World football is full of larger-than-life characters—men who never seem to be forgotten because of their large transfer fees. Here is a list of Top transfer bidders in European football during the last ten seasons.
2012-2013 season: Thiago Silva moved from AC Milan to Paris Saint Germain for €42.00 million
It was a time when players were not too expensive in Europe, AC Milan's cornerstones in both attack and defense Thiago Silva and Ibrahimovic moved to Paris, and Silva had became the top transfer bidder at the price of €42.00 million, he was one of the most expensive defenders before 2015, behind Rio Ferdinand at €46 million and David Luiz at €50 million. In eight seasons in Paris, Silva helped the club win seven Ligue 1 titles, as well as five Coupe de France titles, six French League Cups, and seven French Super Cups. And with the steady defense, excellent overview, and relatively reserved personality, which he developed in Brazil and Italy, Silva had gradually become the absolute main force even leader of the defensive line for eight seasons and became the captain of PSG.
However, with the age and leg injuries that had plagued him since the 2012-13 season, Silva's role in PSG is no longer as untouchable as it once was at Milan. He even hadn't gained full respect before his leaving. After the transfer to Chelsea for free, Thiago Silva spoke to 442, "They didn't even offer me a contract extension. They didn't even say, 'Would you like to stay for one euro? '... It was devastating. In fact, they had three months to plan everything, and the outbreak was somewhere in between. But they didn't do anything."I was captain of the team for eight years, not someone who left after one season, and I helped the team win trophies. I deserve more respect."
2013-2014 season: Gareth Bale moved from Tottenham to Real Madrid for €101.00 million
In the previous 2012-2013 season, Bale was named the Premier League player of the season because of the excellent performance and 21 goals, especially the lightning speed. His transfer fees were confirmed a then-world record transfer fee of €100.8 million, exceeding the previous record fee of €94 million the club paid for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009. For the rest of the season, Bale helped Real Madrid to win the 2013–14 Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League, scoring in both finals, and his goal in the Copa del Rey final was another example of his lightning speed. Then, he had won the UEFA Super Cup and scored in a third major final to help Madrid win the FIFA Club World Cup. Two years later, he was elected to the UEFA Squad of the Season.
It's a pity that Bernabeu fans are always so critical, The injury-plagued Bale has struggled to secure adequate playing time for the team, although his performance is lightening in limited games, he had been under immense pressure. Last season, Bale returned to Tottenham on concession and continued his impressive form for Mourinho. And what of his next days at the Bernabeu? It's necessary for fans to bear witness.
2014-2015 season: Luis Suarez moved from Liverpool to Barcelona for €81.72 million
During the summer of 2014, Luis Suarez was sold to Barcelona for a Liverpool club record fee of £75million. The Uruguayan forward made 133 appearances for Liverpool, scoring an impressive 82 times and grabbing a respectable 29 assists. He was Anfield's 'Lovable Rogue' - Reds fans loved him; rival fans hated him.
In his early days at Barcelona, Suarez faced a lengthy ban for the biting event in the World Cup, but his goalscoring efficiency was on full display at camp Nou. The trio MSN consisted with him, Messi and Neymar helped Barcelona win the La Liga title, the Champions League and Copa del Rey that season, a host of champions came to Barcelona as well.
However, with Griezmann's arrival and increasing age, Suarez's playing time at camp Nou was gradually reduced, and eventually moving to Atletico Madrid in 2020 for a low price. At the Wanda Metropolitano, the Uruguayan's goalscoring efficiency was no less impressive.
2015-2016 season: Kevin de Bruyne moved from Wolfsburg to Man City for €76.00 million
De Bruyne's time at Chelsea was not a success, but he had risen and gradually named to fans above the world since moving to the Bundesliga. Manchester City brought him back to the Premier League in July 2015 for €76 million. Under Guardiola's tactics, the Belgian became one of the premier League's even the world's finest attacking midfielders, helped the team win three Premier League titles as well as the FA Cup, Carling Cup, and Community Shield before.
2016-2017 season: Paul Pogba moved from Juventus to Man United for €105.00 million
Pogba came out of Manchester United's academy, but transfer to Juventus for free in the summer of 2012. Since then, with the help of Andrea Pirlo, Vic Vidal, Claudio Marchisio, and Pavel Nedved, he had gradually become a world-class midfielder. Since his return to Manchester United, although he has kept a world-class performance, he has also been an unstable factor in the dressing room, Mourinho's departure was linked to him obviously.
With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in charge at Man United, Pogba has been a world-class tackler at times, but whether he will once again be a source of uncertainty remains to be seen.
2017-2018 season: Neymar da Silva moved from Barcelona to PSG for €222.00 million
Neymar arrived at Barcelona from Santos four years ago for an €81.72 million transfer fee, and the trio of Neymar, Messi and Suarez have caught the attention of PSG.
Then, the champion of France signed Neymar for a record €222 million and even lit up the Eiffel Tower for him, then Neymar and French supernova Kylian Mbappe are the new flags of PSG.
2018-2019 season: PSG bought out Kylian Mbappe from Monaco for €145.00 million
PSG had previously taken Mbappe on loan for the 2017-18 season, and the 19-year-old supernova scored 13 goals and 8 assists in Ligue 1 that season. After winning the FIFA World Cup, PSG eventually bought out Mbappe for €145 million.
Excellent dribbling and speed, superb finishing and passing, and poise not for his age, which have made Mbappe one of the hottest young talents in Europe, along with Neymar and Di Maria, also made PSG's Ligue 1 champion title unassailable. And he has also been called "Ninja Turtle" by fans.
Mbappe has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid in recent years, but this summer Messi has joined PSG, could he still be leaving? Or becoming the legend of PSG even the Ligue 1? That's valuable for fans to bear witness.
2019-2020 season: Joao Felix moved from Benfica to Atletico Madrid for €127.20 million
Felix is regarded as the successor to Christiano Ronaldo in Portugal. As one of the hottest young talents in Europe, he has helped Benfica win the 2018-19 Portuguese Premier League, and wanted by Man United, Man City, Juventus, and Real Madrid.
Finally, Atletico paid €127.20 million for his signature using money made from Griezmann's departure for Barcelona. He has teamed up with Suarez last season to help Atletico capture the LaLiga title ahead of Real Madrid and Barcelona. Despite ankle injuries had plagued him recently, Felix and Atletico Madrid will remain contenders for the La Liga title this season.
2020-2021 season: Kai Havertz moved from Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea for €80.00 million
The most notable transfer this season should have been Chelsea's signing of two German stickers Haverts and Werner from Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig respectively. Among them, Haverts became the bidders of the season for €80.00 million. The following season, with the excellent performance, Haverts became an integral part of Chelsea.
In the Champions League final on 29 May, Haverts scored the only goal of the game, helping the Blues win the Champions League title for the second time.
2021-2022 season: Jack Grealish moved from Aston Villa to Man City for€117.50 million
Due to Messi's departure, this summer's transfer bidder Jack Grealish has been cast into the shade in contrast. But what role will the England striker's excellent dribbling and sharp breakthroughs play in Guardiola's team in the new season? Let's bear witness for the new season Premier League.
Now the transfer window for the 2021-22 season is still open. Will there be larger transfers to come? Let's wait and bear witness.