Neymar, Mbappe, Ronaldo, Isak: The most expensive football transfers for each year since 2000

The modern-day football transfer market stands as a multi-billion-pound global industry, characterised by record-shattering fees paid by clubs for a plethora of players across the globe.

Transfers have evolved into a year-round cultural spectacle for some supporters that rival the matches themselves, with players including Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak commanding valuations exceeding £100m as recently as last summer.

As we edge closer to the 2026 summer transfer window, Sports Mole takes a look at the most expensive football transfers for each year since 2000.

2000 – Luis Figo (£37m)

© Imago / BSR Agency

Joined: Real Madrid

Sold By: Barcelona

Age at the time: 27

Nationality: Portugal

Position: Winger

2001 – Zinedine Zidane (£49m)

© Imago

Joined: Real Madrid

Sold By: Juventus

Age at the time: 29

Nationality: France

Position: Midfielder

2002 – Rio Ferdinand (£30m)

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Joined: Manchester United

Sold By: Leeds United

Age at the time: 23

Nationality: England

Position: Centre-back

2003 – David Beckham (£25m)

© Imago

Joined: Real Madrid

Sold By: Manchester United

Age at the time: 28

Nationality: England

Position: Winger/Midfielder

2004 – Wayne Rooney  (£27m)

© Imago

Joined: Manchester United

Sold By: Everton

Age at the time: 18

Nationality: England

Position: Striker

2005 – Michael Essien (£26m)

© Iconsport / Christian Liewig / Icon Sport

Joined: Chelsea

Sold By: Lyon

Age at the time: 22

Nationality: Ghana

Position: Midfielder

2006 – Andriy Shevchenko (£31m)

© Imago

Joined: Chelsea

Sold By: AC Milan

Age at the time: 29

Nationality: Ukraine

Position: Striker

2007 – Fernando Torres (£20m)

© Imago / Geoff Martin

Joined: Liverpool

Sold By: Atletico Madrid

Age at the time: 23

Nationality: Spain

Position: Striker

2008 – Robinho (£32.5m)

© Imago / Sportimage

Joined: Manchester City

Sold By: Real Madrid

Age at the time: 24

Nationality: Brazil

Position: Winger

2009 – Cristiano Ronaldo (£80m)

© Imago

Joined: Real Madrid

Sold By: Manchester United

Age at the time: 24

Nationality: Portugal

Position: Winger

Current club: Al-Nassr

2010 – David Villa (£35m)

© Imago

Joined: Barcelona

Sold By: Valencia

Age at the time: 28

Nationality: Spain

Position: Striker

2011 – Fernando Torres (£50m)

© Imago / Sportimage

Joined: Chelsea

Sold By: Liverpool

Age at the time: 26

Nationality: Spain

Position: Striker

2012 – Hulk (£35m)

Joined: Zenit Saint Petersburg

Sold By: Porto

Age at the time: 26

Nationality: Brazil

Position: Winger/Striker

Current club: Atletico Mineiro

2013 – Gareth Bale (£85m)

© Imago

Joined: Real Madrid

Sold By: Tottenham Hotspur

Age at the time: 24

Nationality: Wales

Position: Winger

2014 – Luis Suarez (£75m)

© Imago

Joined: Barcelona

Sold By: Liverpool

Age at the time: 27

Nationality: Uruguay

Position: Striker

Current club: Inter Miami

2015 – Kevin De Bruyne (£54m)

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Joined: Manchester City

Sold By: Wolfsburg

Age at the time: 24

Nationality: Belgium

Position: Midfielder

Current club: Napoli

2016 – Paul Pogba (£89.3m)

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Joined: Manchester United

Sold By: Juventus

Age at the time: 24

Nationality: France

Position: Midfielder

Current club: Monaco

2017 – Neymar (£198m)

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Joined: Paris Saint-Germain

Sold By: Barcelona

Age at the time: 25

Nationality: Brazil

Position: Winger/Striker

Current club: Santos

2018 – Kylian Mbappe (£166m)

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Joined: Paris Saint-Germain

Sold By: Monaco

Age at the time: 19

Nationality: France

Position: Winger/Striker

Current club: Real Madrid

2019 – Joao Felix (£116m)

© Imago

Joined: Atletico Madrid

Sold By: Benfica

Age at the time: 19

Nationality: Portugal

Position: Midfielder/Striker

Current club: Al-Nassr

2020 – Kai Havertz (£72m)

© Imago

Joined: Chelsea

Sold By: Bayer Leverkusen

Age at the time: 21

Nationality: Germany

Position: Midfielder/Striker

Current club: Arsenal

2021 – Jack Grealish (£100m)

© Imago

Joined: Manchester City

Sold By: Aston Villa

Age at the time: 25

Nationality: England

Position: Winger

Current club: Manchester City (on loan at Everton)

2022 – Antony (£85m)

© Imago

Joined: Manchester United

Sold By: Ajax

Age at the time: 22

Nationality: Brazil

Position: Winger

Current club: Real Betis

2023 – Enzo Fernandez (£107m)

© Imago / Sportimage

Joined: Chelsea

Sold By: Benfica

Age at the time: 22

Nationality: Argentina

Position: Midfielder

Current club: Chelsea

2024 – Julian Alvarez (£82m)

© Iconsport

Joined: Atletico Madrid

Sold By: Manchester City

Age at the time: 24

Nationality: Argentina

Position: Striker

Current club: Atletico Madrid

2025 – Alexander Isak (£125m)

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Joined: Liverpool

Sold By: Newcastle United

Age at the time: 25

Nationality: Sweden

Position: Striker

Current club: Liverpool

2026 – *Antoine Semenyo (£64m)

© Imago / News Images

Joined: Manchester City

Sold By: Bournemouth

Age at the time: 26

Nationality: Ghana

Position: Winger/Striker

Current club: Manchester City

*Subject to change in 2026 summer transfer window