Who Spent What? Each Premier League Clubs Record Signing
Blogs

Who Spent What? Each Premier League Clubs Record Signing

Who Spent What? Each Premier League Clubs Record Signing

The Premier League - the best league in the world. It draws players in from far and wide - for the fame and fortune, for the reputation, and for a shot at domestic and European domination in a league which has been described by foreigners as the most physical division out there.

Over the years, the Premier League has become the cream of the crop, and with that has come a huge influx of money - the Premier League itself is worth over £11 Billion. With the enormous value of the league and the clubs within it, it was an eventuality that spending would rise.

With inflation a constant background factor, and with player values sky-rocketing in recent years as a result, no record signing for any of the 20 Premier League clubs arrived before 2016/17. But miraculously, these marquee signings tend to slip and stumble rather than flourish - a fair chunk of this list consists of hugely promising talents who failed to meet fans expectations.

However, there are always exceptions to the rule, and some players justified their hefty price tag and then some. So without further preamble, here is a detailed discussion of all 20 Premier League teams record signing, and how they fared during their time in the English top flight.

AFC Bournemouth - Evanilson. Brought for £40.2 Million (24/25)

One of the more recent additions to this list, Evanilson was poached from Porto last summer after racking up 60 goals and 15 assists in four seasons at the Portuguese giants.

His move to the south coast coincided with the sizable payout Bournemouth received for finishing 12th the finishing season, their second highest finishing position in the Premier League era.

Desperate to compete with the big boys, Bournemouth purchased the talented Brazilian, and his presence in the line-up saw the Cherries soar to new heights. They finished 9th in 2024/25, equally their best ever Premier League finish, and despite injury, Evanilson finished the campaign with 12 goals, 10 of them coming in the league.

He showed he could be a defenders nightmare, with his combination of raw pace and brute strength causing problems for the very best. If he can stay fit this season, he could take his game, and his club, through their respective glass ceilings.

Arsenal - Declan Rice. Brought for £100 Million + £5 Million Add Ons (23/24)

The fifth most expensive player in Premier League history, Rice finally got his long touted move in the summer of 2023 after more than two seasons of speculation. Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United were circling, but it was Arsenal that got his signature in the end, smashing their previous transfer outlay by more than £25 million in the process.

Already an England international in his time at boyhood club West Ham, Rice’s final act at the Hammers was to help them lift the Europa Conference League, their first major European honour.

His performances in the competition earned him a place in the team of the tournament, and persuaded Arsenal to splash the cash. Neither party has looked back since - Rice has been a huge success in North London.

Across his two seasons there, he has racked up 103 games already, chipping in with 16 goals and 19 assists, with the highlight of his time there coming in last season's Champions League against Real Madrid. A brace of free kicks that no one watching will ever forget.

One of the cover stars of Premier League football, expect a similarly high standard from him heading into the new season.

Aston Villa - Amadou Onana. Brought for £50 Million (24/25)

Another who arrived within the last two years, Onana arrived at Villa Park from Everton for an eye-watering £50 million, following the Villains’ fourth placed finish and resulting Champions League qualification in 2023/24.

The Belgian, who had generally impressed at Everton, took to life in Birmingham like a duck to water, netting in three of his first five games for the club, scoring three minutes into his debut. However, injuries in November and February constantly removed him from the starting eleven, and limited him during games in which he was still in the recovery period.

However, he still appeared in 34 games last season, helping Unai Emery’s side to sixth in the League, enough to qualify for next season's Europa League. However, it appears there is trouble brewing for the claret and blues’.

Aston Villa are working very tight to the financial sustainability line, and it is looking more and more likely they will need to make a significant sale to balance the books. Despite signing less than a year ago, Onana could see himself on the move again, with Saudi club Al Hilal reportedly interested.

Brentford - Igor Thiago. Brought for £30 Million (24/25)

The first “flop” on this list, big things were expected of Igor Thiago when he arrived at the G-Tech Community Stadium last summer. Brought in to replace departed club hero Ivan Toney, the Brazilian brought a serious goal threat with him to west London.

He had netted 29 times the previous season with Club Brugge in Belgium, and 19 in the campaign before that with Bulgarian side Ludogorets; although both leagues are considered far inferior to the Premier League, a goal record like that simply cannot go under the radar forever.

