The Most Expensive Footballers of All Time

Source: Statista

Chelsea‘s signing of Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan this week for €115m has made the 28-year-old the most expensive footballer of all time. Not to be mistaken with the highest single transfer fee, Lukaku’s five career transfers now total €327.6m, according to figures from Transfermarkt.com. That takes him ahead of Brazilian superstar Neymar, who has generated tranfer fees to the value of €310.2m in his career so far, albeit with only two moves.

That’s not the only record broken with this transfer, either. Transfermarkt adds: “The forward set two further records. In addition to the most expensive sale of a Serie A club…Lukaku is also the new record signing at Chelsea. This position was previously held by Kai Havertz and goalkeeper Kepa with €80 million each. Furthermore, Lukaku joins a group of now twelve players who have cost at least €100 million.”

The Most Expensive Footballers of All Time

Soccer Transfer Fees Reach Record High

Source: Statista

A new report from FIFA has revealed that global spending on soccer transfer fees increased 5.8 percent to $7.35 billion in 2019, a record level. Clubs around the world completed 18,042 international transfers and 15,463 professional players were involved representing 178 different nationalities. Interestingly, permanent club-to-club transfers only accounted for 11.6 percent of all transfers with loans making up 13.5 percent. As in previous years, the most common transfer type involved players who were out of contract.

Portugal had the largest positive net value of transfer fees in 2019 with a balance of $384 million while England had the largest negative balance at -$549.9 million. João Félix’s move from Benfica to Athletico Madrid was the biggest deal of 2019 at €126 million, followed by Antoine Griezmann’s €120 million transfer from Athletico Madrid to Barcelona.

Soccer Transfer Fee Infographic