10 most expensive transfers in Premier League history

Since the inception of the cash-rich Premier League in 1992, the English top-flight has continued to grow in stature over the years and is the most talked-about league in world football.

While the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal have always competed on the top end of the table since the Premier League began, Roman Abramovich's takeover of Chelsea in the 2000s made the Blues a force to be reckoned with.

Manchester City's multi-billionaire purchase a little over a decade ago led to one of the most seismic changes in football history, as the Cityzens established themselves as a global superpower.

Premier League's riches at an all-time high currently

Jadon Sancho could become the most expensive player in Premier League history this month

In the age of growing transfer fees, English clubs have not refrained from spending big and have consistently splurged more on transfer fees than the rest of the top-five leagues in Europe.

Jadon Sancho's rumoured move to Manchester United has caused quite the stir, as the Englishman edges closer to a stunning switch to Old Trafford. If his move were to go through, the 20-year-old would become the most expensive purchase in Premier League history, with his transfer fee believed to be in the region of £108 million.

As we wait for more news on that, here are the ten most expensive signings in Premier League's illustrious history as things stand.

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#10 Riyad Mahrez | £60 million, 2018

Manchester City v Chelsea FC - Premier League

After a drawn-out transfer saga with Leicester City, Riyad Mahrez joined Manchester City in the summer of 2018. Having spearheaded the Foxes to an unlikely Premier League triumph, the Algerian winger sealed a £60 million move to the Etihad Stadium to continue adding trophies to his cabinet.

So far, the move has paid dividends for all parties involved. Playing under one of the greatest managers of this generation in Pep Guardiola, Mahrez has become a key player for the Cityzens and played a pivotal role in their historic domestic treble-winning season.

After the departure of Leroy Sane to Bayern Munich this summer, the 29-year-old is an indispensable member of the team with his skill on the ball.

Note: All transfer fees are correct as of transfermarkt.com

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#9 Rodri | £63 million, 2019

Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk: Group C - UEFA Champions League

Another Manchester City player on the list, Rodri joined the club in the summer of 2019 as a long-term replacement for Fernandinho. Hailed as Sergio Busquets's heir for Spain, the defensive midfielder showed flashes of brilliance in what was a season of adaptation for him.

Blessed with incredible in-game awareness and an excellent passing range, Rodri has all the tools to become one of the best players in the world in his position. The 24-year-old's £63 million release clause was triggered by the Cityzens, who moved quickly to secure his signature.

Rodri is the present and the future for Manchester City and will look to build on his decent first season in the Premier League.

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#8 Kevin De Bruyne | £67 million, 2015

Manchester City v Sheffield United - Premier League

Kevin De Bruyne is hailed as one of the biggest matchwinners in world football currently and is amongst the most expensive players in Premier League history. Having swapped Wolfsburg for Manchester City in the summer of 2015, De Bruyne has taken the Premier League by storm with his exploits for the Cityzens.

Aside from his passing range and long-range shooting, the 28-year-old's versatility and work ethic has gained plaudits universally.

Most importantly, De Bruyne's unique ability to score goals as well as providing assists for his teammates from an attacking midfield positions means he is one of the most complete players of his generation.

The Belgian genius is an indispensable member of Pep Guardiola's squad and looks set to go down as a Premier League legend.

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#7 Angel di Maria | £67 million, 2014

Manchester United v Arsenal - FA Cup Quarter Final

Angel di Maria's Manchester United move in the summer of 2014 was seen as a massive statement of intent from the Red Devils, who were looking to move on in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

The Argentine midfielder arrived with a lot of buzz for a British record fee of £67 million at the time and quickly endeared himself to the fans with a series of eye-catching displays.

Di Maria also inherited the iconic #7 shirt worn by former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, as he aimed to make himself a hero at Old Trafford. However, it wasn't to be as his Premier League dream quickly turned into a nightmare.

His form dipped considerably in the second half of the season, as off-field events like his Manchester home being robbed compounded his misery. Di Maria was sold to Paris Saint-Germain after a solitary season at Old Trafford, where he rejuvenated his career and remains a key player for the club.

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#6 Kepa Arrizabalaga | £72 million, 2018

Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea FC - Premier League

After Thibaut Courtois sealed a move to Real Madrid in 2018, Chelsea broke the world-record fee for a goalkeeper to draft in Athletic Bilbao's Kepa Arrizabalaga. In terms of value for money, the brutal truth is that the Spaniard has been one of the most underwhelming signings in Premier League history.

Having started his Chelsea career in decent fashion, Arrizabalaga began drawing criticism in the second half of the 2018-19 season for his polarising performances in goal. His form went from bad to worse in the following season, as he made several high-profile blunders that led to him being dropped for Willy Caballero.

