Florian Wirtz to Liverpool: The most expensive transfers at every age, from 11 to 40

Florian Wirtz is about to make historical past; in a matter of days or even weeks – relying on how lengthy the formalities take – the Bayer Leverkusen man will transfer to Liverpool for an astronomical £127.6m.

In doing so, Wirtz will change into the third-most costly participant of all time, set a brand new report for a switch involving a British membership, and likewise change into the costliest 22-year-old within the historical past of the sport.

The latter class is especially area of interest, however it bought us considering, and right here, Sports activities Mole offers an exhaustive listing of the costliest transfers for each age, utilizing figures from Transfermarkt.

* Trade charges right as of June 12, 2025

Underneath 12 – Rodri (£ 1.3m)

What had been we doing at 11 years previous? Actually not transferring to Atletico Madrid for £1.3m, which was precisely what Rodri did in 2007 – appears solely becoming that the costliest non-teenage participant of all time went on to win the Ballon d’Or almost twenty years later.

Shifting up the age ranks, a 13-year-old Arda Guler commanded a £2.1m price when he joined Fenerbahce from Genclerbirligi SK in February 2019, an indication of his immense potential forward of a marquee transfer to Actual Madrid.

Liverpool took an an identical punt on a 14-year-old Sheyi Ojo in 2011, however the former MK Dons starlet did not make the grade at Anfield and now represents Slovenian giants Maribor.

When one thinks of a fledgling participant change from Barcelona to Arsenal, Cesc Fabregas will often be the primary identify that springs to thoughts, however a 15-year-old Fran Merida made the identical transfer for £2.7m.

Gooners will at all times keep in mind the Spaniard’s rocket towards Liverpool within the EFL Cup, however he didn’t hit the heights anticipated of him and retired in 2024 aged 34.

16 – Pedri (£ 19.6m)

Nonetheless within the fledgling levels of his profession, Pedri got here with a £19.6m price ticket when he joined Barcelona from Las Palmas, and La Blaugrana have gotten what they paid for – he’s now considered one of many classiest midfielders in Europe.

Earlier than his brother Jobe Bellingham adopted the identical path, 17-year-old Jude Bellingham left Birmingham Metropolis for Borussia Dortmund for a whopping £25.7m in 2020, cash extraordinarily properly spent by the German giants as they bought him to Actual Madrid for a big revenue three years down the road.

Dethroning Endrick as the costliest 18-year-old on the planet, Leny Yoro set Manchester United again £52.8m in 2024, and the Frenchman has proven glimpses of his promising potential up to now.

A switch and a expertise that wants no introduction, £153.2m man Kylian Mbappe stays the second-most costly participant within the historical past of the sport.

Paris Saint-Germain’s mammoth outlay noticed them rewarded with a club-record 256 targets from the World Cup winner, however solely when he left did Les Parisiens lastly conquer the Champions League.

Lots of the golf equipment to drag off the above offers bought what they paid for; Barcelona didn’t once they forked out £114.9m for a 20-year-old Ousmane Dembele, however the attacker has now entered Ballon d’Or territory since leaving for PSG.

After memorably turning down Liverpool’s advances, a 21-year-old Moises Caicedo price Chelsea a staggering £98.7m, and the Ecuadorian began to justify his price ticket in 2024-25 after a troublesome opening marketing campaign.

The second member of the £200m double pivot, Enzo Fernandez briefly turned the Premier League’s report arrival at age 22, though he’ll imminently be overtaken by Liverpool’s shiny new toy.

A dealing that made Juventus’ cash males very pleased certainly, Paul Pogba left Man United at no cost, returned for £89.4m after which left at no cost once more – a penny for the Glazers’ ideas every time his identify is talked about.

“We bought him half worth” is a good evaluation of Declan Rice’s large time at Arsenal up to now, even when the England worldwide is but to attain Premier League or Champions League stardom on the Emirates.

25 – Neymar (£ 188.9m)

Neymar’s unprecedented £188.9m transfer to PSG from Barcelona in 2017 is but to be overtaken, however this present day of mega-money Saudi transfers, the primary £200m transaction is probably not that far-off.

