HONG KONG — Football fever is back in full force as – despite its controversies – Qatar hosts this year’s World Cup 2022. Fans across the globe are currently cheering for their favourite national teams and players as they watch matches live or on television in their respective countries.

Meanwhile in the world of domestic football, transfers are a common occurrence as clubs try to ensure they have the right players to win silverware, with the fees varying hugely depending on the player’s skills.

Here are the 10 most expensive and jaw-dropping transfers in football history.

10. Paul Pogba – $110 million ( S$148.3 million)

The 29-year-old French footballer left Manchester United in 2012 due to a lack of playing time, and joined Juventus on a free transfer, per Rarest.org.

After leading France to victory in the 2013 Fifa U-20 World Cup and being voted the best player in the tournament, Manchester United confirmed its signing of the star in 2016 for a then-record-breaking transfer of $110 million, reported The Guardian. Until 2021, this remained the highest transfer fee paid by an English team, as per Rarest.org.

Pogba himself boasts a gigantic net worth of $125 million, states Celebrity Net Worth thanks to his salary and his cut of his transfer deals.

He splashes his cash on lavish holidays in Bora Bora, as seen on his Instagram, and styles himself in high-fashion brands like Gucci T-shirts and custom-made hats, as per Soccergator.

9. Romelu Lukaku – $116 million

In June, according to Eurosport, Lukaku rejoined Inter Milan on loan for $8.3 million less than a year after signing with Chelsea for $116 million.

Lukaku overtook Neymar’s world record for the highest combined transfer fee when he reached $350 million as of February, per Football Transfers. The 29-year-old Belgian footballer has been transferred between Anderlecht, Chelsea (twice), Inter Milan and Manchester United.

These transfers have helped his net worth grow to $60 million in 2022, per Sportskeeda.

Lukaku splurges his cash on an expensive garage, which includes collections of Rolls-Royce models and various Mercedes, states Football Transfers. The article also claims that the footballer bought neighbouring flats in Milan to keep his mum and his son close while he concentrates on his games.

8. Cristiano Ronaldo – $117 million

When the ever-popular Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo moved from Real Madrid to Juventus in 2018, the latter paid a hefty sum of around $117 million, as per DW.

According to Rarest.org, this sum was the largest ever paid to a player above the age of 30 by an Italian team. After joining Juventus, Ronaldo went on to win the Serie A and the Supercoppa Italiana in his first full season in Turin, per FotMob.

The 37-year-old is the third wealthiest football player in the world with a net worth of around $500 million, as per Celebrity Net Worth. He reportedly acquired this fortune through his athletic career, modelling gigs and brand endorsements.

While he uses his wealth to buy expensive timepieces like his $1.5 million diamond-encrusted Franck Muller watch, per British media, he is also a philanthropist and is an ambassador for major charities like Unicef and World Vision. The generous athlete donated $5 million to help Nepal after its devastating 2015 earthquake, as per Insider.

7. Jack Grealish – $120 million

The British footballer broke Pogba’s previous record for the highest transfer fee paid by an English club when Manchester City paid $120 million for him in 2021, per Sky Sports. After his move from Aston Villa, the 27-year-old was able to enjoy Man City’s fourth Premier League title win in May 2022.

As one of the highest earners in the Man City squad, Grealish has seen his wealth grow, with fashion endorsements, including one with Gucci, adding to his net worth of $12 million, reports First Sportz.

He’s flaunted his wealth with his stylish Range Rover purchase and made headlines for spending nearly $100,000 on a VIP package in Las Vegas, according to Sportsbrief.

6. Antoine Griezmann – $125 million

The versatile French football player joins the top 10 list for his move from Atletico Madrid to Barca in 2019. ESPN reported that the transfer cost $125 million, but Atlético claimed that Barcelona’s payment was $83 million short of the agreed price.

After scoring multiple goals and winning titles with Barcelona, Griezmann transferred back to Atlético in 2021, per The Guardian.

Being one of the game’s most recognised players, the 31-year-old’s fortune is estimated to be about $60 million, per Celebrity Net Worth. He has a $6 million villa in Madrid and drives luxurious cars including a McLaren 675LT, Rolls-Royce Wraith, Ferrari F12 and Maserati Granturismo, reports The Sports Lite. Griezmann also donates to charity.

5. Joao Felix – $130 million

The 23-year-old Portuguese footballer plays as a forward for La Liga club Atletico Madrid and the Portugal national team. He won the Golden Boy (best player in Europe under 21) and the Primeira Liga’s Best Young Player of the Year awards in 2019.

Atletico Madrid splashed out $130 million to bring in Félix from Benfica in 2019, per Euro Sports. This was the second-highest price ever spent on a teenage footballer, per Rarest.org.

Felix already has an impressive net worth of $25 million, per Celebrity Net Worth, which he likes to spend on high-end cars like the BMW X3M, as seen on his Instagram.

4. Ousmane Dembele – $150 million

Since joining his new Spanish team, the 25-year-old has scored 32 goals and won two La Liga championships.

His current bank balance sits at about $35 million, per Celebrity Net Worth, and he currently owns a mansion in Barcelona and drives multiple Mercedes, according to FirstSportz.

3. Philippe Coutinho – $170 million

Coutinho displayed his extraordinary potential when he played for Brazil in the Copa America in 2015 and Copa America Centenario in 2016. He made his World Cup debut in the 2018 Fifa World Cup where he scored two goals and earned a spot on the Fifa World Cup Dream Team, per Rarest.org.

In 2018, Coutinho transferred from Liverpool to Barcelona in a gigantic $170 million deal, per The Guardian. The 30-year-old, now playing back in England for Aston Villa, has a net worth of $60 million, as per Celebrity Net Worth. 

2. Kylian Mbappe – $186 million

Thanks to his career, the 23-year-old enjoys a net worth of $150 million, per Celebrity Net Worth. He is said to own high-end rides like the Ferrari 488 Pista, Mercedes-Benz V Class and multiple Volkswagens. Despite these lavish purchases, he also said that he would give his World Cup 2018 bonuses to the Premiers de Cordees charity, which aims to organise sports for children with disabilities, states Goal.

1. Neymar – $230 million

The Brazilian native has previously held records for expensive transfers, but his most lucrative one yet was in 2017 when he moved from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for a whopping $230 million, states Rarest.org.

The 30-year-old also holds multiple football records including a Guinness World Record for the fastest goal in Olympic history, per BBC. He also became the first Brazilian athlete to appear on Time magazine’s cover in February 2013. SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST