11 La Liga Transfers That Cost An Arm And A Leg
Last updated: Feb 27, 2024, 5:08AM | Published: Feb 27, 2024, 5:06AM
Only two European Leagues - Ligue 1 and EPL - come close to La Liga when it comes to record-breaking and intimidating bids for football superstars globally. When Real Madrid or Barcelona bids for a player, the trend is that other interested clubs look elsewhere. These two Spanish giants have got the money and pedigree to bend anyone to their offers.
La Liga has a rich history, having begun in 1929 with only ten clubs. Today, twenty clubs compete in this Spanish first-division football competition, like in other parts of Europe.
Fun Fact: Barcelona are the first Spanish team to win the La Liga, and to date, they have won 26 titles. Nevertheless, Real Madrid takes the first position as the most successful club with 11 more trophies than Barca.
La Liga Transfers: Things To Know
As with other major European leagues, La Liga transfer windows open twice a year - summer and winter. It is customary to hear plenty of rumors concerning players' arrivals and departures when the market is ‘hot,’ but the clubs’ official media outlets remain the most authentic source of accurate transfer news.
Similarly, for Spanish football fans that would like to bet on a match or player, it’s advisable to read authentic reviews of the best online bookmakers around – reviews that contain everything you need to know That’s because your chances of landing sure odds and smiling to the bank begins with partnering with the right bookmaker.
Now, let’s check out the most expensive transfers that have ever taken place in La Liga since its inception 95 years ago.
Fact: Only Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, and Real Madrid have been responsible for La Liga’s most expensive signings from inception.
La Liga Most Expensive Signings of All Time
Philippe Coutinho: From Liverpool to Barcelona
The Brazilian winger and midfielder joined the Catalans from Liverpool in 2018 for a record fee of 160 million euros, making him the third most expensive player at that time. However, in less than a few months, it quickly became clear that the Brazilian wasn’t cut out for Barcelona.
Emmanuel Petit, a fellow player who also moved from Arsenal to Barcelona 18 years earlier said the winger must have been questioning why he left Liverpool in the first place. Speaking to Mirror Football, Petit said, "If I was Philippe Coutinho, every morning I would wake up and think to myself, 'Why, why, did I sign [for Barcelona] in Spain?'"
Coutinho later left Barcelona to Bayern Munich on loan in the 2019-20 season. It was there that luck smiled on him as he won the Champions League and DFB-pokal with the German side in 2022. In May that year, Bayern Munich sold him to Aston Villa for 20 million euros, with one of the best buyout clauses that saw Barca earning 50% of any future sale.
Joao Felix: From Benfica to Atletico Madrid
In July 2019, the Portuguese forward switched sides from Benfica to Atletico for a total fee of 126 million euros, making him the fourth most expensive transfer up till that time. Although the Spanish side later sent him on loan to Chelsea and Barcelona, he was instrumental to the club’s winning of the 2020-2021 La Liga title.
Ousmane Dembele: From Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona
The Catalans secured the signature of the French winger from Borussia Dortmund in August 2017, costing them 125 million euros in fees plus other add-ons. But like other record-breaking deals secured by the Spanish giant, Dembele too didn’t live up to expectations as he only scored 40 goals in 185 appearances.
Antoine Griezmann: From Atletico Madrid to Barcelona
One of the most expensive transfers to have happened locally in Spain was Griezmann’s move from Atletico to Barcelona in 2019. The French forward was one of Barca’s targets to help improve their attack, but 32 goals in 102 games proved that the 120 million euros spent buying him was not worth it. Griezmann is back at Diego Simeone’s side after completing a season’s loan from the Catalan side after Atletico fulfilled one of the buyout clauses requiring a 40 million euros compulsory purchase.
Eden Hazard: From Chelsea to Real Madrid
After months of speculations and rumors about the next move of Eden Hazard, Madrid finally secured his signature in 2019 for 115 million euros. Unfortunately, due to incessant injuries and what some describe as lack of professionalism, the Belgian winger hasn’t been much of an asset although he’s one of Real Madrid most expensive signings in decades.
Gareth Bale: From Tottenham to Real Madrid
Fewer players come close to Bale in his position when he was still at his prime. From playing as a left-back in Southampton, he transformed into a winger under manager Harry Redknapp in Tottenham. Real Madrid signed this Welsh player for 100.8 million euros just at the close of the transfer market window in 2013’s summer. He was instrumental to Madrid’s Champions and domestic leagues’ success from 2013 to 2020.
Christiano Ronaldo: From Manchester United to Real Madrid
Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/NKjUDb57emE?si=xDJyj_9Sz_vjWxNb
Previous expensive contracts before Christiano’s 94 million Euros move from Manchester United to Real Madrid weren't as sensational as this. The Santiago Bernabeu’s atmosphere went agog on July 6, 2009, when the former Red Devil’s talisman made his official appearance to fans and management staff. Talking about one of Madrid’s contracts that brought fortunes and notable successes, Ronaldo's deal was one that the club cannot forget in a hurry.
In 438 games, the Portuguese superstar scored 450 goals, registering his name as the club’s all-time goalscorer to date. During his 9-year spell at the Spanish giant’s side, Ronaldo won four Ballon d’Ors and 16 trophies, including two La Liga and four Champions League.
Neymar Jnr. : From Santos to Barcelona
Dubbed as Lionel Messi’s incarnate, Neymar showed a lot of prospects even before announcements from Santos and the Catalan side of his move. Many clubs made the Brazilian star their transfer targets, and contracts were lying waiting for his signature from several English and Spanish teams. He eventually became Barcelona’s in 2013, ending speculations and rumors about his choice.
The actual fees paid by Barca to bring the lanky winger down to Spain remain controversial to date. However, official announcements put the figure at 57 million euros, while others say it’s 88m. Although not to many fans’ expectations, Neymar’s move to Spain was fairly successful with 10 trophies that include two La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey, and one Champions League to show for it.
Frenkie de Jong: From Ajax to Barcelona
Frenkie’s agents were obviously good in negotiations as they succeeded in an additional 11 million euros in add-ons to the official 75 million paid to secure the Dutch’s signature. The multi-talented player became part of Barca’s squad on July 6, 2019, helping the club to one Copa de Rey and one Supercopa de Espana in the 2021-22 season.
Luis Suarez: From Liverpool to Barcelona
The Uruguay superstar was Liverpool’s talisman before joining the Catalans in July 2014 for 75 million euros. His combined attacking prowess with Messi and Neymar was fondly nicknamed MSN by fans. Suarez scored 198 goals in 283 games for Barcelona and helped the club win 13 trophies during his six-year spell with them.
Suarez left Barcelona acrimoniously in September 2020, and helped his new club, Atletico Madrid, clinch their 11th La Liga title in 2021. “This has been a hard season for the situation I had to go through, starting the season the way it did, being disrespected (by Barcelona) and having Atletico open its doors to me” says the Uruguayan.
Zinedane Zidane: From Juventus to Real Madrid
Arguably one of the best players of the round leather game, Zidane has achieved the legend status with Real Madrid. He moved to Santiago Bernabue from Juventus in July 2001 for a record fee of 76 million euros. His move as a player to Madrid was successful as he won the World’s Best Player awards, Champions League, and La Liga with the Galacticos.
Conclusion
Some factors determine the transfer fees of players beside their field performance. One of them is the time in which they chose to move. For instance, a player of Zidane’s standing will probably be the first on this list if he were to be “transacted” in this money-rain era. Other expensive deals are simply because their agents were smart with negotiations and chose the offers that best favor their clients.
Whichever way, La Liga transfers are breathtaking even though it’s almost always a Barca and Real Madrid thing.