However, one thing that did seem to go under the radar was how injury prone he was. He suffered a meniscus injury on his debut, a friendly win over Wimbledon in which he found the net twice.

And then once he returned, he was hit with a joint infection in his knee, with the combination of injuries sidelining him for all but all eight games. He failed to score, and while he showed quality when he did play, the opportunities were too few and far between to judge him properly. Hopefully, 2025/26 will see him return to fitness and form.

Brighton and Hove Albion - Georginio Rutter. Brought for £40 Million (24/25)

The only player to appear twice on this list, Frenchman Rutter secured a move to the Seagulls after a monumental season in the Championship with Leeds United saw him net eight times and assist 16 more.

An adaptable attacker, Rutter can play up top, out on the right, or just behind the striker, and Brighton saw his versatility as invaluable to their quest to become the so-called “best of the rest.”

Though the jump from the Championship to the Premier League is a huge one in terms of quality, Rutter held his own and, while he didn’t set the world on fire, his tally of eight goals and four assists is more than respectable for a debut season.

Now he has had a season to adjust, and this year, he will have an entire pre-season with the team, allowing him to become intimately familiar with the team and with his role in it. Still just 23 years old, this could be the year the talented attacker bursts onto the scene.

Burnley: Zeki Amdouni - Brought for £15.8 Million (2023/24)

The least valuable record transfer on this list, Zeki Amdouni arrived at Burnley in the summer of 2023 after a red hot season with Swiss club Basel. He netted 22 times in the 2022/23 season, after scoring 15 the previous campaign with fellow Swiss club Lausanne.

However, upon his arrival in England, his form dropped off a cliff, and although he was given plenty of opportunity - he played 37 games in all - he could only return six goals and a singular assist in what was a disappointing campaign.

The following season saw Burnley shift him to Benfica on a loan deal, hoping that a move elsewhere would reignite his form - and although he didn’t post the same numbers as he did back in Switzerland, he still netted nine and set up two as Benfica were pipped to the title by Sporting Lisbon.

The loan deal to Benfica contained a buyout clause of £17 million, meaning that if Benfica were to activate it, the Claret’s would receive virtually a whole return on their investment. Still, we think many at the club would rather see their record signing playing for them rather than someone else.

Chelsea: Enzo Fernandez - Brought for £106.8 Million (2022/23)

World Cup winners are some of the most valuable players on the planet, and this is something Chelsea found out the hard way when they eventually got hold of Enzo Fernandez for what was then a British record transfer fee.

The young Argentine, 21 at the time, won the World Cup alongside Lionel Messi the month previously, and his performances were so composed and mature that he was named the Young Player of the tournament.

Chelsea, wishing to build a young team that would grow together, made the jump and signed him for over £100 million from Benfica in January 2023. However, things were rocky for the Argentine, who struggled to get to grips with the intensity and physicality of the Premier League at first.

However, after receiving heavy criticism in his first season and a half, Fernandez truly came out of his shell last campaign. He posed a much bigger goal threat, netting nine (more than his previous one and a half season combined) and setting up 14 more, his creativity flowing more easily spending some time to adapt.

Fernandez has the potential to become one of the world finest midfielders, and under Enzo Maresca’s guidance, 2025/26 could be the campaign that propels him into that illustrious conversation.

Crystal Palace: Christian Benteke - Brought for £27 Million (16/17)

The oldest transfer on this list, Benteke’s move to the Eagles went through almost a decade ago now - makes us feel old! The Belgian arrived at Selhurst Park with significant pedigree; he had made his name at Aston Villa where he was regularly on the scoresheet, and although he was never Liverpool's star striker, his performances were good enough to keep his value high.

With Roberto Firmino cementing himself as the starting striker, Benteke slowly became a bit-part player at Liverpool, and Palace, sensing an opportunity, snapped him up for what is still their record signing.

However, he never again showed the confidence and ruthlessness he did at Aston Villa. 17 goals in his first season with the Eagles indicated a successful move at first, but over his next five seasons at the club he would only score 20 more.

In 2022, Palace sold him for £4.5 Million to MLS side DC United, a huge loss on their initial investment. It was simply never meant to be for Benteke at Palace, but since moving away, he has found form again, winning the MLS golden boot last season with 25 goals.

