'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Ben Chilwell | Chelsea | €50.2 million
After an impressive showing in his four-year stint at Leicester City, Ben Chilwell earned a €50.2 million move to Stamford Bridge.
The English left-back quickly established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet and has played a starring role under Frank Lampard and now Thomas Tuchel.
In less than one full season at London, Chilwell has notched up 37 appearances, with 10 goal involvements (3 goals, 7 assists) to his name. The 24-year-old is a stoic presence in Chelsea’s defense and acts as the Blues’ attacking outlet on the left wing.
The west Londoners employ a three-man defense, with wingbacks operating on either side. This lays the emphasis on the wingbacks, who have to provide width in Chelsea’s attacking moves and are also responsible for marshaling the wings.
Chilwell has proved to be extremely adept in that role and is arguably the best wingback in the Premier League currently.
#2 Benjamin Mendy | Manchester City | €57.5 million
Pep Guardiola’s arrival at Manchester City in 2016 led to an overhaul of the entire squad, including a mammoth £300+ million spending on defenders alone.
Benjamin Mendy arrived at the Etihad in the 2017 summer transfer window, along with two other full-backs, Kyle Walker and Danilo. The Frenchman enjoyed a solid start to his Manchester City career but soon lost his place in the starting XI upon the arrival of the club’s latest left-back signing, Oleksandr Zinchenko.
The 26-year-old left-back has also been plagued by persistent injuries and a few too many defensive errors at crucial moments. The World Cup and Premier League winner has featured on just 19 occasions for the Cityzens this season.
While the other players on our list are relatively settled at their new clubs, Mendy has failed to impress his new boss, Pep Guardiola. The Spaniard is known to be ruthless in his team selections, and it will be no surprise to see Mendy bid farewell to the Etihad in the upcoming transfer window.
#1 Lucas Hernandez | Bayern Munich | €80 million
While most players on this list operate exclusively as a left-back, Lucas Hernandez has the versatility to play in a central position as well.
Since the 2017-18 season, Hernandez has laid his hands on 10 trophies, including the European treble with Bayern Munich in his debut season and the coveted World Cup title with France.
Hernandez moved to Bayern Munich on a record-breaking €80 million transfer from Atletico Madrid, which also made him Bundesliga’s most expensive signing of all time. The left-back was a crucial ingredient in Les Bleus’ World Cup glory, featuring in all of France’s seven encounters in Russia, playing the full 90 minutes in six games.
Hernandez has made 60 appearances for the German champions, procuring a return of five assists and a solitary goal. The 25-year-old hasn’t yet lived up to his full potential at Bayern Munich but has all the makings of a world-class full-back.
