How the cost of the world's most expensive player in each position has changed since 2000
It’s still incredible to think that a player exchanged football clubs for a fee of €222 million.
Neymar’s stunning move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 was a reminder that football operates in its own stratosphere.
Transfer fees will continue to rise as television and sponsorship deals give clubs more money to spend.
In 2000, the most-expensive transfer fee in history was Luis Figo, who left Barcelona for rivals Real Madrid for €60m.
Now, 20 years on, the record fee is more than €200m. Crazy.
We’ve decided to take a look to see how the record fee has changed in every position over the past 20 years.
There’s an increase of €182m in one position…
All figures are taken from Transfermarkt.com.
Goalkeeper:
2000: €19m - Angelo Peruzzi (Juventus to Inter Milan, 1999)
2020: €80m - Kepa Arrizabalaga (Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea, 2018)
Increase: €61m
Right-back:
2000: €10.7m - Lauren (Real Mallorca to Arsenal, 2000)
2020: €65m - Joao Cancelo (Juventus to Manchester City, 2019)
Increase: €54.3m
Centre-back:
2000: €26m - Rio Ferdinand (West Ham United to Leeds United, 2000)
2020: €87m - Harry Maguire (Leicester City to Manchester United, 2019)
Increase: €61m
Left-back:
2000: €10.5m - Graeme Le Saux (Blackburn Rovers to Chelsea, 1997)
2020: €57.5m - Benjamin Mendy (Monaco to Manchester City, 2017)
Increase: €47m
Defensive midfield:
2000: €18m - Emerson (Bayer Leverkusen to Roma, 2000)
2020: €70m - Rodri (Atletico Madrid to Manchester City, 2019)
Increase: €52m
Right midfield:
2000: €12m - Ibrahim Ba (Bordeaux to AC Milan, 1997)
2020: €48m - Gaizka Mendieta (Valencia to Lazio, 2001)
Increase: €36m
Central midfield:
2000: €30m - Juan Sebastian Veron (Parma to Lazio, 1999)
2020: €105m - Paul Pogba (Juventus to Manchester United, 2016)
Increase: €75m
Left midfield:
2000: €12.6m - Jörg Heinrich (Borussia Dortmund to Fiorentina, 1998)
2020: €38.7m - Pavel Nedved (Lazio to Juventus, 2001)
Increase: €26.1m
Attacking midfield:
2000: €23.5m - Rivaldo (Deportivo La Coruna to Barcelona, 1997)
2020: €145m - Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool to Barcelona, 2018)
Increase: €121.5m
Right winger:
2000: €60m - Luis Figo (Barcelona to Real Madrid, 2000)
2020: €125m - Ousmane Dembele (Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona, 2017)
Increase: €65m
Left winger:
2000: €40m - Marc Overmars (Arsenal to Barcelona, 2000)
2020: €222m - Neymar (Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain, 2017)
Increase: €182m
Centre-forward:
2000: €56.81m - Hernan Crespo (Parma to Lazio, 2000)
2020: €145m - Kylian Mbappe (Monaco to Paris Saint-Germain, 2018)
Increase: €88.19m
Interesting, huh?
The lowest increases come in the right and left midfield positions, although they are less common these days with the fall of the 4-4-2 formation.
The advanced positions were the most expensive 20 years ago and that hasn’t changed.
In fact, the biggest increases come in the attacking positions, with the most-expensive left winger today costing €182m more than in 2000.
Transfer fees have gone beyond the point of ridiculous and at this point, it seems to be a question of just how high they will go.
- The top 50 teenagers in the world right now
- 10 incredible CL records that won't be broken
- Neymar's unreal corner vs Toulouse
