Football transfers have changed. From David Jack's £10,890 transfer to Arsenal in 1928 to Neymar's move to Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona for €222 million in 2017, transfer fees have grown exponentially over the last century.
Here, we look at the ten players who were transferred for a fee of €100m or more and how they've faired at their new clubs.
Neymar | €222m | Barcelona to PSG
The transfer of Neymar was a monumental one.
When the news broke, it was chaos. In 2017, Paris Saint-Germain decided to trigger the Brazilian forward's release clause of €222 million, thus making a move from Spain to France possible.
There were various rumours as to why the talented Brazilian decided to change clubs. The most popular one, perhaps, was that he did not want to play under the shadow of the great Lionel Messi. Neymar wanted to establish his legacy. Winning the Champions League with PSG, and the World Cup with Brazil would help him achieve that.
So far, that has not happened. Neymar's spell in France has been chaotic. Whenever he has graced the pitch, he has been exceptional. However, injuries and Kylian Mbappe's emergence have meant that the glory Neymar so badly chased has not been his so far. There have been persistent links to a return to Barcelona.
Kylian Mbappe | €135 million | Monaco to PSG
In the same summer that Neymar's move was announced, PSG also decided to bring in French prodigy Kylian Mbappe from rivals AS Monaco.
Initially on a season-long loan, this double signing of Mbappe and Neymar stunned the footballing world. Mbappe, who had been linked with a move to Real Madrid till that point, decided that he wanted to remain in France for the time being.
Unlike Neymar, Mbappe's time in Paris has been fruitful. He has won the World Cup with France, and many regard the 21-year old forward as a better player than the Brazilian now. However, his time with PSG might be limited. Real Madrid loom again, and Mbappe this time seems to be willing to make a move.
Joao Felix | €126 million | Benfica to Atletico Madrid
Joao Felix's arrival at Atletico Madrid last summer, from Benfica, was met with curiosity.
Many knew the 19-year old had had a phenomenal season in Portugal. But the fee Atleti paid was considered a lot. The youngest ever player to score a hat-trick in the Europa League, Felix won the Golden Boy award for the year 2019 for his performances with Benfica.
It is wrong to expect greatness from Felix from the very beginning. He has had a slow start under Diego Simeone, scoring four league goals in 20 appearances. However, there is potential and lots of it.
Philippe Coutinho | Liverpool to Barcelona | €120m
Philippe Coutinho was a disastrous signing by Barcelona.
Signed from Liverpool in January 2018, he never settled adequately in Ernesto Valverde's system.
This season, he is on loan at Bayern Munich, who are not convinced by the Brazilian's ability to sign him permanently. His time at the Catalan club lasted 76 games, in which he scored 21 goals and provided 11 assists.
Leicester City and Arsenal have been mooted as potential destinations for the creative midfielder, once his spell at the Bundesliga comes to an end.
Antoine Griezmann | Atletico Madrid to Barcelona | €120m
Antoine Griezmann arrived at Barcelona last summer from Atletico Madrid.
After five phenomenal seasons under Diego Simeone, in which the forward played 257 times in all competitions and scored 133 goals, Griezmann's release clause was activated by the Catalans.
The 29-year old Griezmann had a slow start at Barcelona. However, he is now an established presence in their forward line. More responsibility has been placed on the Frenchman's shoulders after Luis Suarez's injury. So far, in 37 appearances for the club, Griezmann has scored 14 times and provided four assists.
More is to come from the World Cup winner, and Barcelona will need him to be in full flow if they aim to win the league and Champions League this season.
Ousmane Dembele | Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona |€105m
Ousmane Dembele arrival was funded by Neymar's transfer to Paris Saint Germain.
The young French winger had been highly-rated ever since his Rennes days. After a spectacular season in Germany with Borussia Dortmund, Dembele completed a big-money move to the Camp Nou outfit.
So far, the signing has not worked out. Dembele has missed 86 games for the club due to various injuries. He has been at Barcelona for three seasons now.
And while there is a chance he might turn it around, there are rumours that Barcelona would be willing to let him go. Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain have been credited with an interest.
Paul Pogba | Juventus to Manchester United | €105m
Paul Pogba's move to the EPL is a tricky one. His return to Manchester United from Juventus was heralded at the time.
However, as time has passed, critics and fans are unsure as to how to assess him at United. He has been excellent when he has played. However, constant links to Real Madrid and criticism of his lifestyle has meant that his time at United so far cannot be termed as a complete success.
When Pogba returned to Manchester United, he stated that he had unfinished business to take care of. It is difficult to imagine whether Pogba has addressed that and done justice to his price tag so far.