Everton: Gylfi Sigurdsson - Brought for £40 Million + £5 Million Add Ons (17/18)

Though his competitive career is effectively over after a damaging court case, there is no doubting that Sigurdsson was one of the most underrated players during his time in the Premier League. Magical spells at both Swansea City and Tottenham saw Everton break the bank and splash the cash, beating their previous record by over £12 million.

The Icelandic international, who had helped his country famously knock England out of Euro 2016, had a wand of a right foot, an eye for a belter and s superb free kick technique, and in his time at Everton, he became a certified success story.

31 goals and 25 assists across four seasons earned him fan favourite status, but in 2021, reports were made over suspicions of Sigurdsson being involved in sexual activity with a child, which led to a suspension and ultimately, the termination of his contract with Everton.

He has since been cleared of any wrong-doing, and Sigurdsson returned to his homeland, where he now represents Vikingur Reykjavik. There is no knowing how good he could have been if he had stayed at Premier League level, but Everton fans certainly miss the days stunning long distance strikes and immaculate passes.

Fulham: Emile Smith-Rowe - Brought for £27 Million + £7 Million Add Ons (24/25)

One of many Arsenal youth graduates who moved elsewhere to get regular minutes, Emile Smith-Rowe was considered a bargain for his relatively reasonable price tag when Fulham invested in him last summer.

He had failed to play regularly the previous season after the arrival of Kai Havertz from Chelsea, and Fulham, who had finished solidly mid-table in the last three seasons, were looking for some added creativity that could see them edge out their mid-table rivals.

He netted in just his second game for the club to huge cheers, and although his figures of six goals and three assists are nothing special, those stats don’t tell you the influence the young Englishman actually has on a game.

His darting runs, fabulous game awareness and pinpoint passing have become crucial to the way Fulham play, and although his end product last season left a lot to be desired, he is still just 24, plenty of time for him to make major improvements.

Leeds United: Georginio Rutter - Brought for £28 Million + £7.5 Million Add Ons (22/23)

We warned you he would be back. Before he had made his name at Leeds United, Rutter was plying his trade in Germany at TSG Hoffenheim, where was playing as an out and out striker. Though his numbers were nothing out of the ordinary, then manager Jesse Marsch saw plenty to like about the Frenchman’s link up play.

As a result, Leeds eclipsed their previous record signing by £6 million, landing a supremely talented player in the process. Though he failed to score in the five months of Premier League football he was given before relegation, the Rutter train hit top speed the next season.

As discussed, his 16 assists and eight goals were enough to secure him a move to Brighton, but they also propelled his side to the Championship play-off final. Though they would lose to Russell Martins’ Southampton, Rutter’s role in their play-off campaign was pivotal.

Now at Brighton, the Frenchman will be eager to face off against his old club, and will hope to show them their importance in his rapid development.

Liverpool: Florian Wirtz - Brought for £100 Million + £16.5 Million Add Ons (25/26)

The newest addition to the list, and the most expensive man in Premier League history, German prodigy Florian Wirtz has quite the price tag to live up to. He represents Liverpool's first ever £100 million outlay, and trumped the previous record, spent on Darwin Nunez two years ago, by over £40 million.

Wirtz played a crucial role in Bayer Leverkusen’s invincible season in 2023/24, which saw the German side, led by Liverpool icon Xabi Alonso, waltz to the Bundesliga title and DFB Pokal without suffering a single defeat.

A creative force that sits just behind the striker, Wirtz has become one of the best attacking midfielders on the planet in the last two seasons. He scored 18 times and assisted 19 as Leverkusen went undefeated, and last season added another 16 goals and 14 assists to his tally.

And at just 22 years old, there is scope for him to vastly improve. However, we all know a large price tag carries significant weight, and Wirtz has been slapped with the largest price tag around. We are sure he will find his feet. But Liverpool fans, take it easy on him if it takes him a while to get going.

Man City: Jack Grealish - Brought for £100 Million (21/22)

The most expensive English player in history, many thought Jack Grealish’s partnership with Man City was a match made in heaven. The silky winger, known for mazy runs and willingness to take on defenders, seemed to be a perfect fit for Pep Guardiola’s bold, adventurous league champions.

However, something simply didn’t work. Grealish was never a guaranteed starter, as over time, the presence of Mahrez, Foden, Sterling and Doku forced the Spanish coach into regular rotation.

Though he is generally very impressive when used, he was limited to just 20 league games this season, his lowest figure since 2015/16 with Aston Villa, when he was still breaking into the starting eleven.

