While stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominate headlines, the player with the highest cumulative transfer fees in football history might not be who you expect.
Joao Felix’s Costly Career
Joao Felix recently made headlines with his move to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, marking another chapter in a career defined by significant transfer sums. Once a highly-touted young talent at Benfica, Felix commanded a hefty £113 million move to Atletico Madrid in 2019.
Since that record-breaking transfer, his journey has involved various high-profile stints. He spent time on loan at Chelsea and Barcelona, before a season at AC Milan.
His latest move to Al-Nassr for £26 million adds to an already impressive tally. Despite being just 25, these transfers have accumulated to an astonishing £194.89 million, placing him fourth on the list of most expensive players by career fees, according to Transfermarkt data.
The Most Expensive Players Ever
Surprisingly, football icon Lionel Messi doesn’t even feature in the top ten of this unique financial ranking. Instead, three other players have surpassed Felix’s impressive total to claim the top spots.
3. Cristiano Ronaldo
Coming in third is Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo, with a career total of £213.28 million across five transfers. His monumental journey began with a £16.4 million move to Manchester United in 2003, where he rapidly rose to global superstardom.
Real Madrid then paid a then-world record £81.17 million for him in 2009. He continued to break records with a £101.03 million transfer to Juventus in 2019, followed by a return to Manchester United in 2021 for £14.86 million.
His subsequent free transfer to Al-Nassr in 2022, though not a fee-generating move, capped off a remarkably expensive career in terms of club investments.
2. Romelu Lukaku
The second spot belongs to Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku, whose nine transfers have amassed a staggering £318.82 million. Lukaku’s career has seen him play for numerous top clubs across Europe, including multiple stints at Chelsea, Everton, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Roma, and Napoli.
His most significant moves include a £73.14 million transfer to Manchester United in 2017 and a massive £97.57 million return to Chelsea in 2021.
Despite recent loan spells and a permanent move to Napoli for £25.90 million, his consistent high-value transfers have solidified his position as one of the most expensive players in history.
1. Neymar
Topping the list with an incredible £345.39 million from just three transfers is Brazilian superstar Neymar. His first major European move saw Barcelona secure him from Santos for £75.99 million in 2013, where he formed a formidable attacking trio with Messi and Luis Suarez.
In 2017, Paris Saint-Germain shattered transfer records by paying an astronomical £189.97 million for his services, making him the world’s most expensive player at the time.
After six years in Paris, a £77.71 million move to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia marked his final professional transfer before he decided to return to his boyhood club, Santos, to finish his playing career.
- Neymar holds the record for the highest cumulative career transfer fees, totaling £345.39 million.
- Romelu Lukaku and Cristiano Ronaldo complete the top three, with total fees exceeding £300 million and £200 million respectively.
- Joao Felix currently ranks fourth, highlighting his significant transfers at a young age.
- Football icon Lionel Messi does not feature in the top ten of players with the highest career transfer fees.
This unique ranking highlights the immense financial movements in modern football, underscoring the consistent high value placed on top attacking talent. Other notable players in the top ten include Ousmane Dembele, Alvaro Morata, and Antoine Griezmann.
