Most expensive transfers of the season 2023-2024

Every new season, footballing clubs apply their strategies and improvise as per their team's performance last season. Terms of transfers. Basically which players to buy and which ones to sell. It’s not always to sell the worst performers to get some money out of them or buy the best from the others to strengthen your club, but a thought approach that may be feasible and profitable alongside that benefits the club.

Based on research by data analysts that is pretty much a new but valuable introduction to the world of football, clubs decide on a lot of criteria to buy or sell someone. Some clubs on the other hand have a lot to spend, and they ultimately do so to get the best in the market, whatever their price. Here are the 7 most expensive signings that happened during the start of season 2023-2024 around the globe.

1. Moises Caicedo

Transfer fee: 100 million euros + 10 million add ons 

From: Brighton 

To: Chelsea

Colombian International Moises Caicedo was a much debatable topic during last season's winter window as Arsenal had three bids rejected for him, even matching what Brighton wanted in their third bid but it was NO from the Albions. He finally left them this time out for Chelsea who made him the most expensive transfer this time out splashing a whopping 100 million euros plus 10 million in add-ons.

2. Declan Rice

Transfer fee: 100 million euros + 5 million add ons 

From: West Ham

To: Arsenal 

Hammers Captain and England regular, Declan Rice left this summer to join London rivals Arsenal in a record transfer for Arsenal in the season 2023-2024. The defensive midfielder joined the Hammers academy from Chelsea at a young age and came through the ranks to feature in the first team replacing the then-departing captain Mark Noble. 

3. Jude Bellingham

Transfer fee: 88 million + 25.6 million add ons 

From: Borussia Dortmund 

To: Real Madrid 

Borussia Dortmund is a factory from Germany that produces talents like no other, if you don’t believe us just check out the list of players who came through their ranks, Robert Lewandowski, Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho, Thomas Rosicky, and many more. The latest to flourish and leave them is Jude Bellingham, who left them for 88 million euros plus add-ons worth 26 million more, an Englishman who certainly has a bright future considering his start of the season for the Galacticos.

4. Harry Kane 

Transfer fee: 86 million euros + 14 million add ons 

From: Tottenham Hotspur

To: Bayern Munich 

Tottenham’s record goal scorer and England international Harry Kane finally got the transfer he needed to have some club trophies to his name as well. The England captain departed for German giants Bayern Munich for a reported 86 million euros plus 14 million in add-ons and just like what everyone expected of him, has started the season with a bang which is normal for him.

5. Neymar 

Transfer fee: 86.3 million euros 

From: PSG

To: Al-Hilal 

Santos, Barcelona, PSG and now Saudi’s Al-Hilal, the transfer pathway for Brazilian superstar Neymar has been a mix of emotions with him excelling and downgrading from time to time. It’s a no-debate statement to say, that he would have scored and assisted more than 100 goals if he had not been prone to injuries that he sustained throughout his career. Maybe with his new club, he fairs a good amount of time on the field without injuries.

6. Jasko Gvardiol 

Transfer fee: 77 million euros 

From: Redbull Leipzig 

To: Manchester City 

21-year-old Croatian international and the most expensive as well as the most valued central defender in the world Jasko Gvardiol left Redbull Leipzig for a staggering 77 million euros to join English champions Manchester City during the beginning of the season. An excellent addition to the squad by Pep Guardiola which can make a big difference this time out to defend their title.

7. Kai Havertz 

Transfer fee: 65 million euros 

From: Chelsea 

To: Arsenal 

Manager Mikel Arteta played a gamble on buying Chelsea flop Kai Haverts for big bucks this time out. The Gunners spent a mouth-watering 65 million euros on their London rivals Chelsea. Considering his role for Chelsea as a centre forward mostly, Mikel after his transfer told in the press conference about how he’d utilise him in midfield which is his preferred position. If things go right for him, the question marks on his signing will certainly go away.

Cover Credits: OptaAnalyst