Arrizabalaga has the worst save percentage of any goalkeeper in Premier League history and has been a massive disappointment since joining for a staggering £72 million in 2018.

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#5 Nicolas Pepe | £72 million, 2019

Arsenal FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League

Arsenal unexpectedly broke the bank for Lille's Nicolas Pepe last summer, as they shelled out an eye-watering fee of £72 million to secure his signature. While the Ivorian winger has not set the world alight, he has shown glimpses of his potential and become a key player for the Gunners under Mikel Arteta.

A gifted dribbler on the ball with devastating pace to burn, Pepe also has a wand of a left foot and has carved out a place on the right-wing in Arteta's 3-4-3 system. Arsenal were linked with his compatriot Wilfried Zaha last summer but opted for Pepe instead, as he was viewed as the one with a higher ceiling.

The North London club's huge investment on the Ivorian is yet to pay dividends, but Pepe has shown enough to warrant the manager's trust for at least another season.

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#4 Virgil van Dijk | £75 million, 2018

Liverpool FC v Brighton & Hove Albion - Premier League

Hailed as one of the most transformative signings in recent Premier League history, Virgil van Dijk has elevated Liverpool to new heights since his arrival for a then world-record fee of £75 million. The Dutchman was seen as the answer to the Reds' defensive woes, who struggled to compete despite their heroics up front.

Van Dijk is regarded as fans, managers and fellow players as the best defender in world football currently and is an indispensable member of this star-studded Liverpool team. The 29-year-old has already won the Champions League and the Premier League in his short Liverpool career and looks set to go down as one of the club's all-time greats.

Aside from his defensive excellence, Van Dijk is also a handful in the opposition penalty area and has scored a handful of important goals for the Reds. The former Southampton man is all set to go down as a Premier League great and has vindicated Jurgen Klopp's trust in him in stunning fashion.

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#3 Romelu Lukaku | £75 million, 2017

Manchester United v Southampton FC - Premier League

Romelu Lukaku was in the middle of a transfer tussle between Manchester United and Chelsea in 2017. Eventually, the Red Devils won the race to his signature, as they agreed a £75 million fee with Everton.

Lukaku hit the ground running immediately and scored regularly for his new club, as Manchester United secured a second-place finish in the 2017-18 Premier League season under Jose Mourinho. However, things quickly went south for the Belgian as well as his manager, as his form began to dip.

Manchester United began the following season poorly and Lukaku found himself in and out of the side before Mourinho was sacked in December 2018. Since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over the reins at Old Trafford, it was clear that the former Everton man was not the kind of striker he was looking for.

In the summer of 2019, Lukaku was sold to Inter Milan for nearly as much as what Manchester United paid for him. The 27-year-old has banged in the goals in the Serie A and become a key player for Antonio Conte.

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#2 Harry Maguire | £80 million, 2019

Manchester United v Manchester City - Premier League

Probably the most surprising name on the list, Harry Maguire joined Manchester United for an astonishing £80 million fee from Leicester City last summer. The transfer fee admittedly raised eyebrows, as the Englishman was not seen as a player who could vindicate such a massive outlay.

Maguire's doubters have not been proved wrong entirely, as the towering centre half endured a mixed first season at Old Trafford. While he quickly became an important member of the squad and was also named club captain, his performances on the pitch have been largely inconsistent.

The former Leicester defender, however, started every Premier League game for the Red Devils and helped shore up their backline. Alongside compatriot Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Maguire has added quality and reliability to the United rearguard and will look to build on his first season at the club.

It goes without saying that Manchester United paid over the odds for the Englishman. Nevertheless, Maguire now looks settled at Old Trafford and is a key part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's plans.

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#1 Paul Pogba | £89 million, 2016

Manchester United v Cardiff City - Premier League

Paul Pogba's £89 million move to Manchester United in the summer of 2016 remains the most expensive purchase in Premier League history. The Frenchman returned to Old Trafford after a fruitful spell with Juventus, as he aimed to complete unfinished business at the club where he burst onto the scene.

However, it has not gone as planned for the Frenchman. While Pogba's talent has never been questioned, he has struggled to live up to the price tag due to a combination of injuries and poor form.

Hailed as one of the most gifted players of his generation, the Frenchman remains a central figure at Old Trafford despite being linked with moves away from the club. So far, Pogba has failed to justify his price tag fully and has just a year left on his current deal.

Manchester United are confident of tying down their star man to a new contract, as they look to build the team around the mercurial midfielder. In any case, the 27-year-old is yet to produce consistently in the Premier League and is another big-money signing by the Red Devils who has divided opinion.

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