The 10 most expensive La Liga transfers of all time

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 21 Aug 2024 20:35 BST
• 6 min read

La Liga is one of the best divisions in world football and it features two of the most successful clubs in history - Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Given the rich history of both clubs, they have some of their largest fanbases on the planet and they are capable of spending huge sums of money on new signings. In addition, Atletico Madrid are big spenders too.

Below, FootballTransfers runs through the 10 most expensive La Liga transfers of all time.

READ MORE: Barcelona's 10 most expensive transfers of all time

10. Frenkie de Jong - €86m (Ajax to Barcelona, 2019)

Frenkie de Jong was one of the most highly-rated youngsters in world football following his sublime 2018-19 season at Ajax, and he subsequently earned an €86 million move to Barcelona.

The Dutchman left Ajax having made just 89 first-team appearances for the club and he immediately became one of the most expensive footballers of all time.

Upon his arrival at Camp Nou, De Jong was seen as the long-term heir to Sergio Busquets, although his best form in a Barcelona shirt has been when deployed slightly further forward.

READ MORE: Real Madrid's 10 most expensive transfers of all time

9. Neymar - €88m (Santos to Barcelona, 2013)

Neymar was the creme de la creme of wonderkids during his time at Santos. Despite still playing in Brazil at the time, he finished 10th in the 2011 Ballon d’Or rankings - a simply unheard of achievement.

He left Santos with 201 goals and assists in 225 senior games, and he continued his sublime form at Barcelona.

Neymar helped the Blaugrana win nine major trophies, including the 2015 Champions League, before departing for Paris Saint-Germain for a world record transfer fee of €222m in 2017.

8. Cristiano Ronaldo - €94m (Man Utd to Real Madrid, 2009)

After heavy rumours of a move in 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo finally joined Real Madrid one year later.

The Portuguese international was already a world-renowned superstar at Manchester United, having won the 2008 Ballon d’Or, but he elevated himself to new heights at Real Madrid.

A glittering nine-year career at the Santiago Bernabeu saw Ronaldo score 450 goals and win 16 major trophies, including four Champions League titles, before leaving for Juventus in 2018.

7. Gareth Bale - €101m (Tottenham to Real Madrid, 2013)

Ronaldo was the most expensive football player in history for four years before Gareth Bale broke his record in 2013.

After ripping it up for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, Real Madrid broke their own transfer record to sign the Welshman for €101m.

Bale enjoyed a sensational debut season with Los Blancos and although his career in Spain ended unceremoniously, he left Real Madrid with five Champions League’s and over 100 goals for the club.

6. Jude Bellingham - €103m (Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid, 2023)

Real Madrid won the race for Jude Bellingham’s signature in 2023, fighting off significant competition from Liverpool in the process.

Los Blancos paid over €100m to sign the England international from Borussia Dortmund and he enjoyed a fantastic first season at the club, notching 23 goals and 13 assists as Real Madrid won both LaLiga and the Champions League.

5. Eden Hazard - €115m (Chelsea to Real Madrid, 2019)

Eden Hazard can only go down as a huge flop at Real Madrid. The Belgian was one of the world’s best players during his time at Chelsea, but things went disastrously after he sealed a dream move to the Spanish capital.

Hazard suffered consistent injury problems during his four-year stint with Los Blancos and he only mustered seven goals in 76 Real Madrid appearances, before retiring after his exit in 2023.

4. Antoine Griezmann - €120m (Atletico Madrid to Barcelona, 2019)

After years of consistent performances with Atletico Madrid, Antoine Griezmann left the club to join Barcelona for a whopping €120m in 2019.

Despite his evident quality, the Frenchman never quite fitted in at Camp Nou and he only tallied 35 goals in over 100 games for the club.

Griezmann re-joined Atleti on loan in 2021, before the deal was made permanent for just €22m in 2023.

3. Joao Felix - €127.2m (Benfica to Atletico Madrid, 2019)

Joao Felix was courted by every elite club in Europe after he burst onto the scene at Benfica. Atletico Madrid won the race for his signature, and he joined the club as Griezmann’s replacement in 2019.

However, Felix never quite suited Diego Simeone’s style of football and he struggled to adapt to life at the Wanda Metropolitano, despite helping the club win LaLiga during his second campaign.

Felix joined Chelsea on loan in January 2023, and he then spent the entire 2023-24 campaign on loan at Barcelona.

2. Ousmane Dembele - €135m (Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona, 2017)

Ousmane Dembele spent just one season at Borussia Dortmund, but his form under Thomas Tuchel earned him a €135m move to Barcelona - a club record at the time.

However, the Frenchman suffered a hamstring injury just months after joining the Blaugrana and he never quite reached the heights expected of him.

Dembele left Barcelona to join PSG for €50m in 2023.

1. Philippe Coutinho - €135m (Liverpool to Barcelona, 2018)

Philippe Coutinho equalled Dembele’s record when he also joined Barcelona for €135m.

The Brazilian was expected to join the club during the same window as Dembele, but Barca were unable to agree a deal with Liverpool until January 2018.

Coutinho was seen as the heir to Andres Iniesta, however things didn’t work out as planned and he spent four years at the club, including loan moves to Bayern Munich and Aston Villa, before joining the latter on a permanent deal in 2022.

The 10 most expensive La Liga signings of all time