The Top 10 Transfer Fees for English Footballers in History: Whether rightly or wrongly, England claims to be the “Home of Football”. The UK nation invented the game, and it’s clearly the national sport. It goes without saying that England has produced some of the world’s greatest footballers, from Stanley Matthews to Bobby Moore to Paul Gascoigne to Wayne Rooney.
In the modern era, football is all about money, of course. And the might of the Premier League has ensured that English clubs have paid huge sums of money for transfers. That, of course, includes English players. The two Transfer Windows are subject to huge speculation and excitement among fans, even leading to special sports betting markets being created for major players’ moves between clubs. But just who are the most expensive English players of all time? Let’s look at the top 10 transfer fees:
10. Raheem Sterling, €56 million, Manchester City to Chelsea
Sterling was a key part of Man City’s relentless winning machine, but the Manchester club saw him as surplus to requirements last year, selling him to rivals Chelsea. Things have not gone well for Sterlin since.
9. Ben White, €58 million, Brighton to Arsenal
The most expensive defender on this list, White is growing into this role at Arsenal, helping Mikel Arteta build a team that can challenge Man City for dominance in the Premier League. It hasn’t all been plain sailing for White, but he can be an integral part of this era for the Gunners.
8. Raheem Sterling, €64 million, Liverpool to Manchester City
Sterling is the only player to make this list twice. His 2015 move from Liverpool to City was arguably one of the examples of a sea-change in English football. City were a club on the up, and while Liverpool remained their staunchest rivals over the 2010s, it seemed that Sterling wanted the glory that only City could provide.
7. Mason Mount, €70 million, Chelsea to Manchester United
A curious transfer. It’s not that Mount isn’t talented, it is more a case of him not being the player that Manchester United needed this summer. Nonetheless, Mount is young, and he is capable of growing into a team that has lacked identity over the last several years. He has started slow, but this might seem like a masterstroke should United – and Mount – get back to their best.
6. Jadon Sancho, €85 million, Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United
It’s difficult to convey just how excited Manchester United fans were in the summer of 2021 when they learned that Sancho, one of the most exciting young talents in world football, would be coming to Old Trafford. But as has been well documented, Sancho has not lived up to expectations. His future at the club looks very uncertain.
5. Harry Maguire, €87 million, Leicester City to Manchester United
Another huge transfer, and another disaster for Manchester United. In truth, Maguire’s first season at United was very good, prompting the club to make him captain. However, he endured a terrible 2022/23 season, and things haven’t really improved. United tried to sell him in the summer. He’s still there. An uncomfortable marriage.
4. Declan Rice, €116 million, West Ham United to Arsenal
The key to Arsenal becoming Premier League champions for the first time since 2004? The coveted Declan Rice is the midfield dynamo Arsenal have been looking for since the days of Patrick Vieira. Rice has started well since his move in the summer. He could become a Gunners legend.
3. Jack Grealish, €118 million, Aston Villa to Manchester City
A lot was made of Grealish becoming the first £100 million player in the Premier League. And it took a while for his style to fit in with Manchester City, and for Pep Guardiola to adapt City’s system to fit Grealish. In the end, it led to Grealish being a key player in City’s treble-winning-campaign last season. Money well spent.
2. Harry Kane, €120 million, Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern Munich
The England captain finally left Spurs this summer, choosing to move abroad rather than play for a Premier League rival. England’s loss is Germany’s gain, as the striker has fit right in with the German champions. Kane guarantees goals. And even if Bayern fans raised an eyebrow at the huge fee for a player of Kane’s age, it looks like it will be worth it.
1. Jude Bellingham, €134 million, Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid
In the last couple of weeks, Bellingham has been compared to Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane and Alfredo Di Stefano. It might be a bit premature to make those comparisons, but it tells you a lot about the explosive start Bellingham has made to his career at Real Madrid. Will he justify being the most expensive English footballer in history? He has made a strong start.
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