The 10 most expensive English players of all time

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 7 Nov 2024 15:57 GMT
• 6 min read

England may not have won the World Cup since 1966, but they have produced some of the most talented footballers in the sport’s history.

The Three Lions also have some of the most exciting youngsters in the world at their disposal, with many of these moving club teams for huge transfer fees over the past decade.

Below, FootballTransfers runs through the 10 most expensive English players of all time.

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10. Ben White - €58.5m (Brighton to Arsenal, 2021)

Benjamin White is the 10th most expensive English player in football history.

After a stellar loan spell at Leeds United, White returned to Brighton & Hove Albion in 2020 and he played a key role, in multiple positions, as they continued their progression under Graham Potter.

However, Arsenal pounced in 2021 and spent close to €60m to bring him to north London.

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9. Raheem Sterling - €63.7m (Liverpool to Man City, 2015)

Raheem Sterling joined Liverpool at the age of 15 and he was soon integrated into the club’s first-team, playing a key role as they narrowly missed out on the 2013-14 Premier League title.

He made the controversial decision to leave Anfield for Manchester City in 2015, but the decision paid off as Sterling won 12 trophies at the Etihad Stadium, including four Premier League titles.

The Englishman left to join Chelsea in 2022, having racked up 339 appearances and 131 goals for Man City.

8. Mason Mount - €64.2m (Chelsea to Man Utd, 2023)

Mason Mount was destined to spend his entire career at Chelsea, having progressed through the club’s youth system and emerging as a key first-team player.

However, he was sold to Manchester United in 2023, with the Red Devils paying a whopping €64.2m for his services, despite the fact Mount only had one year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge.

The Englishman made a total of 195 first-team appearances for Chelsea, scoring 33 goals and helping the Blues win the 2021 Champions League.

7. Dominic Solanke - €64.3m (Bournemouth to Tottenham, 2024)

Dominic Solanke was almost unstoppable during his time in Chelsea’s academy, but he never made the grade at Stamford Bridge and ended up at Bournemouth, via a spell with Liverpool.

He then became the seventh-most expensive English footballer in history when he departed Bournemouth to join Tottenham Hotspur in 2024.

Solanke had netted 77 goals in 216 appearances for Bournemouth and Spurs viewed him as the perfect heir to Harry Kane, who had left the club one year earlier.

6. Jadon Sancho - €85m (Borussia Dortmund to Man Utd, 2021)

Jadon Sancho was wanted by every club in Europe following an excellent spell at Borussia Dortmund, in which he registered over 100 goal contributions in less than 160 appearances.

However, he missed his penalty kick in the Euro 2020 final shootout just days before his move to Man Utd was confirmed and his time at Old Trafford didn’t fare any better.

He frequently had issues with Erik ten Hag and Sancho ultimately joined Chelsea having only scored 12 goals in 83 Man Utd appearances.

5. Harry Maguire - €87m (Leicester to Man Utd, 2019)

Harry Maguire impressed during his debut Premier League campaign at Hull City and he subsequently earned a move to Leicester City as a result.

An impressive two-year stint at the King Power Stadium, and an eye-catching 2018 World Cup, convinced Man Utd to make him the most expensive defender in world football at the time.

Maguire was soon named Red Devils captain by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but he was stripped of that title by Erik ten Hag following an immense dip in form.

4. Harry Kane - €95m (Tottenham to Bayern Munich, 2023)

Harry Kane finally left Tottenham in 2023, with England’s all-time record goalscorer moving to Bayern Munich in a bid to finally win a major trophy.

Kane departed Tottenham as the club’s highest goalscorer in history, with 280 strikes in 435 games for the Lilywhites.

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

Birmingham City were widely mocked for retiring Jude Bellingham’s No.22 shirt upon his departure for Borussia Dortmund in 2020, but they will have received some relief when he joined Real Madrid three years later.

Every single elite team in Europe wanted Bellingham, however Real Madrid won the race for his signature after agreeing a €103m deal with Dortmund.

Bellingham enjoyed a stunning debut season in Spain, winning both La Liga and the Champions League.

2. Declan Rice - €116.6m (West Ham to Arsenal, 2023)

After being released by Chelsea, Declan Rice found a home at West Ham United and he progressed through the ranks before eventually becoming club captain following Mark Noble’s retirement.

Courted by a host of top Premier League clubs, including Man City, Rice ended up joining Arsenal for a club record fee of €116.6m.

He left West Ham with 245 appearances for the club under his belt.

1. Jack Grealish - €117.5m (Aston Villa to Man City, 2021)

Jack Grealish became the most expensive English footballer of all time when he left Aston Villa to join Pep Guardiola’s Man City in 2021.

Grealish had emerged as a fan favourite at Villa Park, having come through the club’s academy, but he departed having made over 200 appearances for the Birmingham-based outfit.

The Englishman won the Premier League title during his debut season at Man City, before helping Guardiola’s side win the treble the following year.

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