10 most expensive new signings in Premier League history

Florian Wirtz, Enzo Fernandez, and Jack Grealish are among the most expensive signings in the history of English football transfers.

ZNews•22/06/2025

1. Florian Wirtz - €150 million: The most high-profile transfer of summer 2025 when Florian Wirtz left Bayer Leverkusen to join Liverpool. This decision demonstrates "The Kop's" great ambition to maintain their competitive strength. Wirtz promises to become a bright star in the Liverpool squad.

2. Enzo Fernandez - €121 million: Chelsea signed Enzo Fernandez from Benfica right after he won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina. This was a crucial signing under new owner Todd Boehly. Enzo showed talent and always played with effort, but Chelsea's poor results prevented him from fully demonstrating his value.

3. Jack Grealish - €117.5 million: Manchester City signed Jack Grealish from Aston Villa with the goal of increasing their creativity. After a difficult first season, Grealish became an indispensable part of the squad, playing a crucial role in the club's treble win in the 2022/23 season. However, he faded into obscurity in the most recent season and is highly likely to be sold this summer.

4. Declan Rice - €116.6 million: Arsenal spent a record fee to bring Declan Rice from West Ham to strengthen their midfield. Rice immediately proved his worth with his outstanding defensive abilities and playmaking skills, contributing to Arsenal's success.

5. Moises Caicedo - €116 million: Chelsea won the battle for Caicedo against Liverpool; however, the Ecuadorian midfielder had a relatively difficult first season at Stamford Bridge. Nevertheless, he gradually proved his worth and was Chelsea's best player in the 2024/25 season.

6. Romelu Lukaku – €113 million: Romelu Lukaku returned to Chelsea hoping to become their main striker, but the deal quickly fell through. He failed to adapt to manager Thomas Tuchel's system, and after just one season, Lukaku was sent out on loan, becoming one of the biggest failures in Chelsea's history.

7. Paul Pogba - €105 million: In the summer of 2016, Paul Pogba returned to Manchester United as the world's most expensive player. However, despite some peak moments, Pogba failed to maintain consistent form and left on a free transfer, marking a failed deal with a series of consecutive injuries.

8. Antony - €95 million: The Antony transfer was a personal request from manager Erik ten Hag when he moved from Ajax to Manchester United for a high price. Despite a promising start, Antony quickly declined and faced criticism for his ineffective playing style. The Red Devils plan to sell Antony at a loss in the summer of 2025.

9. Josko Gvardiol - €90 million: Manchester City signed Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig to strengthen their defense in the summer of 2023. Despite playing in a position that wasn't his natural one, Gvardiol quickly adapted and became an important part of the team, considered a successful signing for Man City.

10. Harry Maguire - €87 million: Harry Maguire joined Manchester United for a record price for a defender. Despite some impressive performances, Maguire failed to maintain consistency. He was even stripped of the captaincy. However, it's hard to blame the former Leicester City star, as he arrived at Old Trafford during a period of significant decline for the Red Devils.