But it hasn’t all been doom and gloom - he has won Premier League titles, the FA Cup, Carabao Cup, and even a Champions League, and he has accumulated 17 goals and 23 assists along the way. But across 157 games for the club, anyone financially savvy would expect more from a £100 million asset.

Man United: Paul Pogba - Brought for £89.5 Million (16/17)

Though Man United seem to spend heavily each and every summer, Paul Pogba’s return to the club eight years ago still sits as their record signing. Released for just £1.5 Million four years previously, it presented one of the worst value deals in history.

After his release from United, mercurial Frenchman Pogba shone in the midfield for Juventus, helping them to four consecutive Serie A title before the Red Devils realized the mistake they had made. Re-purchased for approximately 60 times the value they sold him for, Pogba had returned home.

He flattered to deceive in the early days, but under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the midfield general flourished, notching 16 goals and 11 assists in the Norwegians first campaign in charge. However, his form suddenly plummeted - he registered just eight goals across the next three seasons, alongside 18 assists, and astonishingly, United released him for a second time, receiving no payout.

Pogba returned to Juventus, but was a different player, notching just one assist allegations of performance enhancing drugs saw him slapped with a four year ban from football. Fortunately, the ban was cut short, and we can expect to see Pogba once again tearing it up in the Champions League this season with Monaco.

Newcastle United: Alexander Isak - Brought for £63 Million (22/23)

Arguably one of the best deals on this list, Isak was a highly rated prospect long before his move to the Magpies three years ago. A gifted dribbler and goalscorer plying his trade at Real Sociedad in Spain, Euro 2021 is when clubs started to sit up and take notice of the young Swede.

At a certain point, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal were all keeping tabs on the striker, but somehow, Newcastle were the club that caught his attention, and since his £63 million move, he has turned into one of the best strikers in the world.

62 goals in three seasons, including a personal best last campaign of 27, have seen his stock rise once more, and yet again, big clubs are circling with their wallets ready. There is a striker dilemma in the transfer market this summer, and one that Isak finds himself at the very centre of.

If Newcastle can keep a hold of him, that would be a coup in itself. But the real coup was signing him in the first place. In his short time on Tyneside, the striker has helped the Magpies qualify for the Champions League twice, and helped them on their way to winning the 2025 Carabao Cup, their first trophy in 70 years.

Nottingham Forest: Elliot Anderson - Brought for £35 Million (24/25)

Central to Nottingham Forest’s shock push for European football, Elliot Anderson proved to be excellent business for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side despite them needing to break the club record to get him.

Formerly of Newcastle, Anderson spent three seasons playing a bit-part role on Tyneside before he finally grew impatient - the move to Forest turned out to be the best move he could have possibly made. Working alongside the talented Morgan Gibbs-White, the two complimented each other superbly, and formed the spine of a very strong Nottingham team.

Though they fell short of the higher echelons of European football, Forest still qualified for the Europa Conference League, a competition which already boasts rich English history. It will be the 22-year-olds opportunity to shine on the big stage, and alongside his talented cohorts, there is no reason why he can’t propel the club to success.

Netting twice and assisting six more, Anderson was virtually ever present for his side, missing just one league game all season. That kind of longevity can only bode well for the future.

Sunderland: Enzo Le Fee - Brought for £19.3 Million (25/26)

Play-off winners Sunderland have already been given a huge boost for the new season without even kicking a ball - they secured the signature of winger/midfielder Enzo Le Fee, who spent the latter half of last season on loan, helping the Black Cats to secure Premier League football once again.

Le Fee, formerly of Roma, possesses that typical French flair, the sort that the likes of Thierry Henry and Zinedane Zidane used to bamboozle their opponents. Though miles away from the level those two used to possess, the 25-year-old showed last season that he certainly had a future in English football.

Three goals and one assist may not sound like impressive numbers - but similar to Smith Rowe earlier in the list, those figures don’t represent how he can boss the game. The Frenchman can dictate play from deep, clip passes over the top, and also boasts the skill and pace required to beat a defender one on one.

All of those traits will be mighty useful when Sunderland step back onto a Premier League pitch for the first time since 2017. Promoted sides have seriously struggled in recent seasons, so perhaps Sunderland simply need some “Je ne sais quoi” to fare better.

