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With Argentinian international Angel di Maria officially completing his £44-million move from Manchester United to Paris Saint-Germain, he became the world’s most expensive footballer in terms of money spent by various clubs to secure his services.The cumulative transfer amount spent on Di Maria by Benfica, Real Madrid, United and now PSG comes up to £132.7m which trumps any other footballer on the planet.The top 11 list based on cumulative transfer spending features several journeymen strikers as well as three current Galacticos. While neither Chelsea, nor Manchester United boast a current player on this list, they have some former players that make it.Here is a look at the top 11.
#11 David Luiz (75.3 million)
The unorthodox centre back may not be everybodys first pick, but that hasnt stopped clubs like PSG and Chelsea spending big on the Brazil international. Luiz started out his youth career at Sao Paulo in 1999 before being released by the club two years later. He moved to Vitoria where he began playing as a defensive midfielder before being shifted to central defense.
His impressive performances at the back prompted Portuguese club Benfica to sign Luiz, initially on a loan deal before making the transfer permanent in 2007 for a fee of 0.35 million. He was named thePortuguese Liga Player of the Year for the 2009/10 season and Chelsea came calling the following summer.
Luiz moved to Stamford Bridge for a sum of25 million. His sometimes erratic, sometimes brilliant performances never went down well with new Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho and when PSG made an astonishing offer of50m, the highest transfer amount for a defender, he was happy to let go of Luiz.
The move was completed before the 2014 World Cup in his home country and it remains a wonder if Luiz would have commanded the same price after his performances in the tournament, especially the shocking 7-1 loss to Germany.
| No | From | To | Transfer fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vitoria | Benfica | 0.35m |
| 2 | Benfica | Chelsea | 25m |
| 3 | Chelsea | PSG | 50m |
| Total fee | 75.3 million | ||
#10 Kevin De Bruyne (78.4 million)
The Belgian midfielder who started his senior career at Genk became the second most expensive player to have been signed by a Premier League club as Manchester City acquired his services from Wolfsburg for their transfer record fee of55m.
De Bruynestally from 2014-15 was so impressive it would put many to shame as he went on to score 16 and assist 27 times for Wolfsburg in all competitions. He even received a number of personal accolades for his contributions for the Bundesliga team as they went on to win the DFB Pokal beating Bayern Munich in the final.
Despite his obvious potential, he was let go by Jose Mourinho from Chelsea reportedly due to his unwillingness to track back and contribute too much in defence. What was the Blues loss turned out to be Wolfsburgs and perhaps Manchester Citys gain.
Apart from club football, he has also made 30 appearances for the Belgian national squad, including their foray at the 2014 World Cup.
| No | From | To | Transfer fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genk | Chelsea | 6.7m |
| 2 | Chelsea | Wolfsburg | 16.7m |
| 3 | Wolfsburg | Manchester City | 55m |
| Total fee | 78.4 million | ||
#9 Juan Sebastian Veron (80 million)
The former Argentine international, capped 73 times by his national team, is unfortunately remembered most for his troubles in England, first with Manchester United and then Chelsea.
He had a good club career in Italy though with clubs such as Lazio and Inter Milan, but his first love is undoubtedly Estudiantes, where he started and finished his career as a player. He also enjoyed another spell in between and venturedinto administration post-retirement, first as director of sports and now chairman.
Veron makes the list thanks largely to the 21m sum paid by Lazio to Parma and the 28m dished out by United to bring him to England.
| No | From | To | Transfer fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Estudiantes | Boca Juniors | 1.5m |
| 2 | Boca Juniors | Sampdoria | 3m |
| 3 | Sampdoria | Parma | 13m |
| 4 | Parma | Lazio | 18m |
| 5 | Lazio | Manchester United | 28m |
| 6 | Manchester United | Chelsea | 15m |
| 7 | Chelsea | Estudiantes | 1.5m |
| Total fee | 80 million | ||
#8 Nicolas Anelka (86.8 million)
The much travelled French international is the ultimate journeyman having enjoyed spells in France, England, Spain, Turkey and China before eventually moving to India with the Mumbai City franchise in the ISL.
He has played for some of the biggest clubs in the world including Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain.
Arsenal made a big profit out of the sale of Anelka to Real Madrid with the Spanish club paying 22 million for the Frenchman and PSG paid almost the same amount to bring him back to the club. Having featured for 12 clubs in total in his club career, Anelka making the list is not much of a surprise.
| No | From | To | Transfer Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paris Saint-Germain | Arsenal | 0.5m |
| 2 | Arsenal | Real Madrid | 22.3m |
| 3 | Real Madrid | Paris Saint-Germain | 22m |
| 4 | Paris Saint-Germain | Manchester City | 12m |
| 5 | Machester City | Fenerbahce | 7m |
| 6 | Fenerbahce | Bolton Wanderers | 8m |
| 7 | Bolton Wanderers | Chelsea | 15m |
| Total fee | 86.8 million |
#7 Radamel Falcao (90 million)
The Colombian striker who has been handed a second chance at resurrecting his career in England with Chelsea snapping up the player on a similar loan deal to the one which took the striker to Manchester United, makes the list thanks to the whopping sums paid by Atletico Madrid and Monaco.
