Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and more in top ten most expensive Premier League signings

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The Premier League has gained a reputation as the most lucrative league in Europe, having garnered millions in revenue.

Throughout the 2010s and 2020s, plenty of teams have splashed the cash in the transfer market, hopeful of adding some quality to the team.

Not all of those expensive signings have worked, though, with some going on to become memorable transfer flops.

Others have sealed their legacy as greats in the division.

So, with that said, here’s a look at the most expensive transfers in Premier League history.

Antony

• £86m
• Ajax to Manchester United (September 2022)

Manchester United shelled out a fortune to reunite Antony with Erik ten Hag in September 2022, although this deal is arguably the worst in Premier League history.

The Brazilian scored just five goals in 62 Premier League appearances before joining Real Betis on loan in January 2025.

Mykhailo Mudryk

• £88.5m
• Shakhtar Donetsk to Chelsea (January 2023)

Chelsea splashed out to bring Ukrainian wonderkid Mykhailo Mudryk to west London in January 2023.

Sadly, the move has not been a success so far.

Mudryk – who Arsenal also wanted – scored just five goals in 53 Premier League appearances before he was suspended for failing a doping test, and remains sidelined.

Paul Pogba

• £89m
• Juventus to Manchester United (August 2016)

Again, Manchester United feature on this list.

The Red Devils shattered the world-record transfer fee to bring Paul Pogba back to Old Trafford from Juventus in August 2016, having initially lost the Frenchman to the Italian giants on a free transfer in 2012.

He then returned to Juventus on a free transfer once again in July 2022.

Romelu Lukaku

• £97.5m
• Inter Milan to Chelsea (August 2021)

This deal rivals Manchester United’s capture of Antony in terms of being a huge failure.

Chelsea broke their club-record transfer fee to bring Romelu Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge in August 2021, but the exciting move was marred by a bizarre interview from the Belgian just months into his five-year contract, in which he took aim at Thomas Tuchel.

The Blues eventually accepted a significant loss, selling the striker to Napoli for just £30m in August 2024.

Jack Grealish

• £100m
• Aston Villa to Manchester City (August 2021)

Manchester City could not resist after Jack Grealish took the Premier League by storm in the 2020/21 campaign, breaking their transfer record to sign the England international in a £100m move from Aston Villa.

Sadly, the man born in Birmingham has struggled – scoring just 17 goals in 157 appearances – although he did play a key role in the 2022/23 campaign when Manchester City won the treble.

Grealish could soon join Newcastle as Manchester City look to sell the 29-year-old this summer.

Declan Rice

• £105m
• West Ham United to Arsenal (July 2023)

Declan Rice fired West Ham to UEFA Conference League glory in 2023, an achievement which prompted Arsenal to shatter their club-record transfer fee to sign the England international in a £105m move.

Enzo Fernandez

• £106.8m
• Benfica to Chelsea (January 2023)

Chelsea have remarkably spent over £1bn since Todd Boehly replaced Roman Abramovich in May 2022, and £106.8m alone went on a deal to sign Enzo Fernandez from Benfica.

The Blues simply could not bring themselves to miss out on the South American after he helped fire Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory in December 2022.

Moise Caicedo

• £115m
• Brighton & Hove Albion to Chelsea (August 2023)

Chelsea swiftly added another expensive midfielder alongside Fernandez just months later, breaking the British transfer record to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton.

Liverpool also bid for Caicedo, but the Ecuador international had his heart set on a move to Stamford Bridge.

Florian Wirtz

• £116m
• Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool (June 2025 –

Wirtz was the most expensive signing in Premier League history for a few weeks over the summer 2025 transfer window.

The attacking midfielder also became the most expensive German footballer ever after sealing his £116m move to Anfield.

Alexander Isak

• £125m
• Newcastle to Liverpool (September 2025)

Liverpool smashed the transfer record twice in one window during 2025, as they signed Alexander Isak from Newcastle.

Isak signed a six-year deal with the Reds, as he became the most expensive transfer in Premier League history.