What Was the Biggest Transfer Fee in Soccer

By Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief Updated: 04 August 2023

Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief

Blake Roberts is the founder of Betting.US and is currently heading the creative team as Editor in Chief. Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Blake is a great sports fan, with football and basketball being his favorite. He’s our trusted voice for all betting-related matters.

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The Biggest Transfer Fee in Soccer

• Biggest Transfer in Soccer History in Dollars: Money Talks
• The Biggest Transfer in Soccer History: Neymar to PSG
• Spectacular Mbappe Transfer to PSG
• Coutinho’s Lavish Move to Barcelona
• João Felix: The Madrid Mega Deal
• Griezmann’s Pricey Barcelona Move
• Fernandez’s Record Chelsea Switch
• Frequently Asked Questions

Soccer isn’t just about the game. It’s also about big money moves. Players join new teams, and these teams pay a lot for them. These moves can shake up the sport.

Our topic today is the biggest of these transfers. We’ll look at how much money was spent and why these players were worth it. We’ll talk about stars like Neymar, Mbappé, Coutinho, and others. Some of these deals were controversial, while others were seen as a win-win for both teams involved. So, let’s get started and find out which players commanded the biggest transfer fee in soccer history.

Biggest Transfer in Soccer History in Dollars: Money Talks

The biggest transfer in soccer history in dollars is an exciting topic. Lots of cash is spent to move players from one team to another. We’ll look at some of the biggest moves ever.

From Neymar’s huge leap to Paris Saint-Germain, to Mbappé’s big move to the same team, some huge names are involved in these deals, and we’ll also look at Coutinho’s transfer to Barcelona, Félix’s move to Madrid, and Fernández’s shift to Chelsea. Finally, we’ll talk about Griezmann’s move to Barcelona. We’ll dig into why these players were worth so much, and how their moves changed the sport.

Incidentally, if you’re looking for information on betting on a soccer games, we’ve got you covered with plenty of betting guides and sportsbook reviews on this site, so why not take a look?

The Biggest Transfer in Soccer History: Neymar to PSG

Neymar is one of the best players in soccer, and in 2017 he made the biggest move in history. Paris Saint-Germain, or PSG, paid a huge amount of money to get him. They spent $242 million to buy Neymar from Barcelona. That’s the most anyone has ever paid for a soccer player. The deal shocked everyone, and it instantly went down as one of the biggest transfer deals in soccer history.

Why did PSG pay the biggest transfer fee in soccer history for Neymar? It’s because he’s a game-changer. He’s fast, skilled, and can score lots of goals – and it turned out to be a solid decision, as he went on to become one of the team’s top goal scorers. Back then, PSG wanted to be the best team in Europe, and they figured Neymar could help them get there. They also wanted to make a big splash and show they could compete with the biggest teams.

Neymar’s move had a big effect on soccer. It showed that teams were willing to spend a lot of money to get the players they wanted. And it made Neymar one of the most famous players in the world, so it was a smart move on his part, too.

Spectacular Mbappé Transfer To PSG

Kylian Mbappé’s move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 made for a significant shift in European soccer. A bright prospect from AS Monaco, Mbappé’s $197 million transfer broke the previous record for a teenager. His historic rise in Monaco had seen him score 26 goals in 44 games, and he was directly responsible for helping his team win the Ligue 1 title.

His speed, skill, and finishing abilities echoed soccer’s greatest, with many likening him to French legend Thierry Henry. The transfer sparked excitement among PSG supporters and bemusement across Europe. Despite financial fair play concerns, PSG had orchestrated a move that was set to shape their future.

The transfer decision garnered mixed reactions. While some critics labeled it as financial recklessness, others viewed it as an investment in a world-class talent with potential to become a soccer icon.

It turned out to be a fantastic move, and he’s currently considered to be one of the best players in the game. His performance in the 2022 Qatar World Cup captured the attention of millions around the world, and even the French President met with him!

Coutinho’s Lavish Move to Barcelona

Philippe Coutinho’s transfer to FC Barcelona in January 2018 was a move surrounded by intense speculation. Leaving Liverpool for a transfer fee of $158 million, Coutinho became the third most expensive transfer at the time. Having polished his skills in the English Premier League, Coutinho was expected to fill the shoes of Neymar, another Brazilian superstar who had just left Barcelona.

His abilities on the pitch were seen as crucial to Barcelona’s tiki-taka style of play. His transfer, though, wasn’t received enthusiastically by all. Liverpool fans were disgruntled, while many in Barcelona questioned the inflated price tag. Despite being one of the biggest transfers in soccer history in dollars, Coutinho’s time in Barcelona was ultimately seen as disappointing.

João Félix: The Madrid Mega Deal

João Félix is a soccer player from Portugal. He was born on November 10, 1999, and began playing soccer when he was very young – around three years old, according to his parents. He first played for Benfica in Portugal, becoming immediately known for his ability to be creative on the pitch. He can make plays that other players can’t, and his abilities started to get him noticed.

João Félix’s $138 million move to Atlético Madrid in 2019 from Benfica was one of the most significant of that summer. With the departure of Antoine Griezmann, Atlético needed a player who could create and score goals. Félix, at just 19, had shown significant promise in Portugal, netting 20 times in 43 appearances for Benfica.

His technical skills with the ball and his ability to effortlessly find the back of the net made him a highly attractive choice for Atlético. But his time in Madrid hasn’t been entirely successful, and he was loaned out to Chelsea last season.

Fernández’s Record Chelsea Switch

Enzo Fernández is an Argentinian soccer player who was born in 2001. He currently plays as a midfielder for Chelsea and for the Argentina national team. He plays under jersey number five (at the time of writing), and he began his career as an academy graduate of River Plate.

After playing for just six months at Benfica, Fernández switched to Chelsea FC in 2023 – which was a surprise for many. Chelsea paid $132 million for the deal, in January, and this was a British-record transfer fee. It was a big move, and it showed Chelsea were serious about competing. The main reason behind Chelsea purchasing him was his ability to set up and score goals.

He generally plays quick, short passes, but when he plays long, he’s known for his incredible displays of accuracy. He takes a combative approach in his play, and has shown, time and time again, that he’s capable of dribbling the ball skillfully. When he’s out of possession, Fernández is proactive at disrupting attacks from the opposition, and he’s shown an uncanny ability to intercept passes.

Griezmann’s Pricey Barcelona Move

Antoine Griezmann’s $131 million move to FC Barcelona from Atlético Madrid in 2019 marked the end of a long-running transfer saga. The French World Cup winner had been a prolific scorer for Atlético, and his arrival at Camp Nou was greeted with great enthusiasm.

With an eye for goal and a penchant for big moments, Griezmann was seen as the perfect partner for Messi and Suárez. His departure from Atlético, however, was met with disappointment from the fans, who had come to idolize him during his five-year stint. Barcelona’s acquisition of Griezmann was viewed as a strategic move to rejuvenate their attacking line-up, making this transfer one of the most high-profile of its time.

In the 2022 World Cup, Griezmann played a crucial role for the French team, and while his team finished runners-up, his performance – along with that of the rest of his team – will go down in French history as one of their greatest ever.

If you’re wondering about other record-breaking transfer fees, check out the table below, where we’ll show you some other examples: