The 10 most expensive English transfers of all time: Rice to Arsenal, Bellingham to Real Madrid…

Harry Kane at Bayern Munich, Declan Rice at Arsenal and Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid

Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham have all completed big-money transfers

England has produced some brilliant players in recent years and clubs are willing to spend a lot of money to secure their services.

Premier League sides have to fulfil a quota of homegrown players in their squad every season, which means that English players now have an added premium to their price tag.

We’ve taken a look at the 10 most expensive transfers involving English players and how they fared after making the move.

Note: While we’ve mentioned the potential add-ons in any deal, we’ve ranked the players by their initial transfer fees.

10= John Stones

One of Pep Guardiola’s first signings at Manchester City, Stones joined the club in 2016 in a deal worth an initial £47.5million and another £2.5million in add-ons.

The England international has gone from strength to strength at the Etihad, establishing himself as one of the best defenders in the world.

He has also helped the club win six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, two League Cups, the Champions League, a UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA World Club Cup.

“John Stones, when he came here, people said he was too expensive,” Guardiola said. “Now he’s too cheap. It always depends on the value of what happens on the pitch.”

10= Raheem Sterling

After a trophy-laden seven-year spell at Manchester City, Sterling decided to pursue a new challenge in the summer of 2022 and completed a £47.5million move to Chelsea.

But the 29-year-old winger has struggled to justify that price tag, registering just 19 goals in 81 appearances in all competitions.

He was booed by Chelsea fans during an FA Cup win over Leicester City in 2023/24 and could leave Stamford Bridge this summer amid interest from teams in Saudi Arabia and America.

Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling has struggled to stand out for Chelsea

9= Ben Chilwell

Chelsea splashed the cash after their transfer ban was lifted in the summer of 2020 and spent around £220million, £50million of which was paid to Leicester City for Chilwell.

The left-back made 42 appearances in 2020/21 and ended his debut season with a brilliant performance in their Champions League final win over Manchester City.

But he has been plagued with injury problems in recent years and has now fallen behind Marc Cucurella in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.

TEAMtalk understands that Chelsea will consider selling the 27-year-old this summer.

9= Ben White

Despite only having one season of Premier League football under his belt, White did enough at Brighton & Hove Albion in 2020/21 to convince Arsenal that he was worth £50million.

The 26-year-old was initially recruited as a centre-back, but he has since developed into one of the best right-backs in the Premier League.

“Ben is a key player for us, a top professional with a winning mentality, and one of the guys who leads by example every day,” Mikel Arteta said after White signed a new long-term contract with the club.

“Ben’s ability, determination and positive attitude are so important, but he is also a great character and human being.”

7. Mason Mount

A Chelsea academy graduate, Mount decided to leave Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2023 after failing to agree on a new contract.

The midfielder joined Manchester United in a deal worth an initial £55million and another £5million in potential bonuses and was handed their No.7 shirt.

He endured an injury-ravaged debut season at United, making just eight starts and a further 12 substitute appearances in 2023/24.

6. Jadon Sancho

United spent two years tirelessly chasing Sancho before finally agreeing a £73million deal with Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2021.

The 24-year-old has failed to replicate his Dortmund form in a United shirt, registering just 12 goals and six assists in 79 appearances in all competitions.

He had a public bust-up with United manager Erik ten Hag in September 2023 and spent the second half of the 2023/24 season back on loan at Dortmund, helping them reach the Champions League final.

5. Harry Maguire

Manchester United forked out £80million to sign Maguire from Leicester City in 2019, making him the world’s most expensive defender.

He made a strong start to his United career and was rewarded with the captain’s armband in January 2020. But his form nosedived in the 2021/22 season, and the centre-back became a figure of ridicule after making a series of calamitous errors.

The 31-year-old started to rediscover his best form in 2023/24 and picked up a Premier League Player of the Month award, although he missed United’s FA Cup final win due to injury.

TEAMtalk understands that United are willing to sell him this summer and are seeking a fee in the region of £35million.

Harry Maguire Man Utd

Harry Maguire is now wanted by clubs in Italy

4. Harry Kane

Tottenham reluctantly agreed to sell Kane in the summer of 2023 in order to avoid losing their all-time leading goalscorer on a free transfer.

The 30-year-old joined Bayern Munich in a deal worth an initial £86.4million, with add-ons potentially taking the fee to around £100million.

He enjoyed a brilliant debut season on an individual level, registering 44 goals and 12 assists in 45 appearances in all competitions in 2023/24.

But his goals were ultimately in vain as Bayern finished third in the Bundesliga and had a trophyless season for the first time since 2011/12.

3. Jude Bellingham

Real Madrid won the race for Bellingham’s signature in the summer of 2023 after agreeing to pay Borussia Dortmund an initial £88million and another £26million in potential add-ons.

The England international exceeded expectations in a stunning debut season, registering 36 goal contributions while helping Madrid win LaLiga and the Champions League.

“It’s surprising,” Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said. “I don’t think anybody could have imagined his adaptation to this style of football, to this club.

“He surprises every day, in every game. Not just us, he’s surprising everybody. [Bellingham] is a gift for football. His coach and his team-mates are delighted with him, and the fans are delighted with him, but everybody is delighted to see a player with this potential and this positive image.”

1= Jack Grealish

Manchester City brought Grealish to the Etihad in the summer of 2021 after triggering the £100million release clause in his Aston Villa contract.

The winger won the Premier League title in his debut season at City and played an integral role in their Treble-winning campaign in 2022/23.

While he picked up a third Premier League winner’s medal in 2023/24, the 28-year-old lost his place to Jeremy Doku and was on the fringes of Guardiola’s team.

1= Declan Rice

Arsenal fought off competition from Manchester City to sign Rice from West Ham United in a deal worth an initial £100million and another £5million in potential add-ons.

The 25-year-old seamlessly slotted into the Arsenal midfield in the 2023/24 season as the Gunners narrowly missed out on the Premier League title.

He is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world and has also been tipped to become Arsenal’s next captain.

READ MORE: The 10 most expensive teenagers of all time, featuring three Real Madrid signings and former Man Utd record-setter

Jude Bellingham Declan Rice Harry Kane

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