The 15 Most Expensive Football Players In World 2023
1. Kylian Mbappe (PSG) – €150 million
Kylian Mbappe is a French professional footballer who plays for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and the France national team. In 2017, he became the second-most expensive player in football history after PSG paid a reported €150 million for him, which included a loan fee of €5 million and a further €145 million to Monaco, his former team.
The transfer fee was broken down into €35 million paid up front, with the remaining amount due over a period of five years. The deal also included bonuses, such as €10 million for Mbappe’s first team appearance and €2 million for winning the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France. Additionally, there were clauses related to future potential transfer fees, should Mbappe leave PSG.
2. Neymar (PSG) – €120 million
Neymar is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and the Brazil national team. He is widely considered to be one of the best players in the world.
In August 2017, Neymar joined PSG from Barcelona in a transfer that cost the club a world-record €120 million. This amount was broken down as follows:
• €88 million paid to Barcelona as a transfer fee
• €32 million paid to Neymar in wages over five years
Neymar’s transfer to PSG also included a number of performance-related bonuses, such as €10 million if the team won the Champions League, €5 million if it won the domestic league, and €2 million for individual awards. Neymar also had a number of other benefits, including a private jet and a luxury apartment.
3. Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund) – €100 million
Erling Haaland is a Norwegian footballer who currently plays for Borussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga. He is one of the most sought-after strikers in football and is valued at €100 million by Transfermarkt.
Haaland’s strengths include his physicality, finishing, and aerial ability. His technique is also highly regarded, as he is able to dribble past opponents and create chances for himself and his teammates. He is known for his ability to score from anywhere on the pitch, whether it be from inside the box or outside the box. He is also dangerous on set pieces, making him a complete all-around striker.
Haaland has been a revelation since joining Borussia Dortmund in 2020, scoring 33 goals in all competitions. He has become a key player for the club and has been linked with a move away from the Bundesliga in the past.
4. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – €90 million
Mohamed Salah is an Egyptian professional footballer who plays for the Premier League club Liverpool and the Egypt national team. He is widely considered to be one of the best players in the world.
Salah joined Liverpool in the summer of 2017 for a reported fee of €90 million. This fee made him the most expensive African footballer in history, breaking the record set by Paul Pogba in 2016.
Salah’s transfer fee has been considered a bargain by many, as he has since gone on to become one of the best players in the Premier League and Europe. He has scored 73 goals and has registered 32 assists in 108 appearances for Liverpool, helping the team to win the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League and the 2019-20 Premier League title.
He has also been named the PFA Player of the Year in 2018-19 and the African Player of the Year in 2017 and 2018.
5. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) – €80 million
Raheem Sterling joined Manchester City in 2015 for a reported fee of around €80 million. The transfer made him the most expensive English player of all time and the second most expensive player in the world, behind only Gareth Bale.
The transfer fee was made up of a €56 million up-front payment, plus €24 million in add-ons.
Sterling has since gone on to become a key player for Manchester City, helping the club win two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, and two League Cups. He has also become one of the most feared attackers in the Premier League, scoring 74 goals and providing 43 assists in 192 appearances for the club.
6. Harry Kane (Tottenham) – €75 million
Kane is currently valued at €75 million by Transfermarkt and is one of the most sought-after strikers in world football. He is widely considered to be one of the best players in the Premier League and is known for his strength, power, and ability to find the back of the net. Kane possesses the excellent technical ability and has a keen eye for goals.
He has scored over 150 goals for Tottenham since his debut in 2014 and is the club’s all-time top scorer. He has also been named the Premier League Player of the Year twice and has won the Golden Boot on four separate occasions. Kane is a leader both on and off the pitch and is a highly sought-after player for any team in world football.
7. Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) – €70 million
Jadon Sancho is a professional soccer player who currently plays for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga. He is considered one of the most promising young players in the world and has been linked with a move to some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
The reported transfer fee for Jadon Sancho is €70 million. This fee is believed to include bonuses and clauses for appearances, assists, and other matters. It is believed that Dortmund will also demand a substantial sell-on clause, which would entitle the club to a portion of any future transfer fees received for Sancho.
8. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) – €60 million
Paul Pogba joined Manchester United in the summer of 2016 in a world record deal worth €60 million. The transfer deal also included a significant amount of performance-related bonuses and image rights.
Pogba signed a five-year contract with United and will receive a basic salary of €290,000 a week. Additionally, he is entitled to receive a €20 million signing-on bonus, as well as additional performance-related bonuses of up to €20 million.
The transfer also included a significant amount of image rights, which is estimated to be worth around €10 million over the duration of his contract.
9. Eden Hazard (Real Madrid) – €50 million
Eden Hazard signed with Real Madrid in June 2019 for a reported fee of €50 million. This transfer fee was the highest ever paid by Real Madrid for a Belgian player. The transfer also included performance-related bonuses and additional clauses that could increase the total value of the deal to €150 million.
Hazard was signed to help Real Madrid win more titles and add more firepower to their attack. He is a versatile player capable of playing on the wing, as a number ten, or as a striker. He has won multiple individual awards, including the Premier League Player of the Year, and is considered one of the most talented players in Europe.
10. Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich) – €45 million
Leroy Sane’s transfer from Manchester City to Bayern Munich was finalized on July 1, 2020, for a reported fee of €45 million (£41 million). The transfer was reported to include €10 million in bonuses.
The 24-year-old winger had been with Man City since 2016 and won 4 trophies in his time there, including the Premier League title. He scored 39 goals in 135 appearances for the club.
Sane joins Bayern Munich with the intention of helping the team continue its domestic dominance for years to come, as well as helping them compete for the Champions League title.
11. Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona) – €40 million
Antoine Griezmann’s transfer to Barcelona in July 2019 was reported to be worth €120 million, which included a €40 million signing bonus and €80 million in wages over the course of his five-year contract.
Griezmann reportedly earns an annual salary of €17 million per season, which makes him one of the highest-paid players in the world. His release clause is set at €700 million.
12. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) – €35 million
Bruno Fernandes’ transfer from Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United was completed on January 29th, 2020 for an initial fee of €35 million, potentially rising to €80 million with add-ons.
The add-ons include €25 million in potential bonuses and €20 million in performance-related incentives. He signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Manchester United, with the option to extend it for a further year.
13. Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan) – €30 million
Gianluigi Donnarumma is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club AC Milan and the Italy national team. He is widely regarded as one of the best young goalkeepers in the world and has been nicknamed “Gigio” by the Italian media.
Donnarumma’s transfer fee is estimated to be around €30 million. This fee would include the transfer fee from AC Milan to the purchasing team, as well as the wages for Donnarumma’s five-year contract.
The contract would include various performance-related bonuses, such as those for appearances, clean sheets, and international caps. The contract would also include a release clause which would allow Donnarumma to leave the club for a fee if a club meets the agreed-upon amount.
This clause would also allow Donnarumma to negotiate his own terms with the purchasing team, such as a wage increase and other benefits.
14. Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli) – €25 million
Kalidou Koulibaly joined Napoli in 2014 and has been an integral part of the club ever since. The Senegalese international is one of the most sought-after defenders in Europe, and his transfer fee is estimated to be around €25 million.
Koulibaly is a strong defender with excellent positioning skills, good aerial ability, and an ability to read the game well. He is also an excellent passer, with the ability to launch attacks from the back.
He is also very versatile and can play as either a center-back or a full-back. He is also known for his leadership qualities and is a key part of the Napoli team.
15. Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich) – €20 million
Philippe Coutinho’s transfer from Barcelona to Bayern Munich was completed for a fee of €20 million, which was a loan with an obligation to buy.
The loan fee was €8.5 million, and the obligation to buy was €11.5 million. The agreement also included an additional €2 million in add-ons.
