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The Premier League is the hub for some of the world's best players. With the challenge it possesses for a player to grow, it has only helped in producing some world-class players.
Over the years, it has so happened that players who have shone in the Premier League have preferred to leave and join a different club. While it is disappointing for the clubs who made the players what they are, some of them have been smart enough to make some good money out of it.
Premier League clubs have received big money through transfer deals
Over time, the commercial importance of a player has only increased. With serious money involved in the game now, a huge chunk of it is shelled out in almost every transfer window. Premier League clubs have managed to make some huge profits in the process of selling their best players.
Here, we take a look at some of those star players who have helped their former clubs earn good money with their transfers. The list does not include the sale of homegrown players like Jack Grealish to Manchester City this summer.
Note: All values are as per Transfermarkt
#5 Harry Maguire (£65.97 million)
Having started his career with Sheffield United, Harry Maguire was a regular starter for the Blades. He had his struggles as he fought his way up from League One to the Premier League.
He joined Hull City in 2014 after four years with Sheffield United. When the Tigers were relegated in 2017, Maguire joined Leicester City in a deal worth £12.33 million. He played every minute of the 2017-18 season, winning the club's Player of the Season award. This attracted interest from some top Premier League clubs and in the end it was Manchester United who ended up signing the English centre-back.
Maguire was signed by the Red Devils in a transfer deal worth £78.30 million, a world-record transfer fee for a defender. Since then, the former Leicester defender has been an integral part of Manchester United and is currently their captain. The deal involving the sale of Maguire saw Leicester City earn a profit of £65.97 million.
#4 Cristiano Ronaldo (£67.50 million)
Words do not suffice the greatness of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese can do unimaginable things on the pitch and even at the age of 36, he's going strong.
Ronaldo started his career in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon and in 2003. He impressed the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, the then Manchester United manager. The Scottish manager wanted to sign the young Portuguese winger and was successful in doing that. The deal was worth £17.10 million back then for the 18-year-old Ronaldo.
At Manchester United, the Portuguese captain developed into one of the best footballers in the Premier League. His crazy dribbling skills, quick feet and amazing knack to score goals at regular intervals made him an unstoppable player at times. In the summer of 2009, Ronaldo expressed his desire to join Real Madrid.
The move did take place as Los Blancos were very eager to sign the dynamic forward. In the process, they paid a handsome fee of £84.60 million, making it the most expensive transfer back then. It turned out to be one hell of a signing as Ronaldo won 15 trophies with the Spanish giants. Manchester United made a profit of £67.50 million with Ronaldo's departure.
#3 Eden Hazard (£72.00 million)
The Premier League has had some amazing wingers play in England and Eden Hazard is certainly one of them. Starting his youth career with Lille, the Belgian attacker made his senior debut in 2007.
Having played for almost five seasons with the French club, Hazard looked like a very promising prospect. He had superb footwork, could carry the ball with pace, dribble past players and regularly contribute to goals. He was a target for some of the top European clubs but he eventually signed for Chelsea in 2012. The transfer deal was worth £31.50 million.
With the Blues, Hazard grew into a phenomenal player, beating players with utter ease and being a terror in front of goal. The two-time Premier League winner had a stellar time with Chelsea but was tempted to play for Real Madrid.
In 2019, the Spanish giants signed the former Lille man for a fee worth £103.50 million. Chelsea made a profit of £72 million in the process. Unfortunately, the move hasn't worked out well for Hazard so far.
#2 Gareth Bale (£77.67 million)
Coming through the ranks at Southampton, Gareth Bale started his career as a left-back. His impressive performances helped him earn a move to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2007. The transfer fee involved was worth £13.23 million.
Under the management of Harry Redknapp, Bale was transformed into a winger, which did wonders for the Welshman. With his blistering pace, smart dribbling skills and amazing left foot, the former Southampton man turned into a massive threat in front of goal. In his last two seasons for Spurs, the Welsh winger scored 31 goals and recorded 14 assists.
This tempted Real Madrid to sign him and despite some good competition, the Spanish club were able to sign Bale in the summer of 2013. The transfer fee to bring him to the Santiago Bernabeu was worth £90.90 million.
This saw Spurs make a massive profit of £77.67 million that summer. The former Premier League superstar has achieved a lot at Real Madrid since then and is still playing for them.
#1 Philippe Coutinho (109.80 million)
The Brazilian was once a star playmaker in the Premier League. Signed from Inter Milan for a transfer fee of £11.70 million in 2013, Liverpool were vouching for Philippe Coutinho to prosper in England's top tier league.
With his nimble footwork, brilliant play in spaces and wonderful ability to create goals, Coutinho was a beast when he played for Liverpool. His game in the Premier League only got better with time. His long-range curling goals were a delight to watch. But with the Reds failing to win any silverware, the Brazilian midfielder was tempted to join Barcelona in 2018.
The Catalan club had already tried hard to sign him in the summer of 2017 but they failed to do so. Eventually, in the winter of 2018, Coutinho signed for Barcelona for a mammoth transfer fee worth £121.50 million. This helped Liverpool earn a profit of £109.80 million, the most a Premier League club has made from the sale of a player.
The move to the Spanish giants hasn't played out well for the former Inter Milan midfielder. It will be even more disappointing for him with the Reds playing so well in the past few years.
