historical past. (Photograph by ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP by way of Getty Photos)

2. Kylian Mbappe: $194 million (Monaco to PSG, 2017)

In hindsight, $194 million looks like a steal for a participant of Mbappe’s caliber. Although the 24-year-old didn’t win the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain, he introduced a file 5 consecutive Ligue 1 titles and eight home cups to the membership after becoming a member of from Monaco in 2017. He was additionally named Ligue 1 Participant of the 12 months 4 occasions as a PSG participant. In March of 2023, Mbappe handed Edinson Cavani’s to change into PSG’s all-time main goalscorer, and he did it in 54 fewer video games. After seven seasons with PSG, Mbappe transferred to Actual Madrid. 

Earlier than his transfer to Actual Madrid, Kylian Mbappe made an equally stunning switch from Monaco to PSG. (Photograph by Jean Catuffe/Getty Photos)

3. Philippe Coutinho: $192 million (Liverpool to Barcelona, 2018)

One of the costly offers in soccer historical past can be one of many worst. Pegged as the right substitute for membership legend Andres Iniesta, Philippe Coutinho transferred to Barcelona from Liverpool for a charge of $145 million in 2018. What adopted was the nightmare situation for Barcelona. Coutinho, Barcelona’s most costly participant of all time, performed just one full season for the membership earlier than he was loaned out to FC Bayern earlier than the beginning of his third season. 

Coutinho returned to Barcelona for the 2020-21 season, however a season-ending knee harm restricted him to only 14 appearances in all competitions. In January 2022, Coutinho transferred to Premier League membership Aston Villa for $26 million. Coutinho ended his Barcelona profession with 25 targets and 14 assists in 106 appearances with Barcelona. With Liverpool, he had 54 targets and 45 assists in 201 appearances.

4. Alexander Isak: $170 million (Newcastle United to Liverpool, 2025)

The Swedish striker grew to become the most costly participant within the historical past of British soccer after becoming a member of Liverpool for a reported $170 million from Newcastle, ending the summer season switch window’s largest saga. Liverpool made a reported bid of roughly $149 million for Isak throughout the offseason and bided its time earlier than coming again for an improved supply. Isak netted 23 targets within the Premier League final season to complete second within the scoring chart behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.

Alexander Isak is now the most costly signing in British soccer historical past. (Photograph by Nikki Dyer – LFC/Liverpool FC by way of Getty Photos)

5. Florian Wirtz: $156 million (if add-ons achieved; Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool, 2025)

Wirtz is without doubt one of the brightest younger stars in world soccer. As a 20-year-old, he had 11 targets and 11 assists in 32 matches as he helped Bayer Leverkusen win its first Bundesliga league title. He adopted that up with a 10-goal, 12-assist season as Leverkusen completed second within the Bundesliga and likewise made it to the Knockout Stage of the UEFA Champions League. Due to the lofty price ticket, Wirtz could have a great deal of stress on him when he arrives at Liverpool and slots in subsequent to Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch within the Reds’ midfield.

6. Moises Caicedo: $146 million (Brighton to Chelsea, 2023)

The Ecuador midfielder’s transfer was beforehand the most costly deal by a British membership, with Chelsea shopping for him from Brighton in August 2023, earlier than Liverpool acquired Florian Wirtz. Caicedo appeared in 38 matches for Chelsea this previous season, serving to the crew hold 11 clear sheets whereas ending fourth within the English Premier League.

7. Ousmane Dembele: $145 million (Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona, 2017)

When Dembele was wholesome, the $145 million switch charge Barcelona paid to amass him from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 appeared fully justified, however accidents made the deal tough to judge. As a result of whereas he received three La Liga titles and three home cups in six years at Barcelona, he was sidelined for the excessive and lows the golf equipment has skilled in that point. His closing season at Barcelona was arguably his most impactful, as he contributed 5 targets and 7 assists en path to a La Liga title. Dembele in the end transferred to PSG in 2023, and has since had a resurgence, serving to the crew to 2 league titles and profitable the UEFA Champions League trophy in 2025.  

After stints at Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona, Ousmane Dembele has thrived with PSG. (Photograph by Xavier Laine/Getty Photos)

8. Joao Felix: $137 million (Benfica to Atlético Madrid, 2019)

Joao Felix’s $137 million transfer from Benfica to Atlético Madrid was historic for each golf equipment, because it was Benfica’s largest sale in membership historical past and Atlético’s biggest-ever switch. Sadly, Felix hasn’t made a lot historical past in Madrid exterior his price ticket. Whereas the 2019 Golden Boy-winner helped Atléti carry its first La Liga trophy in seven years in 2021, accidents and disagreements with the membership’s legendary supervisor Diego Simeone have prevented him from dwelling as much as his price ticket. Felix spent the second half of the 2022-23 marketing campaign on mortgage at Chelsea, and spent the 2024-25 season on mortgage with the Italian membership AC Milan. This summer season, he joined his Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

9. Enzo Fernandez: $130.5 million (Benfica to Chelsea, 2023)

Coming off of profitable the FIFA Younger Participant Award on the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Fernandez secured a $130.5 million switch from Benfica to Chelsea in January. Whereas the 22-year-old wasn’t in a position to flip Chelsea’s season round, he was one of many few vivid spots for the Blues throughout a season through which they completed twelfth within the English Premier League. He now wears the captain’s armband of the Blues squad that received the 2025 FIFA Membership World Cup.  

Enzo Fernandez is now a gentle stalwart at Chelsea aspect that’s by no means missing in fixed change. (Photograph by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Photos)

10. Antoine Griezmann: $129 million (Atlético Madrid to Barcelona, 2019)

Barcelona activated Griezmann’s $129 million buyout clause from Atletico Madrid in 2019. Nevertheless, Griezmman’s time in Barcelona did not final lengthy, as he returned to Atléti on mortgage in 2021 after two unsuccessful seasons on the Camp Nou. Atléti made the switch everlasting in 2022 by paying $21 million for Griezmann, $108 million lower than what Barcelona paid for him two years prior. Griezmann contributed 35 targets and 17 assists in 102 appearances for Barcelona. He stays at Atletí. 

Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports activities account and comply with leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a personalised e-newsletter day by day!