In today’s transfer market, it’s not unusual to see football players switch clubs. It is even less uncommon to see large sums of money spent on transfers. Indeed, paying €50 million for one player is routine nowadays. Nowadays, expensive transfers go above and beyond – think over €100 million being used on a single player!
However, sometimes, transfers are also notable for more reasons than just money. Many transfers have touched the hearts of millions of supporters for both good and bad reasons. Think of Messi “turning his back” on Barcelona.
With transfers in the world of football being so exciting, we have crafted a list of the greatest transfers of all time!
The 5 Biggest Transfers Ever
- Neymar (Barcelona to PSG, 2017)
- Lionel Messi (Barcelona to PSG, 2021)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United to Real Madrid, 2009)
- Paul Pogba (Juventus to Manchester United, 2016)
- Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid, 2013)
5. Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid, 2013)
Last but not least, Gareth Bale’s transfer. Bale’s move from Tottenham to Real Madrid was the most expensive transfer ever when it took place. It was also the first three-digit transfer in football history!
The journey of the Welsh player began with Southampton. After one year there, he joined Tottenham after signing a four-year deal. Despite the injuries, Bale’s career at Tottenham was remarkable. So much so that he attracted the interest of many other clubs.
During his years at Tottenham, he accomplished amazing feats despite not winning many trophies, including:
- 167 goals
- 138 assists
- 1 English League Cup title
On 1 September 2013, the Tottenham announced Gareth Bale’s move to Real Madrid. He signed a six-year deal in a then world-record deal: €100.8 million – which more than what Real Madrid paid for Cristiano Ronaldo!
During his years at Real Madrid, Bale was without doubt one of the best players on the planet. He won 13 trophies in seven years (four of them were Champions League titles). He also scored 105 goals and contributed 68 assists. We have to say it: Welshman is a Real Madrid legend!
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4. Paul Pogba: (Juventus to Manchester United, 2016)
Paul Pogba was only 23 years old when he decided to return to Manchester United after a brilliant career at Juventus. In 2012, he left Manchester United for the Turin giants, by signing a four-year contract. During those years, Pogba racked up:
- 34 goals
- 40 assists
- 4 Serie A titles, 2 Supercoppa Italiana titles, 2 Coppa Italia titles
Along with a phenomenal performance in Euro 2016, Pogba’s stats made him a widely sought-after target. So, when Manchester United came looking to get back a diamond they’d dealt away in 2016, they were made to pay.
How much exactly? Well, a then world record transfer fee of €105 million! The fee was the highest paid by an English club at the time.
It also helped that Pogba was truly fancied a top player then Manchester United manager José Mourinho. He saw in Pogba as quality player with a lot of potential to improve.
During his years with Manchester United, Pogba has scored 38 goals and 49 assists in spite of having good support during much of his time at the English club.
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3. Cristiano Ronaldo: (Manchester United to Real Madrid, 2009)
It’s impossible to talk about biggest football transfers without mentioning Cristiano Ronaldo. Two of the biggest transfers in football history are related to him.
First, in 2009, his move from Manchester United to Real Madrid broke records after the Spanish giants paid €94 million to acquire his services.
Then, in 2018, exactly nine seasons later, he moved from Real Madrid to Juventus for a fee of €117 million. Although both transfers are mind-blowing, we decided to talk about the one that happened at the beginning of his career.
Ronaldo arrived at Manchester United as a teenager, but within a few years, he became one of the world’s finest players. His blistering pace, aerial prowess, and ability to score from distance made him one of the world’s most unpredictable players. Some of his most noteworthy accomplishments at Manchester United include:
- 118 goals
- 69 assists
- 1 Ballon d’Or, 1 Champions League title, 3 Premier League titles, 1 FA Cup titles, and 2 League Cup titles
For a player at the beginning of his career, winning 11 trophies exceeds all expectations. Real Madrid tried to poach Ronaldo for years before he actually signed on, but Manchester United managed to persuade him to stay on for as long as he did.
In 2009, Real Madrid accomplished their goal and announced one of the most successful transfers in the history of modern football: Cristiano Ronaldo signed for the Madrid club for €94 million.
Nowadays, teams spend sums like these for any good player, but in 2009, this fee was enormous even for one of the world’s top players.
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2. Lionel Messi: (FC Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain, 2021)
Most football fans probably still can’t get over this transfer. Messi spent 17 seasons at Barcelona since making his senior debut at Camp Nou in 2003.
After his contract expired in 2021, Messi wanted to re-sign with the only club he has ever played for and Barcelona also wanted him to stay. However, this obviously did not happen, and that explains why this transfer is completely different from the ones we have seen so far.
Indeed, Barcelona wanted to extend the 34-year-old’s contract by two years, but La Liga’s financial fair play rules didn’t permit it. Unfortunately, the club failed to get rid of enough players to keep its champion.
Barcelona’s wage-to-turnover percentage has to be 70 percent and with Messi on board, this percentage was 110 percent. So, they couldn’t accommodate him even if he had played for free.
It’s obvious to say that throughout his long career at Barcelona, the Argentinian reached unbelievable heights, including:
- 672 goals
- 301 assists
- 6 Ballon d’Ors, 3 UEFA Best Player in Europe, 4 Champions League titles, 10 La Liga titles, and 7 Copa del Rey titles
PSG has always acutely monitored the situation. So, when the right occasion arrived, they launched their offer. In August 2021, Lionel Messi completed his free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, signing a two-year contract with a net salary of €25 million per year.
The career of the Argentinian at the French club has just started. He made his debut on 29 August at Reims, coming on for Neymar.
It was the first time that Messi has played a competitive club match for a team other than Barcelona. As PSG head coach Mauricio Pochettino said after his debut, Messi is still far from his best form, but we are sure that he will confirm to be the folktale of football that already is!
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1. Neymar: (FC Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain, 2017)
Neymar’s transfer from Barcelona to PSG in the summer of 2017 comes in first place for a few reasons. Not only was the price tag shocking, but the move also ended the notorious MSN (Neymar, Messi and Suarez) attacking trio at Barcelona.
Barca signed the Brazilian playmaker in 2013. In his time with the Catalans, Neymar established himself a prominent member of one of the best-attacking trios in football history. During his four seasons at Barcelona, Neymar posted some ridiculous stats, including:
- 105 goals
- 76 assists
- 1 Champions League title, 2 La Liga titles, 3 Copa del Rey titles, 1 UEFA Super Cup title
Naturally, when Paris Saint-Germain signalled their interest in purchasing his services, Barcelona made the Parisian giants reach deep in their pockets. PSG signed Neymar in 2017 for €222 million – a fee that made the Brazilian the most expensive transfer in football history. This record still stands!
After four seasons, Neymar has established his place as one of the best PSG players. His list of achievements with the club is remarkable and continues to grow. Recently, the Brazilian signed a new contract with the French club extending his time with the team to the 2025 season.
Without question, he remains one of the best players in both FC Barcelona and PSG’s storied histories.
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