The French midfielder has 31 goals and 31 assists in 150 games for Manchester United.
Eden Hazard | Chelsea to Real Madrid | €105m
Eden Hazard joined his dream club Real Madrid from Chelsea last summer.
His time so far has been marred by injuries. He has played ten league games, scoring just one goal. More is expected from Real's new no.7.
During his time with Chelsea, Hazard scored 110 goals and provided 92 assists in 352 games. Hazard will hope that the fans will see the talent that he is once La Liga starts again.
Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid to Juventus | €100 million
Cristiano Ronaldo's spell at Madrid was an astounding success, as many expected. He is widely regarded as the best player to have played for the club.
The Portuguese won four Champions League trophies with the Spanish side. Cristiano Ronaldo is also the club's all-time top goalscorer, scoring 450 goals in 438 appearances for Los Blancos.
When he left for Juventus in 2018, it spelt the end of an era. The Italian club paid a small fortune in fees and wages to sign the Portuguese superstar. At 35 years of age, he has shown no signs of slowing down. In 75 appearances for the club, Ronaldo has scored 53 goals and provided 14 assists. He has also been appreciated by the likes of Paulo Dybala for being a mentor and senior figure at the club.
Gareth Bale | Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid | €100m
Gareth Bale's spell in Madrid has been a successful one.
The Welsh winger has had his controversies over the last two years, but no one can disregard his contribution to the cause.
A vital part of the squad that won three Champions League titles in a row, Bale's move from Tottenham Hotspur was exactly what Los Blancos needed for them to achieve what they did. He has scored in two Champions League finals for Los Blancos.
So far, Bale has contributed to 105 goals and 67 assists in 249 games for Real Madrid.
Charlesurama
1257
which ever club he goes he becomes the best and most important player in the club at that era he isn't just the greatest player He is the greatest athlete of all time along with Michael Jordan my only problem with him is that he is always sharing his crown both in football and athlete overall
ronnie_luv
994
Mbappe moved from Monaco to PSG, and the rest is history 🔥 . Coutinho moved from Liverpool to Barcelona, and the rest is misery 😔
JohnWick7
801
Coutinho's Departure From Liverpool was his First step to his Arrival of his Trauma 😑
12UnitedGuyReborn
429
Apart from Cr7 to Juve, Bale to Madrid and Mbape to Paris, you can say the rest hasn't come anywhere near justifying their price or the reasons they were bought but if I am being very precise I guess only Bale I can say justified his price and reason so far, as Cr7 is yet to win UCL with Juve and they've been winning Seria A for consecutive years so they didn't need him for that, and for Mbape him and Neymar was bought so that PSG can dominate Europe and the World and stamp their name in the footballing world as one of the big guns now but they haven't really done that so according to price tag and mostly reasons for being bought only Bale has meet required heights to be considered mission accomplished
Nadan7
99
How have €100m stars gone on to perform at new clubs :- Bale switched football for Golf and becomes a better golf athlete than Ronaldo 🏌️♂️ - Dembele didn’t want to bottle the lead with Valverde then he joined Hospital fc for free 🤣🤣 - Felix turned from the next Ronaldo to the next lingard 🐐 - Hazard’s body is at Madrid Hospital but he’s spirit is still somewhere at Stamford bridge 🌉 - Pogba is a professional barber but still playing football as a part time job 💇♂️ - Coutinho chose to walk alone and become loantinho👣👣 - Griezmann has been playing like Griezboyy😏 - Mbappe is now the owner of the Farmers 1🎮 - Neymar’s SAGA TV show says He is still walking from Paris to Barcelona since his presentation at PSG ... 😂😂😂 - Ronaldo finished Zlatan and turned Serie A into Farmers A 🏀🏀✈️
JamesWalker
29
Joao Felix has arrived at Spain from Portugal but his Talent is still at Portugal
wupabiorsz
27
juventus after hearing pogba😂😂😂
Mosanya
20
Mbappe arrival at PSG was not a mistake at all, we all knew that he is going to succeed in any club he goes because at his time at Monaco he was a rising star, and he is now a superstar at PsG, he scores goals like drinking water, I would not suprised if he is been given a huge salary or he moves to a bigger club, it shows how talented he is.
BennyDubem
10
Mbappe moved from Monaco to PSG, and the rest is history 🔥 . Coutinho moved from Liverpool to Barcelona, and the rest is misery 😔
Hazard moved from Chelsea to Madrid and the rest is misery 😒
ronnie_luv
8
Hazard moved from Chelsea to Madrid and the rest is misery 😒
you better get ready as Hazard will show he's worth once Laliga is back💯