The Premier League attracts some of the biggest talents in world football, and acquiring these players doesn’t come cheap. We’re taking a look at the ten most expensive transfers in English football of all time.
10: Kepa Arrizabalaga – Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea (£72m)
Taking a look at Arrizabalaga’s trophy cabinet, you’d assume £72m was money well spent from Chelsea on a young, promising goalkeeper who later flourished to become one of the best in his position.
However, the truth is a bit more complicated than that. With four major trophies to his name at Chelsea including the Champions League, Europa League, Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup, on paper the transfer looks a success.
Kepa’s most notable moment from his time in West London so far was the 2019 Carabao Cup final, when he refused to be substituted ahead of a penalty shootout against Liverpool with Willy Caballero stripped and ready to come on.
Chelsea ended up losing the shootout as a result, and his career was never the same afterwards. Kepa has since been replaced by Edouard Mendy between the sticks, and spends most of his days sitting on the bench for Thomas Tuchel.
9: Nicolas Pepe – Lille to Arsenal (£72m)
Pepe’s time at Arsenal looks all but over following his big money move from Lille in 2019. The 29-year-old started just five Premier League games in the 2021/22 season, with Mikel Arteta preferring the likes of Emile Smith-Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard in attack.
Pepe has been unable to replicate the superb form in France that got him a move to North London, where he scored 22 goals and tallied 11 assists in his final season in Ligue 1. It appears as though it’s time for a new challenge, but finding a suitor will be a challenge.
8: Kai Havertz – Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea (£72m)
23-year-old Kai Havertz repaid every single penny of the £72m fee after scoring the winning goal in the Champions League final last season against Manchester City, and has quickly become one of the most promising young talents the Premier League has to offer.
Havertz’s start to his Chelsea career endured a few bumps in the road, but Thomas Tuchel has transformed the youngster into a dangerous false-nine centre forward who has become one of the Blues’ most important assets.
With eight goals and three assists in 22 Premier League starts last season, the sky is the limit…
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