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Top 10 most expensive transfers of all time ranked as Moises Caicedo enters list

Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo has ended a summer of speculation by sealing his switch to Chelsea from Brighton for a new British record transfer fee of £115m

At just 21, the Ecuadorian midfielder has already entered the record books following his £115m move from Brighton to Chelsea. Opting to head to Stamford Bridge after turning down Liverpool, it means the man who only a year ago was playing on loan at Belgian side Beerschot now holds the British transfer record.

And the fee involved also catapults him into the list of the top 10 most expensive footballers of all time, bumping Paul Pogba down to No.11. Now the question remains as to whether Chelsea’s new star will live up to the billing having been instrumental in Brighton qualifying for Europe last season.

Mirror Football has reflected on the 10 most expensive transfers of all time prior to Caicedo’s move. And we rank those who were worth the money, along with those who definitely weren’t….

Moises Caicedo explains £115m Chelsea transfer after snubbing Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp

1: Neymar £198m (Barcelona to PSG, 2017)
Six years on from the transfer that shook for the world, Neymar leaves for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia without a Ballon D’or to his name or a Champions League title with the Parisians.

There was 118 club goals, numerous moments of brilliance, five Ligue 1 titles and three Coupe de France wins – but the man charged with elevating PSG to the European glory they craved ultimately fell short of his task. It’s a brutal standard to hold him to, but then £198m is brutal money.

2: Kylian Mbappe £163m (Monaco to PSG, 2018)
A total of 212 goals in 260 games is a staggering ratio regardless of the domestic dominance of the team you’re in.

Mbappe’s star has undoubtedly shone brighter since he made his own move to Paris, but like Neymar, you sense that if there is no Champions League winners medal in their grasp by the time he inevitably heads to Real Madrid, the jigsaw will remain incomplete. On the field, Mbappe has been worth the money, but the current power struggles and transfer sagas off it could yet see him walk away a villain.

3: Philippe Coutinho £138m (Liverpool to Barcelona, 2018)
Philippe Coutinho winning three league titles and a Champions League after leaving Liverpool suggests a man who lit up the Nou Camp alongside Lionel Messi and co.

In truth, he spent one-and-a-half underwhelming years in Spain before tasting European glory on loan at Bayern Munich, returned to Barca but failed to hold down a first team place, and was eventually shipped off to Aston Villa for £17million. The Brazilian who wowed so regularly in red may argue the medals were worth the move – but that would mask the reality of a precocious talent who saw his career stall.

4: Ousmane Dembele £127m (Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona, 2017)
If a loss of form plagued Coutinho at Barcelona, then it was injury woes that did for Ousmane Dembele.

The amount of add-ons that came with the initial fee for the Frenchman underlined how the Spanish giants saw him as a star of the future, but during his six years in LaLiga, only once did he hit the 30-game mark in a league season.

He’s now joined PSG on a £43m deal, and like Coutinho, has represented a huge net loss for the Spanish giants. At 26, Dembele still has time to prove his place among the elite, as he often did in flashes in Spain, but steering clear of the treatment table will be critical.

5: Jude Bellingham £115m (Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid, 2023)
In this era of a madly inflated market, an initial £88.5m fee potentially rising to £115m represents a good price for a player with the limitless potential of Bellingham.

The early signs are good, with the England star impressing – and scoring – on his LaLiga debut at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday. To say there is a long way to go for him at the Bernabau would be a ludicrous understatement, but this is one extortionate deal that may just end up being worth every penny for Real.

6: Joao Felix £106m (Benfica to Atletico Madrid, 2019)
The 2023/24 campaign could be a defining one in the career of potentially mercurial Joao Felix.

He was 19 when he joined Atletico in a deal that made him the second most expensive teenager in history, behind Mbappe. Injury issues hampered his first two seasons before his apparent breakthrough, winning the club’s player of the year award in 2021/22. But a subsequent fallout with Diego Simeone saw him sent to Chelsea on loan last January.

The Blues have opted not to pursue a permanent move, with Felix now fighting to get back in favour under Simeone. In order to justify the fee, he needs to.

7: Enzo Fernandez £104m (Benfica to Chelsea, 2023)
One performance doesn’t make a player, especially one that cost £104 million.

But the display of Enzo Fernandez against Liverpool on Sunday was enough to excite fans that Mauricio Pochettino has the playmaker he needs to bring success back to Stamford Bridge. And the 2022 World Cup winner will soon be complimented in the middle by having Caicedo alongside him, a partnership which oozes promise.

Fernandez has shown enough to suggest he can be a long-term Premier League star. And just as well, he’s tied down to Chelsea for eight-and-a-half-years after all.

