5. David Villa (Valencia CF 2010/2011) – €40 million
Spain’s all-time leading goalscorer David Villa has played at several of Spain’s top clubs, but it was his time at Valencia that marked him out as a true world-beater. His debut season started in emphatic style, scoring an equalizer against old club Zaragoza in the 81st minute as he come on as a late sub.
A brace at the Camp Nou held Barcelona to a draw; just one of his many top-drawer performances against big clubs. In the 2005/2006, he would score a winner at the Santiago Bernabeu and one against a visiting Barcelona side to announce himself to Valencia fans in splendid style.
Deportivo La Coruna were another victim of his penchant for the spectacular as he struck a goal from the halfway line on the turn. A 5-minute hat-trick against Athletic Bilbao came from the 80th to 85th minute to display his decisive finishing. He finished his debut season with 28 goals in the league, just one shy of Barcelona’s Eto’o.
In 2006/2007, he became La Liga’s top assist maker, scoring 20 goals in all competitions. The following year, his 22 goals fired Valencia to the Copa Del Rey trophy in 41 appearances. His best-ever seasons came in 2008/2009 as he recorded 31 goals despite taking corners and freekicks for his team, making him the standout striker in the Spanish top division.
By the end of 2009, he had scored more goals than any footballer on the planet, with 43 in 54 matches for Spain & Valencia. After 225 appearances, he’d scored 129 goals and won the Euro 2008 Golden Boot.
The top clubs could be repressed no longer and in the summer of 2010, David Villa signed for Barcelona. The 2006 Spanish Player of the Year and 4-time Zarra award winner was one of the planet’s attacking sensations, with his passing, dribbling and goalscoring skills making him arguably the planet’s deadliest striker.
Now, he was joining the likes of Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta. He scored on his league and Champions League debut, as well as 2 magnificent goals in their 5-0 demolition of Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid side. His time proved fruitful indeed as he won 2 league titles, 1 Champions League, 1 Super Cup, 1 Club World Cup & 1 Copa Del Rey in just 3 years there.
He scored in the 2011 final in Wembley against Manchester United and won the FIFA 2010 World Cup – as well as the Silver Shoe & Bronze Ball – with Spain. He is Spain’s deadliest striker ever, and he proved it by scoring against Barcelona once again on his return after they let him go to Atletico Madrid.
