Five most expensive signings in Premier League history

The English Premier League, one of the most glamorous and cash-rich leagues in the globe, has seen goals, saves, and line-breaking passes so good that people across other leagues have made the Premier League the benchmark. The quality of players has been superlative, and technical brilliance has been world-class. This is not only possible through the homegrown players but also the transfers, which have enabled the clubs to get the best players from around the world. The Premier League has usually broken the record in most of the windows for expensive transfers. 

In this article, we shall look at the five most expensive signings in Premier League history who have gone on to change the transfer landscape in the 30-year history of the league. The list encompasses the goalscorers to midfielders, while once defenders have ruled the list.

Five most expensive signings in Premier League history:

1) Enzo Fernandez - 2022/23 - Benfica to Chelsea - €121 million

Chelsea’s new ownership after the Russia–Ukraine conflict resulted in a money splurge and saw the British record transfer where the Argentine midfielder joined the London outfit. The race became intense, and the bidding war was inevitable, stretching to the final day of the transfer window. The London outfit paid the release clause following the breakthrough season of the player in Portugal as well as in the FIFA World Cup. The former River Plate academy graduate spent six months in Portugal after moving from Argentina. His technical elegance and defensive awareness played a major role in Chelsea breaking the bank for the player.

2) Jack Grealish - 2021/22 - Aston Villa to Manchester City - €117.5 million

The wonder boy from Birmingham made his and his club’s dream come true with a transfer, breaking all the records before Enzo Fernandes’ transfer took place. For a struggling Aston Villa side, he became a messiah when his playmaking ability and ability to draw fouls resulted in Pep Guardiola splurging the money on his release clause.

While he got a significant wage increase and the transfer price, the player faced scrutiny over his inability to translate Aston Villa’s performance, as well as his discipline. He developed over the second season at Manchester, where he played a decent role in helping the club to win the treble.

3) Declan Rice - 2023/24 - West Ham United to Arsenal - €116.6 million

The statement signing in the new era of Arsenal, Declan Rice, arrived after a prolonged pursuit, outlasting the interest from Manchester City and Bayern Munich. England’s midfield anchor was released by Chelsea in his teenage years, only for him to join another London outfit to become captain and talisman. He led the Hammers to UEFA Conference League glory before his emotional departure. 

Arteta’s identification of Rice as the final piece in Arsenal’s jigsaw puzzle, where he is a combination of passing, ball-winning abilities, and ball-carrying, resulted in the club reaching higher echelons in the PL as well as in the Champions League. Rice’s seamless integration into Arsenal’s midfield transformed their engine room, helping them to get defensive security to allow Odegaard and the attackers to operate with more freedom. He is the third most expensive transfer in Premier League history and the second most expensive British international transfer.

4) Moises Caicedo - 2023/24 - Brighton and Hove Albion - €116 million

The Ecuadorian midfielder's transfer saga became one of summer 2023's most dramatic storylines when Chelsea outbid Liverpool in an unprecedented auction for the Brighton star. After Liverpool announced they had reached an agreement, Chelsea's eleventh-hour intervention reflected their determination to secure a midfielder who had impressed during just 18 months of Premier League football. Brighton's remarkable business model was exemplified by their approximately €112 million profit on a player they discovered playing in Ecuador and signed for just €4 million. 

Caicedo's exceptional ball-winning statistics, spatial awareness, and progressive passing made him one of world football's most coveted young midfielders. His difficult adjustment period at Stamford Bridge highlighted the challenges of performing under extreme financial pressure, though his underlying qualities gradually emerged as he adapted to Chelsea's evolving tactical approach under multiple gaffers.

5) Romelu Lukaku - 2021/22 - Inter Milan to Chelsea - €113 million  

Romelu Lukaku has had a love-hate relationship with the Premier League throughout his career. Following his career at Everton, the player moved to Manchester United in a record deal for the striker before he was sent away to Italy by Ole Gunnar Solskjær, as he did not see the player as an integrated part of the squad. With Chelsea looking for a proven striker, Thomas Tuchel brought the player to the place where it had all started. 

The dream of a player featuring for Chelsea Blues did not go according to plan as he struggled for the first touch and lacked goals. In an unauthorized interview, the player went on to speak about his unhappiness with Thomas Tuchel, resulting in a loan spell just after him joining the club. What followed became Premier League history's most expensive cautionary tale, with Lukaku scoring just eight league goals before returning to Inter on loan.