8: Antoine Griezmann £103m (Atletico Madrid to Barcelona, 2019)
There are two schools of thought over Antoine Griezmann’s spell at Barcelona.

Some viewed him as a flop whose fee unnecessarily contributed to Barca’s current financial woes before he was sent packing back to Atletico. Others argued that often deployed out of position, his displays merited far more credit that the merciless Spanish media were prepared to give him.

Griezmann is now back at Atletico for a relatively paltry £17m fee. Regardless of mitigating factors, it was stint that represented another financial disaster for Barca. There’s a theme developing here.

9: Jack Grealish £100m (Aston Villa to Manchester City, 2021)
If we were rating this move 12 months ago, the analysis would have fallen short of complimentary.

Fast forward a year, and the player who underwhelmed in his first season at the Etihad has since played a pivotal role in their 2022/23 treble. Work rate, creativity, threat – the 27-year-old now looks the player that Guardiola envisaged him being when he sanctioned the eye-watering fee to get him from Aston Villa.

The challenge for Grealish now, is to maintain standards. Should he do so, the extortionate fee will soon be forgotten.

10: Romelu Lukaku £97m (Inter Milan to Chelsea, 2021)
He scored just eight Premier League goals in his first season, was sent back to Inter Milan on loan as Chelsea played a season without a recognised striker, and then the Blues rejected the chance to have him back.

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Top 10 Highest-Paid African Footballers In 2025: Mahrez, Mane & Koulibaly Lead The Rich List

Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane, and Kalidou Koulibaly — the top three highest-paid African footballers in 2025.

African footballers have never been more dominant—on and off the pitch. The year 2025 shows just how powerful the combination of Saudi Pro League riches and Europe’s financial giants has become, pushing African stars into the upper tier of world football’s earners.

According to official contract figures, Riyad Mahrez currently wears the crown as the highest-paid African footballer in the world, pocketing a staggering £827,448 per week at Al-Ahli.

Mahrez Leads With Record Salary

The 34-year-old Algerian winger joined Al-Ahli in July 2023, becoming one of the marquee faces of Saudi Arabia’s football revolution. Despite being in the twilight of his career, Mahrez remains hugely influential, contributing 29 goals and 35 assists in 78 appearances.

His paycheck—close to £1 million a week—places him far ahead of his peers and cements his status as Africa’s top financial earner in football history.
James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images

Sadio Mane & Kalidou Koulibaly Not Far Behind

  • Sadio Mane sits second on the list, raking in £634,060 per week at Al-Nassr, where he lines up alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. After a mixed stint at Bayern Munich, Mane has rediscovered his form and fortune in Saudi Arabia.

  • Kalidou Koulibaly, also from Senegal, takes home £550,047 weekly at Al-Hilal after swapping Chelsea for Riyadh in 2023. The veteran defender’s leadership has been key in keeping Al-Hilal at the top of the Pro League.
    Sadio Mane: Bayern Munich set to table £42.5m bid to meet ...

Salah Still Europe’s Top Earner

Among African players still in Europe, Mohamed Salah reigns supreme. The Egyptian King earns £350,000 per week at Liverpool, having signed a fresh extension in April 2025. His loyalty was rewarded not just with financial security but also with another Premier League title in 2024/25, keeping him as one of the continent’s most influential athletes.
Mohamed Salah is staying at Liverpool after contract ...

Osimhen, Hakimi & Kessie Break Into The Top Ten

  • Victor Osimhen – Following a successful loan, the Nigerian forward sealed a permanent move to Galatasaray in July 2025, earning £250,000 per week.

  • Achraf Hakimi – The Moroccan right-back continues to shine at PSG, with wages of £230,639 weekly.

  • Franck Kessie – Since leaving Barcelona for Al-Ahli in 2023, the Ivorian midfielder has been collecting £221,921 per week.
    Victor Osimhen Breaks Silence on Man Utd, PSG Transfer Rumors

The Veterans: Inaki Williams & Edouard Mendy

  • Inaki Williams, loyal to Athletic Bilbao, earns £180,707 weekly, making him one of La Liga’s highest-paid African stars.

  • Edouard Mendy, meanwhile, thrives at Al-Ahli with 32 clean sheets in 74 games and wages of £174,366 per week.
    Inaki Williams: If Barcelona were to call me? Athletic Club is above everything | Goal.com Nigeria

Top 10 Highest-Paid African Footballers Weekly Salaries (2025)

  1. Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli) – £827,448

  2. Sadio Mane (Al-Nassr) – £634,060

  3. Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal) – £550,047

  4. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – £350,000

  5. Omar Marmoush (Man City) – £295,000

  6. Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray) – £250,000

  7. Achraf Hakimi (PSG) – £230,639

  8. Franck Kessie (Al-Ahli) – £221,921

  9. Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – £180,707

  10. Edouard Mendy (Al-Ahli) – £174,366

The Rise Of African Power Earners

The financial dominance of Saudi clubs on this list reflects a broader shift in world football. African stars are no longer just global icons on the pitch—they are among the highest-paid athletes in the world.

