{"id":16452,"date":"2026-07-11T16:55:26","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T16:55:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=16452"},"modified":"2026-07-11T16:55:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-11T16:55:26","slug":"most-expensive-football-transfer-record-e1bn-deal-could-happen-by-2031","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=16452","title":{"rendered":"Most expensive football transfer record: \u20ac1bn deal could happen by 2031"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Updated: 11 Jul 2026 11:11 BST |<\/span>
\n 5 min read <\/p>\n

\n \"Kylian<\/source><\/source><\/picture>
\u00a9 IMAGO <\/figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\n \"FT <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/svg>Make us your Google favourite<\/span><\/p>\n

Football’s first \u20ac1 billion transfer is a matter of years away, with Neymar’s record predicted to fall by 2031.<\/p>\n

The Brazil international made a \u20ac222 million switch from Barcelona to PSG in the summer of 2017 in a deal that remains the most expensive football transfer in history<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Article continues under the video<\/center> <\/p>\n

No club has come close to breaking that mark in the near decade since, with Kylian Mbappe’s \u20ac180m move from Monaco to Paris that same summer (initially on a loan with an obligation to purchase), still the second-highest deal.<\/p>\n

But don’t expect these marks to stand for too much longer.<\/p>\n

According to research that appeared in The Beautiful Game<\/i> report, which assesses current spending patterns, inflation, and the increasing impact that signing superstar players can have on clubs financially, football’s first \u20ac1bn transfer will arrive by 2031.<\/p>\n

The report states that, on average, the price of signing top stars is increasing by 37% year on year. In the summer of 2025, Liverpool broke the British transfer record twice to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen and then Alexander Isak from Newcastle for \u20ac125m and \u20ac145m, respectively.<\/p>\n

Players are becoming more and more expensive not just due to their exploits on the pitch, but also the increased revenue they bring to a club via sponsorships, social media followers and merchandising.<\/p>\n

Indeed, there has already been speculation that a \u20ac1bn deal could be in the pipeline. Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior had been rumoured to make such a move to the Saudi Pro League for that figure, and while this has since quietened, there are clubs with the capacity to make such a historic agreement.<\/p>\n

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\"Neymar<\/source><\/source><\/picture>
\u00a9 IMAGO – Neymar is the most expensive footballer in history<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

World record transfers<\/h2>\n

Neymar’s move to PSG saw him claim the title for the biggest transfer of all time from Paul Pogba.<\/p>\n

Pogba had previously set the all-time transfer record in 2016, with his move from Juventus to Manchester United costing \u20ac105m.<\/p>\n

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\"Paul<\/source><\/source><\/picture>
\u00a9 ProShots – Paul Pogba, Manchester United<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Gareth Bale, who left Tottenham for Real Madrid in 2013 in a \u20ac101m deal, held the record prior to Pogba and Neymar.<\/p>\n

That move ended a four-year stay in top spot for Cristiano Ronaldo, whose own move to Madrid from Man Utd cost \u20ac94m in 2009. Such has been the rapid increase in market values, that move no longer even sits in the top 10.<\/p>\n

Other holders of the world record transfer since the turn of the century have included Kaka (2009), Zinedine Zidane (2001), Luis Figo (2000) and Hernan Crespo (2000).<\/p>\n

The transfer record changed hands five times between 1996 and 1999, being held by Ronaldo and Alan Shearer before the Brazilian striker won it back by joining Inter in 1997. He is the only player since the late Diego Maradona to hold the record twice.<\/p>\n

