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News recently broke of Manchester United's signing of Jadon Sancho in what has been one of the most interesting transfer sagas in Premier League history. The 21-year-old will return to England, joining the Red Devils on a five-year contract.
The Premier League has witnessed some stunning transfers. Several big names have signed with English clubs for mammoth transfer fees, cementing the English sides' ability to compete with other European heavyweights in the market.
On that note, let's take a look at the five most expensive transfers in Premier League history.
The Premier League transfers with the highest transfer fees
Note - All transfer fees are based on data available at www.transfermarkt.com
#5. Jadon Sancho | £73 million
The Jadon Sancho transfer saga has kept fans on the edge of their seats for over a year now. A complicated deal from the very beginning, there was previously a disconnect between asking and offering prices from Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United.
The transfer failed to go through last summer and was finally completed earlier this week after much discussion between both parties.
Originally from the Manchester City academy, Sancho is an immensely talented player. Sancho moved to Borussia Dortmund in 2017, and has since made 137 appearances with the Bundesliga giants.
His numbers are impressive - Sancho racked up 50 goals and 64 assists, making him one of the best players in Europe for output.
With Manchester United seemingly lacking a proven attacker on the right flank, there is no doubt that Jadon Sancho will fit in seamlessly. He could well be the missing piece that United need to win the Premier League once again.
#4. Virgil van Dijk | £76.19 million
Virgil van Dijk was the talk of the town in 2018 after Liverpool agreed to a reported £76 million with Southampton to secure the Dutchman's services.
A world-class defender, Van Dijk impressed on the Premier League scene with his consistently brilliant performances. Armed with a rare mix of pace and aerial ability, Van Dijk is widely regarded as one of the most complete defenders in the world.
His transfer fee was initially regarded as overpriced by many, but Van Dijk proved critics wrong almost immediately with his immense performances for Liverpool in the Premier League and Champions League.
In his three years so far with the Reds, Van Dijk has already won the PFA Player of the Year and the UEFA Player of the Year Awards.
He was the main reason behind Liverpool's defensive metamorphosis, leading them to back-to-back Champions League finals. His injury earlier this season proved to be a huge setback, as Liverpool were unable to replicate their Premier League success from the previous season.
#3. Romelu Lukaku | £76.23 million
Romelu Lukaku left Everton in 2017 to sign for Premier League giants Manchester United for a reported £76.23 million.
With Manchester United evidently lacking a talismanic striker in their ranks, the decision was made by Jose Mourinho and the United board to sign Romelu Lukaku. A proven Premier League talent, Lukaku already had six years of English football under his belt.
Having played for Chelsea, West Brom and Everton, Lukaku's outstanding performances sparked interest from various clubs before United secured the Belgian's services in 2017.
Touted to become one of the best-ever Premier League strikers, Lukaku's move to United can only be described as underwhelming. Carrying massive expectations on his shoulders, Lukaku went on to play for only two seasons with the Red Devils.
The Belgian made 96 appearances with Manchester United, scoring 42 goals. In 2019, Lukaku moved to Italian giants Inter Milan in a move that proved to be very fruitful for his career.
In his second full season with the Nerazzurri, Lukaku spearheaded their attacking line to the league title under Antonio Conte. Now 28, Lukaku is considered one of the best strikers in world football today.
#2. Harry Maguire | £78.30 million
Harry Maguire joined Manchester United in 2019 for a record £78.3 million, making him the most expensive defender in football history.
The Englishman was with Leicester City for two years, impressing regularly with his performances in the Premier League. Famed for his aerial ability, Maguire was highly rated as one of the best defenders in the league.
His contributions earned him a move to Manchester United, making him the second-most expensive transfer in Premier League history.
In the two years since, Maguire has proved to be a key member of the defense at Manchester United. He is remarkably consistent and has played almost every minute of Premier League football since joining in 2019.
Although Maguire is yet to win any trophies with the Red Devils, it is evident he is one of the most important players in the squad. Currently representing England at Euro 2020, he has been key in their run to the semi-finals (so far).
#1. Paul Pogba | £94.50 million
Paul Pogba is one of the most heavily debated players in the footballing world. The midfielder was the talk of the town in 2016 when Manchester United signed him for a reported £94.50 million.
He became not only the Premier League's most expensive player ever, but also the world's most expensive player at the time. His footballing ability is undeniable and Pogba is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in world football.
But his tenure with Manchester United so far has been a bit baffling to say the least. Although Pogba has impressed in clusters, it is common criticism that he is yet to achieve the quality he regularly produces for the French national team.
In his five years with United so far, Pogba has won the EFL Cup and the UEFA Europa League. It is commonly argued that a player of Pogba's caliber is capable of delivering much more impressive results.
With the Frenchman now into the final year of his contract, the upcoming season will be Pogba's best chance to prove his quality on the Premier League stage.