Harry Maguire’s worldwide exploits alone could also be price £74m – the Man United man very not often lets England down – however ups and downs have been the theme of his turbulent Outdated Trafford profession.

Arguably one of many discount signings on this listing, Luis Suarez price Barcelona £69.5m to signal from Liverpool in 2014 and greater than paid the Blaugrana again with 195 targets, one Champions League and 4 La Liga crowns.

The furthest factor from a discount signing, Eden Hazard will perpetually be remembered for the flawed causes by Actual Madrid supporters, who witnessed the Belgian rating simply seven targets in 76 video games after his £102.8m transfer from Chelsea in 2019.

Throwing it again to the naughties, Actual Madrid had no qualms about paying £66m for Zinedine Zidane in 2001 – a price virtually remarkable on the time – and that spectacular volley within the 2001-02 Champions League remaining alone was definitely worth the cash.

Harry Kane’s craving for a trophy in the end trumped his love for Tottenham Hotspur, as he had already hit 30 with no single main membership honour, however his curse was lastly banished within the 2024-25 Bundesliga two years after his mega-money transfer to Bayern Munich.

31 – Neymar (£76.6m)

Hiya once more!

Very not often can we are saying {that a} crew made an infinite loss by promoting a participant for £76.6m. PSG did once they severed ties with Al-Hilal-bound Neymar in 2023, however garnering a price of that dimension for a 31-year-old was a win in itself for Les Parisiens.

Having accomplished English soccer with Manchester Metropolis and received the miracle title with Leicester Metropolis, a 32-year-old Riyad Mahrez couldn’t be knocked for following the cash with Al-Ahli in 2023, and he continues to gentle up the wing in Saudi Arabia.

Promoting a 33-year-old participant for a revenue? Solely Cristiano Ronaldo could possibly be on the centre of such a transaction, embarking on a brand new journey with Juventus for simply shy of £100m in 2018 after attaining all the pieces there was to attain at Actual Madrid.

Briefly entering into Manuel Neuer’s footwear, Yann Sommer turned the costliest 34-year-old within the historical past of the sport due to his cut-price £7.7m transfer to Bayern Munich in 2023, however he solely spent half a 12 months on the membership earlier than making a much bigger identify for himself with Inter Milan.

Talking of Inter Milan, the Nerazzurri paid slightly below £10m for a 35-year-old Marko Arnautovic in 2024 following a earlier mortgage spell, however they solely bought 14 targets out of him throughout his two seasons at San Siro.

36 – Cristiano Ronaldo (£ 14.5m)

The considered seeing Ronaldo in sky blue was an excessive amount of for Man United, who wrote Juventus a cheque price £14.5m for the then-36-year-old in 2021.

Such an outlay was a shrewd transfer if a 24-goal first season was something to go by, however little extra must be stated about his acrimonious departure a number of months down the road.

37 – Jacques Music’o (£5.5m)

Getting into true veterans’ territory, ex-Cameroon goalkeeper Jacques Songo’o was already 37 by the point he returned to Metz from Deportivo la Coruna for £5.5m in 2001, however he was again with the Spanish facet two years later earlier than hanging up his boots.

38 – Marko Simeunovic (£ 765k)

Cypriot facet AEL Limassol signed a 37-year-old Marko Simeunovic for beneath £600,000 in 2005, and so they subsequently bought the Slovenian goalkeeper to NK Interblock for over £750,000 in 2006. Genius work.

39 – Craig Brewster (£340.4k)

Scottish striker Craig Brewster had simply turned 39 when he joined Dundee United from Inverness Caledonian Thistle for £340,400 in 2006, and he continued scoring properly into his twilight years earlier than retiring aged 43.

40 – Bogdan Stelea (£ 85.1K)

If Limassol promoting a 38-year-old Simeunovic for a revenue was spectacular, how about this.

Romanian worldwide goalkeeper Bogdan Stelea signed for Unirea Urziceni for £42.5k in 2006, spent two seasons on the membership, and was then bought for double that to FC Brasov at age 40.

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