The 10 biggest Premier League transfers adjusted for inflation
Cameron Smith
- Updated: 29 Mar 2022 19:04 BST
- 4 min read
Jack Grealish's move from Aston Villa to Manchester City may have broke the English football transfer record, but with inflation a factor, it isn't the most expensive ever.
The Premier League is the richest in the entire world, with its TV rights deals enabling clubs to spend unrivalled amounts of money each year. However, despite the recent influx of money into the division, deals in the past are more expensive if adjusted to account for inflation.
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A report from the Sun has revealed that Alan Shearer's move from Blackburn Rovers to Newcastle United, which at the time broke the world record for a transfer fee, is in fact the biggest deal when inflation is taken into account.
The forward joined his hometown club after a successful spell at Blackburn, that included a Premier League title win, despite well-documented interest from giants Manchester United.
Not only would Shearer's move be the most expensive in Premier League history, it would also eclipse the fee Paris Saint-Germain paid Barcelona to acquire the services of Neymar in 2017 to become the biggest ever transfer fee.
Who else makes the top 10?
While Shearer is the runaway leader with his price costing a huge £222 million in today's market, plenty of big names also feature in the top 10.
Argentine box-to-box midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron is second on the list with his move from Italian giants Lazio to Manchester United costing £155.4m with inflation.
He only managed two years at the club before being sold to Chelsea.
Stan Collymore is next with his transfer from Nottingham Forest to Liverpool reportedly costing £132.9m in today's market according to the Sun, and his memorable winner against Newcastle will live long in the memory.
Fourth in the ranking is the only player to appear twice in the top 10, Rio Ferdinand. The former England international features fourth for his move from Leeds United to Manchester United, which would've cost the Red Devils £132.5m today.
Man Utd's purchase of Paul Pogba is fifth, and according to the report inflation has meant the deal is now worth £126m. Despite only taking place in 2016, inflation has meant the cost has risen by over £35m.
Ferdinand's second appearance is at number six, with his transfer from boyhood club West Ham to Leeds costing £124.9m today.
Another Man Utd buy is seventh. Wayne Rooney's move from Everton to the Old Trafford side as a teenager was huge at the time, and would be even bigger now. With inflation, the deal would've cost £118.6m if it were to happen today.
Dwight Yorke's move to Man Utd, Dennis Bergkamp's move to Arsenal, and Fernando Torres' ground-breaking move to Chelsea finish off the top 10.
| Name | Deal | Original Cost | Today's Cost |
| Alan Shearer | Blackburn to Newcastle (1996) | £15m | £222m |
| Juan Sebastian Veron | Lazio to Man Utd (2001) | £28.1m | £155.4m |
| Stan Collymore | Nottingham Forest to Liverpool (1995) | £8.5m | £132.9m |
| Rio Ferdinand | Leeds to Man Utd (2002) | £30m | £132.5m |
| Paul Pogba | Juventus to Man Utd (2016) | £89.3m | £126m |
| Rio Ferdinand | West Ham to Leeds (2000) | £18m | £124.9m |
| Wayne Rooney | Everton to Man Utd (2004) | £30m | £118.6m |
| Dwight Yorke | Aston Villa to Man Utd (1998) | £12.6m | £118.2m |
| Dennis Bergkamp | Inter to Arsenal (1995) | £7.5m | £117.3m |
| Fernando Torres | Liverpool to Chelsea (2011) | £50m | £112.3m |