From Mahrez’s record-breaking wages in Riyadh to Salah’s enduring empire at Anfield, 2025 has cemented the fact that African footballers are thriving both in influence and financial power.

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Inside David Beckham’s £111m Mansions And Manors As Victoria Opens Doors To Netflix Cameras

David and Victoria Beckham walking through their Cotswolds estate during Netflix documentary filming.

When it comes to football royalty, few names shine brighter than David Beckham. From Manchester United to Real Madrid and LA Galaxy, Beckham has conquered the football world. But off the pitch, he and his wife Victoria Beckham have built a lifestyle empire that’s now opening up to Netflix cameras once again.

Fans are being treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the Beckhams’ £111 million property portfolio, spread across the UK, Miami, and London. The three-part series starring Victoria Beckham takes viewers beyond the glamour of red carpets and fashion runways, right into the couple’s stunning homes.

A Rustic Retreat In The Cotswolds

The Beckhams’ Grade II-listed farmhouse in the Cotswolds is pure countryside luxury. Purchased in 2016 for £6.15m, the sprawling estate features chandeliers, fireplaces, and a giant orchard. It’s the perfect escape for family gatherings, and yes, cameras capture David casually cooking up family feasts in their giant kitchen.

Miami Mega-Mansion Worth £55m

Across the pond, the Beckhams own one of Florida’s most spectacular properties: a waterfront mansion in Miami, valued at £55m. With six bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a private spa, a theatre, and a pool overlooking Biscayne Bay, it’s their most extravagant purchase yet.

Victoria speaks to viewers from this property’s floor-to-ceiling windowed living room, giving fans a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean. No surprise, considering David’s heavy involvement with Inter Miami CF – the MLS club that famously brought Lionel Messi to the U.S.

London Luxury In Holland Park

Back in the English capital, the Beckhams’ Holland Park townhouse shines in Victoria’s documentary. The £31.5m property features a bay-windowed dining area with garden views, alongside luxury add-ons like a gym, spa, wine cellar, and even a nail salon. After investing a further £8m in renovations, this home epitomizes celebrity living in London.

More Than Just Mansions

The Netflix documentary doesn’t just highlight luxury; it shows the Beckhams’ balance of family, fame, and legacy. For David, who already has a football-focused Netflix feature under his belt, and Victoria, now stepping into the spotlight with her own series, it’s about more than just homes—it’s about letting fans into their world.

From football legend to lifestyle mogul, David Beckham’s story continues to evolve, and the mansions are simply part of the bigger picture.

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Cristiano Ronaldo Becomes Football’s First Billionaire Player

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrating in an Al-Nassr jersey after becoming football’s first billionaire player with a $1.4bn net worth.

Cristiano Ronaldo has once again broken records — this time not on the pitch, but in the world of wealth. According to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index, the 40-year-old Portugal and Al-Nassr forward has officially become football’s first billionaire player, with an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion (£1.04bn).

A Journey Of Goals And Gold

Bloomberg’s valuation takes into account Ronaldo’s career earnings, endorsements, and investments. The numbers are mind-blowing:

  • $550m (£410m) in salary between 2002 and 2023.

  • A decade-long Nike deal worth nearly $18m (£13.4m) a year.

  • His mega Saudi Pro League contract with Al-Nassr, reportedly paying him a record £177m annually.

And if that wasn’t enough, Ronaldo signed a new two-year deal worth over $400m (£298m), keeping him at Al-Nassr beyond his 42nd birthday.

Messi vs Ronaldo: The Financial Rivalry

As always, Lionel Messi isn’t far from the conversation. The Argentine and Inter Miami star has earned over $600m (£447m) in pre-tax salary during his illustrious career. He also secures $20m (£15m) annually since 2023, which, according to Bloomberg, is just about 10% of Ronaldo’s income in the same period.

Messi may not top Ronaldo’s financial status yet, but his retirement plan includes a stake in Inter Miami, setting him up for billionaire territory too.

More Than Just A Player

Ronaldo’s financial empire is built on more than football. With savvy investments, endorsement deals, and a global brand that stretches across fashion, fitness, and lifestyle, CR7 has transformed himself into a global sports business icon.

The billionaire milestone proves what fans already knew: Cristiano Ronaldo is not just a football legend — he’s an empire.

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