World Football: Looking at the Top 15 Most Expensive Transfers of All Time

James WillisAnalyst IApril 11, 2011

World Football: Looking at the Top 15 Most Expensive Transfers of All Time

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    LYON, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 22:  Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid prior to the Champions League match between Lyon and Real Madrid at Stade Gerland on February 22, 2011 in Lyon, France.  (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images)
    Scott Heavey/Getty Images

    Ask anyone what is wrong with modern day football and the most common answer will be money. Not only the huge wages that players receive but also the phenomenal transfer fees that some players move for.

    With the summer transfer window rapidly approaching, it is widely expected that there will be a number of new additions onto this list of the most expensive transfers ever.

    Many player's transfer fees can sometimes be higher depending on certain novelties. For example, within England, young players with huge potential are rare enough to attract significant fees that far outweigh the player's true value.

    So with that in mind, here's a look at the success (and failures) of the 15 most expensive transfers in football history.

15. Pavel Nedved

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    TURIN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 11: Pavel Nedved of Juventus celebrates after scoring the first goal during the Serie B match between Juventus and Pescara at the Delle Alpi Stadium on November 11, 2006 in Turin, Italy.  (Photo by Newpress/Getty Images)
    New Press/Getty Images

    From: Lazio

    To: Juventus

    Fee: £30.7 million

    Year: 2001

    Inflation Adjusted Fee: £38 million

    Success: To fill the boots of Zinedine Zidane is never going to be easy for anyone, but the Czech legend Pavel Nedved gave it his best shot, and proved that he was a wise purchase by the Turin club.

    He won a number of Serie A titles with the club and helped the team to the 2003 Champions League Final against AC Milan.

14. Dimitar Berbatov

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    MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 16:  Dimitar Berbatov of Manchester United controls the ball during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford on October 16, 2010 in Manchester, England.  (Photo by A
    Alex Livesey/Getty Images

    From: Tottenham Hotspur

    To: Manchester United

    Fee: £30.75 million

    Year: 2008

    Inflation Adjusted Fee: £31 million

    Success: A late transfer in the 2008 Summer transfer window, Dimitar Berbatov took a little time to settle in at Manchester United. Ever after he had, there was little shown that put him ahead of any of the club's other strikers.

    In the 2010-2011 season though, Berbatov finally hit his stride and he currently stands as the leading scorer in the Premier League, making the high fee worthwhile.

13. Andriy Shevchenko

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    LONDON - DECEMBER 19:  Andriy Shevchenko of Chelsea shoots at goal during the Carling Cup Quarter Final match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on December 19, 2007 in London, England.  (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
    Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

    From: AC Milan

    To: Chelsea

    Fee: £30.8 million

    Year: 2006

    Inflation Adjusted Fee: £33 million

    Success: Arguably one of the biggest transfer flops of recent times, Andriy Shevchenko was a Champions League winning striker, who had been regularly competing for the Ballon d'Or at AC Milan.

    After joining Chelsea, he scored a few goals here and there but never looked the same player again. Eventually he returned to his old club Dynamo Kyiv as a disappointment in the Premier League.

12 Christian Vieri

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    MILAN - FEBRUARY 26:  Christian Vieri of Inter Milan during the UEFA Champions League Second Phase Group A match between Inter Milan and Barcelona held on February 26, 2003 at the San Siro, in Milan, Italy. The match ended in a 0-0 draw. (Photo by Phil Co
    Phil Cole/Getty Images

    From: Lazio

    To: Inter Milan

    Fee: £32 million

    Year: 1999

    Inflation Adjusted Fee: £41 milllion

    Success: For such a significant fee, it was always going to be hard for Christian Vieri to prove his value was that high at Inter, although he did a good job of coming close.

    He won the Supercoppa Italiana and Coppa Italia with the club and hit 103 goals in 143 appearances, making him a very valuable player during his six years at the club.

11. Robinho

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    MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28: Robinho of Manchester City shouts after missing a golden chance on goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Hull City at the City of Manchester Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Manchester,
    Jed Leicester/Getty Images

    From: Real Madrid

    To: Manchester City

    Fee: £32.5 million

    Year: 2008

    Inflation Adjusted Fee: £33 million

    Success: Robinho had his moments of magic at Manchester City, but the general consensus amongst most fans is that he was a bit of a flop for the Premier League rich boys.

    Just six months into his injury plagued second season at the club, Robinho moved away on loan back to Santos, before securing a permanent move away to Milan that summer.

10. Gianluigi Buffon

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    TURIN, ITALY - MARCH 05:  Gianluigi Buffon of Juventus FC issues instructions during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and AC Milan at Olimpico Stadium on March 5, 2011 in Turin, Italy.  (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
    Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

    From: Parma

    To: Juventus

    Fee: £32.6 million

    Year: 2001

    Inflation Adjusted Fee: £40 million

    Success: It's always difficult for goalkeeper's when they're valued so highly, as they have so much pressure resting on their shoulders during a game.

    If anyone could cope with that though, it has been Gianluigi Buffon, who has been a rock at the back for Juventus through thick and thin for 10 years, making him a very successful purchase.

9. David Villa

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    BARCELONA, SPAIN - MARCH 19:  David Villa of Barcelona looks on during the La Liga match between Barcelona and Getafe at Camp Nou on March 19, 2011 in Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona won 2-1.  (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)
    Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

    From: Valencia

    To: Barcelona

    Fee: £34.2 million

    Year: 2010

    Inflation Adjusted Fee: £34.2 million

    Success: He's only been at Barcelona for just under one season, but it's evident already that David Villa was quite a smart buy for the club.

    Villa has been a regular starter for a Barcelona side that many have called the best the world has ever seen, scoring over at a rate of over 0.5 goals per game for the Catalan giants.

8. Andy Carroll

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    LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 17:  Andy Carroll of Liverpool looks dejected during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 second leg match between Liverpool and SC Braga at Anfield on March 17, 2011 in Liverpool, England.  (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
    Michael Regan/Getty Images

    From: Newcastle United

    To: Liverpool

    Fee: £35 million

    Year: 2011

    Inflation Adjusted Fee: £35 million

    Success: It was widely known that even at the time of the transfer, £35 million was a shockingly big fee for such an unproven player.

    His potential is very high, and his few performances since coming back from injury have also been positive, but it seems very unlikely that he will prove to be worth the amount paid for him.

7. Hernan Crespo

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    25 Oct 2000:  Hernan Crespo of Lazio in action during the UEFA Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk played at the Stadio Olimpico, in Rome, Italy. Lazio won the match 5-1. \ Mandatory Credit: Stuart Franklin /Allsport
    Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

    From: Parma

    To: Lazio

    Fee: £35.5 million

    Year: 2000

    Inflation Adjusted Fee: £45 million

    Success: Personally, Hernan Crespo's stint with Lazio was successful, with him scoring most of the club's goals in all competitions and being on fine form throughout his two years at the club.

    However, his only trophy with the team was the Supercoppa Italiana, and after hitting injury in his second season, he eventually moved on to Inter Milan two years after signing for Lazio.

6. Luis Figo

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    MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 28:  Luis Figo of Real Madrid celebrates after scorig during the UEFA Champions League Group B match between Real Madrid and Roma at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on September 28, 2004 in Madrid, Spain.  (Photo by Shaun Botterill
    Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

    From: Barcelona

    To: Real Madrid

    Fee: £37 million

    Year: 2000

    Inflation Adjusted Fee: £46 million

    Success: Quite possibly the most controversial transfer on this list, Figo moved between the two major Spanish rivals for a record fee in 2000.

    Figo had a successful time in Madrid however, as a key part of the famous Galactico's era in which he won two La Liga titles, one Champions League, two Supercopa de Espana titles, one UEFA Super Cup and one Intercontinental cup.

5. Zinedine Zidane

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    CARSON, CA - JULY 18:  Zinedine Zidane #5 of the Real Madrid dribbles against the defense of the Los Angeles Galaxy during the game at the Home Depot Center on July 18, 2005 in Carson, California.  (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
    Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

    From: Juventus

    To: Real Madrid

    Fee: £45.7 million

    Year: 2001

    Inflation Adjusted Fee: £55 million

    Success: Like Figo, Zidane was signed as part of the Galactico's era at Real Madrid and helped form one of the fiercest midfields the world has seen.

    The famous French midfielder had some of the best years of his career at Real Madrid winning numerous trophies and adding to his already strong legacy as one of the finest French midfielders in history.

4. Fernando Torres

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    LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 16:  Fernando Torres of Chelsea in action during the UEFA Champions League round of sixteen second leg match between Chelsea and FC Copenhagen at Stamford Bridge on March 16, 2011 in London, England.  (Photo by Shaun Botteri
    Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

    From: Liverpool

    To: Chelsea

    Fee: £50 million

    Year: 2011

    Inflation Adjusted Fee: £50 million

    Success: It's hard to judge as Torres has only been at Chelsea since the end of January, but from performances so far, fans have dubbed him the £50 million statue.

    When he's on top form, Torres is known as one of the best strikers in the world, but so far he has done very little to back that up, and he could prove to be one of the most expensive transfer flops in history.

3. Kaka

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    MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 20:  Kaka of Real Madrid reacts during the quarter-final Copa del Rey second leg match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid and at Vicente Calderon Stadium on January 20, 2011 in Madrid, Spain.  (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Ima
    Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

    From: AC Milan

    To: Real Madrid

    Fee: £55 million

    Year: 2009

    Inflation Adjusted Fee: £56 million

    Success: Signed by Real Madrid in an attempt to reignite a second Galactico's era, Kaka was expected to be a huge boost to Real Madrid.

    It's no secret that his best years were at AC Milan, and while Kaka may have put some strong performances in for Madrid, it's hard to see where the valuation of £55 million came from.

2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

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    BARCELONA, SPAIN - MARCH 24:  Zlatan Ibrahimovic of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring during the La Liga match between Barcelona and Osasuna at the Camp Nou Stadium on March 24, 2010 in Barcelona, Spain.  (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Imag
    Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

    From: Inter Milan

    To: Barcelona

    Fee: £56.5 million

    Year: 2009

    Inflation Adjusted Fee: £57 million

    Success: Maybe one to rival Fernando Torres transfer to Chelsea, Ibrahimovic was not quite as successful at Barcelona as people would have hoped for.

    While still contracted to the club officially, he is now on loan at Milan, where he has found his best form again. He might well have another chance to prove himself in Barcelona, but in all likelihood he'll be offloaded permanently in the summer.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo

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    MADRID, SPAIN - JULY 06:  New Real Madrid player Cristiano Ronaldo is presented to a full house at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on July 6, 2009 in Madrid, Spain.  (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
    Denis Doyle/Getty Images

    From: Manchester United

    To: Real Madrid

    Fee: £80 million

    Year: 2009

    Inflation Adjusted Fee: £81 million

    Success: The biggest transfer fee in the history of football, regardless of talent and performances, transfer fees quite so high can never truly be justified.

    Ronaldo has very much picked up at Madrid where he left off with Manchester United, in fact creating an even better scoring record for himself in Spain. A lack of trophies can only come down to Barcelona's dominance in Spanish football, but regardless of his top form, Ronaldo should never have been worth the huge £80 million paid for him.

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