Tottenham: Dominic Solanke - Brought for £65 Million (24/25)

After a long career of trying, and mostly failing, to become a starting Premier League striker, Dominic Solanke finally got the move his hard work deserved last summer, when Spurs splashed £65 million on the striker.

Having previously played for both Chelsea and Liverpool, and failing to displace his competition, Solanke moved to Bournemouth, where his fortunes slowly started to turn around. He netted just four goals in his first two seasons, but bagged 73 in the following four, as he suddenly found himself in the discussions of who is the Premier League superior marksman.

That long awaited big move finally arrived last summer when Ange Postecoglou took the plunge, and though in terms of domestic football the campaign was an utter failure, Solanke’s debut campaign at Spurs can be classed as a success.

16 goals and eight assists across all competitions showed what the tall Englishman was all about, and as the figurehead of the Tottenham attack, he netted five Europa League goals as his side lifted their first trophy in 16 years.

West Ham United: Sebastien Haller - Brought for £45 Million (19/20)

Not typically known for targeting high value targets, West Ham broke tradition in 2020 when they bagged the signature of Eintracht Frankfurt striker Sebastien Haller, who had scored 20 goals and added 12 assists as the German side won the 2019 Europa League.

The then Frenchman, now Ivorian, known for his ability in the air and technical ability, seemed to be the perfect targetman for the Hammers, who despite having Mikhail Antonio in their ranks, were looking for something more, something exotic.

Things started well - Haller netted twice in his second game for the club, and bagged a stunning scissor kick against Crystal Palace in December 2020 - but that would be the most they got out of him Scoring seven in his debut campaign, he would score the same number the next season before West Ham allowed him to leave for Ajax in January 2021.

A strong resurgence at Ajax followed, earning him a move to Borussia Dortmund, but two weeks after the move, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. After successful surgery and a cancer free diagnosis, Haller returned, and helped Dortmund reach a Champions League final in 2024. Talk about a comeback story!

Wolves: Matheus Cunha - Brought for £44 Million (22/23)

Though he may have just departed for Manchester United, raking in £62.5 Million in the process, Matheus Cunha’s arrival at Wolves cannot be forgotten. Firstly, the form he showed, particularly last season, was outstanding: 15 goals and six assists in the league alone are the number of a certified top five player.

But the manner in which he arrived will be hard to forget too. On loan from Atletico Madrid for the latter part of the 2022/23 season, Cunha’s permanent arrival at Wolves was instigated by a bizarre clause hidden away in the loan agreement: if he plays three games for you, he’s all yours.

Clearly he was a disposable asset for Diego Simeone, but Madrid’s loss was Wolves’ gain, and Cunha cemented himself as a fan favourite soon after his permanent move. 33 goals and 15 assists in all, with most of them stirring dramatic memories, he will be missed at Molineux.

However, he will leave a lasting legacy - the £62.5 million fee Wolves received was their record departure, and will help the club fund their summer transfer business as they look to expand the gap between themselves and the relegation zone.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist
Harry Pascoe

Lead Writer

You May Also Like
See more
Who is Keith Andrews? The Surprise Choice to Take Over at Brentford

Who is Keith Andrews? The Surprise Choice to Take Over at Brentford

What Does Cole Palmer’s Celebration Mean?

What Does Cole Palmer’s Celebration Mean?

Thomas Frank isn't the Answer - This Manager is

Thomas Frank isn't the Answer - This Manager is

Videos
See more
From Non-League to the AFCON Final - The Story of Kwesi Appiah
Listen to our full podcast with Kwesi Appiah as he discusses his sensational rise from non-league all the way to starting in the AFCON final.
Is it time for Luton Town to make THE DECISION?!
Watch out latest edition of EFL Hot Takes as the lads give their opinion on the Rob Edwards situation at Luton Town.
WHO is in our Championship TEAM OF THE SEASON so far?!
Find out how we would put in our Championship Team of the Season so far on YouTube as we approach the busy period.
Latest In Blogs
See more
How Many Times Have England Won The Euros

How Many Times Have England Won The Euros

Historical Information

Brentford 2025/26 Season Preview

Brentford 2025/26 Season Preview

Season Preview

Aston Villa 2025/26 Season Preview

Aston Villa 2025/26 Season Preview

Season Preview

Join our newsletter

Become a part of our community and never miss an update from Football Park.