Falcao moved from Porto to Atletico Madrid for33 million who then moved to Monaco for53 million. The knee injury he picked up while playing for the French club has severely hampered his progress and unless he makes a remarkable turnaround at Stamford Bridge, a similar transfer fee in the future looks highly unlikely.
| No | From | To | Transfer fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lanceros | River Plate | 0.3m |
| 2 | River Plate | Porto | 4m |
| 3 | Porto | Atletico Madrid | 33m |
| 4 | Atletico Madrid | Monaco | 53m |
| Total fee | 90 million | ||
#6 Cristiano Ronaldo (92.2 million)
The three-time World Footballer of the Year has only played for three clubs in his career, but his then world record transfer of 80 million from Manchester United to Real Madrid propels him into the list at the No 6 spot.
The 12.2 million sum paid by United to prize him away from Sporting Lisbon in 2003 will look paltry to the sum they would have to pay Madrid now if they want to bring him back to Old Trafford and will push Ronaldo further up the list no doubt.
Regarded as one of the greatest players to have ever played the game, he would have been higher in the list had he gone on to play for a number of clubs like some of the others in the list.
| No | From | To | Transfer fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sporting Lisbon | Manchester United | 12.2m |
| 2 | Manchester United | Real Madrid | 80m |
| Total fee | 92.2 million | ||
#5 Gareth Bale (96 million)
The world record transfer of £86 million paid by Real Madrid to secure the Welsh international’s services from Tottenham Hotspur coupled with the £10 million paid by Spurs to prise him away from Southampton makes Bale the 5th most expensive footballer in terms of cumulative transfer amount spent.
Much like Ronaldo, that could change if United get serious in their approach for the 26-year-old. Bale has not the best of times at the Spanish capital so far but that hasn’t deterred United from chasing the Welshman.
He has age on his side and could become much better if new manager Rafael Benitez plays him in his preferred central role.
| No | From | To | Transfer fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southampton | Tottenham | £10m |
| 2 | Tottenham | Real Madrid | £86m |
| Total fee | £96 million | ||
#4 Luis Suarez (103.5 million)
Real Madrids arch-rivals and reigning Champions League winners Barcelona have also had their say with big money transfers contributing to two of the next three entries in this list. At the No 4 spot is Uruguayanstriker Luis Suarez.
Controversies aside, Suarezs abilities as a player has never been in doubt and he has so far lived up to the big money spent by Liverpool and then Barcelona to secure his signature.
The English side spent almost half of the50 million they received by the sale of Fernando Torres to Chelsea on Suarez while Barca paid Liverpool 75 million after Suarezs prolific 2013/14 season.
| No | From | To | Transfer fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nacional | Groningen | 0.5m |
| 2 | Groningen | Ajax | 5m |
| 3 | Ajax | Liverpool | 23m |
| 4 | Liverpool | Barcelona | 75m |
| Total fee | 103.5 million | ||
#3 James Rodriguez (106.5 million)
At 24, James Rodriguez is the youngest entry in the top 11 list and considering his consistently brilliant performances for Real Madrid, any further move could see him climb to the top spot.
The Columbian international was snapped up by Monaco for £38.5 million in 2013 and following his exploits at the 2014 World Cup, Real made Rodriguez their prime transfer target eventually securing his services for a sum of £63 million.
He has lived up to his hefty price tag so far at the Bernabeu and with things looking only better for the midfielder, it will take a lot of money for any club to purchase the youngster.
| No | From | To | Transfer fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Banfield | Porto | £5m |
| 2 | Porto | Monaco | £38.5m |
| 3 | Monaco | Real Madrid | £63m |
| Total fee | £106.5 million | ||
#2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (126.7 million)
The list of clubs the Swedish international has played for is sure to evoke envy. He has turned out for the big three in Italy Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan as well as Dutch giants Ajax. But the biggest contributor to Ibrahimovic making the list at the No 2 spot is his move to Barcelona from Inter.
Ibrahimovic moved to Nou Camp as part of the deal which saw Samuel Etoo heading the opposite direction in a permanent transfer and Alexander Hleb moving to San Siro on a loan deal.
The total transfer fee was valued at55 million but it turned out to be one of the biggest transfer flops as well as he struggled in Spain and his frequent altercations with coach Pep Guardiola meant he was pushed out back to Italy with AC Milan before making the move to France with PSG.
He has been trumped by Di Maria as the most expensive footballer, but could reclaim his place as he has hinted at a surprise move in the future.
| No | From | To | Transfer Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malmo | Ajax | 5m |
| 2 | Ajax | Juventus | 12m |
| 3 | Juventus | Inter Milan | 20m |
| 4 | Inter Milan | Barcelona | 55m |
| 5 | Barcelona | AC Milan | 19m |
| 7 | AC Milan | Paris Saint-Germain | 15.7m |
| Total Fee | 126.7 million | ||
#1 Angel di Maria (132.6 million)
The Argentine internationals big money moves in successive summershaspropelled Angel di Maria to the top of the charts by some margin. He has played for arguably two of the biggest clubs in the world in Real Madrid and Manchester United, with contrasting fortunes, but that didnt deter Paris Saint-Germain from splashing big money on him.
Benfica signed Di Maria from Rosario at the age of 19 in 2007 and his impressive performances for the Portuguese club caught Reals attention who snapped up their target for23 million. He was an integral member of the Real squad, but his exploits in their Champions League winning season followed by a stellar World Cup campaign increased Di Marias price to great heights.
United had to shell out a British transfer record fee of 60 million to secure Di Marias signature and despite his struggles in England, PSG were more than ready to pay44 million which means Di Maria is now the worlds most expensive footballer.
| No | From | To | Transfer fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rosario | Benfica | 5.6m |
| 2 | Benfica | Real Madrid | 23m |
| 3 | Real Madrid | Manchester United | 60m |
| 4 | Manchester United | Paris Saint-Germain | 44m |
| Total fee | 132.6 million | ||
