SUMMARY
- Soccer has seen notable, financially valuable transfers over the years, reaching sky-high deals.
- Europe has been associated with some eye-watering summations and record-breaking deals.
Soccer has seen many notable transfers over the years, not in terms of big names but in terms of big financial value. Some of the world’s craziest soccer deals have seen their value reach sky-high.
Regarded as the powerhouse of soccer, Europe has been associated with some eye-watering summations and record-breaking deals. It has to do with its star-studded leagues, where every player around the globe wants to showcase their talent. Teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Manchester United have often raised the bar in the transfer market because of their financial stability.
🚨 Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid, here we go! Agreement in place with Borussia Dortmund. It’s done deal.
Fee: €100m plus add-ons.
Bellingham will sign six year deal valid until June 2029 agreed in April.
Medical tests already booked as Madrid wanted to get it done this week. pic.twitter.com/0HFT9CUs15
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 7, 2023
Let’s take a look at some of the craziest soccer deals from each continent.
Europe
The list might include every continent on the globe, barring Antarctica. However, for a fun fact, all these deals include famous European teams. Speaking of Europe in particular, it is surprising how players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Johan Cruyff, Argen Robben, and many more don’t make the list.
Of course, the reason is the rise in economic growth of every nation in the world over the years. But talking about the most expensive transfer within Europe is Kylian Mbappe’s move to Paris Saint-Germain. The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner made his move from Monaco to the Parisian club in the year 2018 for a fee of €180 million ($195 million, approx. presently valued).
The deal included a fee of €145 million ($160 million), with add-ons of €35 million ($39 million). It made the Frenchman the most expensive player in soccer history for a teenager. Mbappe was considered to be the next big thing in 2018, having risen from the ranks of Monaco.
And there hasn’t been much doubt about the observation. Mbappe is currently the leading goal scorer for PSG, having scored a total of 240 goals to date. He is followed by Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani with 200 goals. Mbappe might even reach a figure that will be impossible for anyone to get past if he ends up staying with the Parisian club for a few more years.
South America
There’s no shortage of talent when it comes to South American soccer. We have seen that over the years, with players like Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Suarez, Sergio Aguero, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo Di Nazario, Kaka, and many more coming from the continent.
The most expensive transfer in the history of soccer was made for Neymar Jr. in the year 2017. While Neymar was still performing his traits at Barcelona, he was bought by Paris Saint-Germain for a hefty fee of €222 million ($240 million, approx. presently valued).
Neymar was considered to be the third-best player in the world of soccer after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Brazilian winger won the much-anticipated treble with Barcelona in 2015. He was also the joint top scorer in the UEFA Champions League that season, alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, with 10 goals each.
Neymar has spent six long years on the shores of Paris, having won the Ligue 1 title five times out of those six. He helped the French side win seven domestic cup titles with 118 goals in 173 appearances. However, constant injuries at the French club ruined Neymar’s chances to go on par with the world’s two greats. The 31-year-old is yet to win a Ballon d’Or and is unlikely to do so following his move to Al-Hilal last year.
North America
Known as the ‘Captain America of soccer’ Christian Pulisic tops the list of the most expensive players for a player from North America. The United States national team icon first rose to prominence when he rose from the youth ranks of Borussia Dortmund in 2016.
After spending 3 years playing in the senior team of the German club, Pulisic made a stunning move to Premier League giants Chelsea in the year 2019. His transfer fee is reported to be around €64 million ($70 million, approx.) and is the highest ever by a North American player to date.
Christian Pulisic to AC Milan, here we go! Deal in place between clubs as Chelsea accepted conditions of final bid. 🔴⚫️🇺🇸 #ACMilan
Personal terms agreed weeks ago as the player only wanted Milan — pushing for this new chapter.
Medical/travel being scheduled. pic.twitter.com/E49z8U4dVB
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 7, 2023
During his time at Stamford Bridge, the midfielder earned around $177,000 per week. However, he only had a few good spells for the London-based side. The most memorable of them will be winning the UEFA Champions League under the stewardship of Thomas Tuchel in the year 2021.
However, concerns regarding his performance and lack of game time, as well as Chelsea’s whole new transition period after the appointment of Todd Boehly, opened the exit doors for the American. Pulisic joined Italian giants AC Milan for a fee of €22 million ($24.2 million, approx.) last year and seemed to be settled in well there.
Africa
At a time when nothing was going right for Arsenal, the signing of Ivory Coast international Nicolas Pepe from Lille made the headlines. Pepe joined the Gunners for a fee of 80 million euros ($85.18 million, approx.) in the year 2019.
Fabrizio Romano:
Nicolas Pépé to Trabzonspor ✨🇹🇷◉ Medical tests on Friday morning.
◉ Short term deal until June 2024.
◉ Player travelling later tonight.Here we go, confirmed 🤝🏻
Marcelo Flores leaves Arsenal as he’s set to join Tigres on permanent deal, here we go —… pic.twitter.com/AlDstbGbPH
— Aminu (@Aminutaambu) September 8, 2023
However, if we go through the history books of some of the worst soccer transfers in the history of the game, Pepe might be on the list. Having played almost 112 games for the Gunners, the winger only managed to score a total of 27 goals throughout three seasons.
The frustrated performance saw Pepe leave the club last year, having spent the entire 2022–23 season on loan at OGC Nice. Pepe signed for Turkish outfit Trabzonspor for a fee transfer following a disappointing end to his Arsenal career.
Asia
Asian soccer has seen a major rise over the last few years following Japan’s and South Korea’s performances at major soccer events. Although Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min is regarded as the most widely known soccer player from Asia, his fellow teammate, Kim Min-jae, went on to write the record books following his move to Bayern Munich earlier this season.
Understand FC Bayern have already triggered the release clause for Kim Min jae yesterday — Napoli receive around €50m taxes included. 🚨🔴🇰🇷 #FCBayern
Just waiting on clubs to check and sign all the documents then it will be official.
Medical done, here we go confirmed ✔️ pic.twitter.com/cMGSZA9xkR
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 8, 2023
The South Korean center-back is regarded as one of the fastest in his position right now, and it eventually caught the attention of the Bavarians. Having won the Seria A title with Napoli last season, Min-Jae was all set for a move elsewhere.
After being heavily linked with Manchester United for a couple of weeks, he decided to join Bayern Munich for a fee of 50 million euros ($55 million, approx.). The defender’s transfer fee has made headlines as he tops the list of the most expensive Asian players ever bought by a club.
Oceania
When talking about Oceania, there are not many countries to talk about. However, a current Premier League goalscorer has made a move within the league itself, which puts his name in the record books.
Chris Wood’s now prepared to undergo his medical as Newcastle player today. Contract to be signed in the afternoon after release clause triggered yesterday for £20m to Burnley. ⚪️ #NUFC
Ekitike deal still complicated – but Newcastle are working to sign one more striker.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 12, 2022
New Zealand striker Chris Wood made the headlines when he left Burnley and ended up joining Newcastle United for a fee of €29 million ($31 million, approx.) in 2022.
The Kiwi Great, however, only lasted a season at St. James Park, having joined Nottingham Forest last season. Wood has been known for his knack for scoring goals in the Premier League. He had a pretty good record under Sean Dyche when the Englishmen managed Burnley.