After Ronaldo, Denilson and Christian Vieri then took the honour.<\/p>\n

The 50 most expensive transfers ever<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Player<\/th>\nClubs<\/th>\nFee<\/th>\nYear<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
1. Neymar<\/td>\nBarcelona to PSG<\/td>\n\u20ac222m<\/td>\n2017<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2. Kylian Mbappe<\/td>\nMonaco to PSG<\/td>\n\u20ac180m<\/td>\n2018<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3. Ousmane Dembele<\/td>\nDortmund is Barcelona<\/td>\n\u20ac148m<\/td>\n2017<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4. Alexander Isak<\/td>\nNewcastle to Liverpool<\/td>\n\u20ac145m<\/td>\n2025<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5. Philippe Coutinho<\/td>\nLiverpool to Barcelona<\/td>\n\u20ac135m<\/td>\n2018<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6. Joao Felix<\/td>\nBenfica to Atletico Madrid<\/td>\n\u20ac127.2m<\/td>\n2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7. Florian Wirtz<\/td>\nBayer Leverkusen to Liverpool<\/td>\n\u20ac125m<\/td>\n2025<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8. Enzo Fernandez<\/td>\nBenfica to Chelsea<\/td>\n\u20ac121m<\/td>\n2023<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9. Antoine Griezmann<\/td>\nAtletico Madrid to Barcelona<\/td>\n\u20ac120m<\/td>\n2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10. Jack Grealish<\/td>\nAston Villa to Man City<\/td>\n\u20ac117.5m<\/td>\n2021<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11. Cristiano Ronaldo<\/td>\nReal Madrid to Juventus<\/td>\n\u20ac117m<\/td>\n2018<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12. Declan Rice<\/td>\nWest Ham to Arsenal<\/td>\n\u20ac116.6m<\/td>\n2023<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13. Moises Caicedo<\/td>\nBrighton to Chelsea<\/td>\n\u20ac116m<\/td>\n2023<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14. Eden Hazard<\/td>\nChelsea to Real Madrid<\/td>\n\u20ac115m<\/td>\n2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15. Romelu Lukaku<\/td>\nInter to Chelsea<\/td>\n\u20ac113m<\/td>\n2021<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
= Jude Bellingham<\/td>\nDortmund to Real Madrid<\/td>\n\u20ac113m<\/td>\n2023<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
17. Paul Pogba<\/td>\nJuventus to Man Utd<\/td>\n\u20ac105m<\/td>\n2016<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18. Gareth Bale<\/td>\nTottenham is Real Madrid<\/td>\n\u20ac101m<\/td>\n2013<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
19. Kai Havertz<\/td>\nBayer Leverkusen to Chelsea<\/td>\n\u20ac100m<\/td>\n2020<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
20. Harry Kane<\/td>\nTottenham to Bayern<\/td>\n\u20ac95m<\/td>\n2023<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
= Randall Cole Muani<\/td>\nEintracht Frankfurt to PSG<\/td>\n\u20ac95m<\/td>\n2023<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
= Antony<\/td>\nAjax to Man Utd<\/td>\n\u20ac95m<\/td>\n2022<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
23. Cristiano Ronaldo<\/td>\nMan Utd to Real Madrid<\/td>\n\u20ac94m<\/td>\n2009<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
24. If Gvardiol<\/td>\nRB Leipzig to Man City<\/td>\n\u20ac90m<\/td>\n2023<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
= Neymar<\/td>\nPSG to Al-Hilal<\/td>\n\u20ac90m<\/td>\n2023<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
= Gonzalo Higuain<\/td>\nNapoli to Juventus<\/td>\n\u20ac90m<\/td>\n2016<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
27. Neymar<\/td>\nSantos to Barcelona<\/td>\n\u20ac88m<\/td>\n2013<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
28. Harry Maguire<\/td>\nLeicester to Man Utd<\/td>\n\u20ac87m<\/td>\n2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
29. Frenkie de Jong<\/td>\nAjax to Barcelona<\/td>\n\u20ac86m<\/td>\n2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
30. Matthijs de Ligt<\/td>\nAjax to Juventus<\/td>\n\u20ac85.5m<\/td>\n2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
31. Dusan Vlahovic<\/td>\nFiorentina to Juventus<\/td>\n\u20ac85.4m<\/td>\n2022<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
32. Jadon Sancho<\/td>\nDortmund to Man Utd<\/td>\n\u20ac85m<\/td>\n2021<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
= Darwin Nunez<\/td>\nBenfica to Liverpool<\/td>\n\u20ac85m<\/td>\n2022<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
34. Virgil van Dijk<\/td>\nSouthampton to Liverpool<\/td>\n\u20ac84.7m<\/td>\n2018<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
= Romelu Lukaku<\/td>\nEverton to Man Utd<\/td>\n\u20ac84.7m<\/td>\n2017<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
36. Luis Suarez<\/td>\nLiverpool to Barcelona<\/td>\n\u20ac81.7m<\/td>\n2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
37. Arthur Melo<\/td>\nBarcelona to Juventus<\/td>\n\u20ac80.6m<\/td>\n2020<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
38. Wesley Fofana<\/td>\nLeicester to Chelsea<\/td>\n\u20ac80.4m<\/td>\n2022<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
39. Aurelien Tchouameni<\/td>\nMonaco to Real Madrid<\/td>\n\u20ac80m<\/td>\n2022<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
= Nicolas Pepe<\/td>\nLille to Arsenal<\/td>\n\u20ac80m<\/td>\n2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
= Lucas Hernandez<\/td>\nAtletico Madrid to Bayern<\/td>\n\u20ac80m<\/td>\n2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
= Kepa Arrizabalaga<\/td>\nAthletic Club to Chelsea<\/td>\n\u20ac80m<\/td>\n2018<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
= Hugo Ekitike<\/td>\nEintracht Frankfurt to Liverpool<\/td>\n\u20ac80m<\/td>\n2025<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
= Khvicha Kvaratskhelia<\/td>\nNapoli to PSG<\/td>\n\u20ac80m<\/td>\n2025<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
= Anthony Gordon<\/td>\nNewcastle to Barcelona<\/td>\n\u20ac80m<\/td>\n2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
46. Victor Osimhen<\/td>\nLille to Napoli<\/td>\n\u20ac78.9m<\/td>\n2020<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
47. Rasmus Hojlund<\/td>\nAtalanta to Man Utd<\/td>\n\u20ac77.8m<\/td>\n2023<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
48. Alexander Isak<\/td>\nReal Sociedad to Newcastle<\/td>\n\u20ac77.5m<\/td>\n2022<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
= Zinedine Zidane<\/td>\nJuventus to Real Madrid<\/td>\n\u20ac77.5m<\/td>\n2001<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
50.John Duran<\/td>\nAston Villa to Al-Nassr<\/td>\n\u20ac77m<\/td>\n2025<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Related stories:<\/h2>\n

How Norway \u2018killed\u2019 Erling Haaland \u2013 and how he bounced back<\/b><\/p>\n

Transfer Rumours: Alejandro Garnacho talks as Arsenal target surprise move<\/b><\/p>\n

Premier League summer transfers 2026: All the Done Deals<\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Updated: 11 Jul 2026 11:11 BST | 5 min read \u00a9 IMAGO Make us your…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16453,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16452","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16452","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16452"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16452\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16453"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16452"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16452"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16452"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}