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

The 2026 summer transfer window has officially closed after a period of big-money outlays, especially among Premier League teams, with clubs splurging record fees before the deadline.

This year's market was complicated by the first summer World Cup in eight years, and many of those competing at the Mundial either joined new clubs or boosted their reputations, even if not everyone got their wish to switch clubs in the end. 

There has been no linear progression in all-time transfer records year on year, as Neymar's 2017 switch to Paris Saint-Germain remains the most expensive of all time, but few bat an eyelid when a club owner willingly signs a cheque for £100m or more in the modern game.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the most expensive football transfers per calendar 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)

© Imago

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)

© Imago

Joined: Manchester City

Sold By: Wolfsburg

Age at the time: 24

Nationality: Belgium

Position: Midfielder

Current club: Napoli

2016 – Paul Pogba (£89.3m)

© Imago

Joined: Manchester United

Sold By: Juventus

Age at the time: 24

Nationality: France

Position: Midfielder

Current club: Monaco

2017 – Neymar (£198m)

© Imago

Joined: Paris Saint-Germain

Sold By: Barcelona

Age at the time: 25

Nationality: Brazil

Position: Winger/Striker

Current club: Santos

2018 – Kylian Mbappe (£166m)

© Imago

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: Man City

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)

© Imago

Joined: Liverpool

Sold by: Newcastle United

Age at the time: 25

Nationality: Sweden

Position: Striker

Current club: Liverpool

2026 – Enzo Fernandez (£125m)

© Iconsport / PA Images

Joined: Manchester City

Sold by: Chelsea

Age at the time: 25

Nationality: Argentina

Position: Winger

Current club: Manchester City