The 10 most expensive Mexican players of all time

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 18 Aug 2024 15:35 BST
• 5 min read

Mexico have dominated the CONCACAF Gold Cup over the past few decades, but their international success hasn’t stretched past North America.

While they haven’t possessed the elite talents of other nations across the world, a number of their biggest stars have transferred clubs for large fees.

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

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10. Rodolfo Pizarro - €14.5m (Chivas to Monterrey, 2018)

After a successful stint with Chivas, Rodolfo Pizarro joined Monterrey for €14.5m in 2018.

He spent 18 months with the Mexican club before joining Inter Miami for €10.9. Pizarro was then loaned back to Monterrey and he joined AEK Athens on a free transfer in 2023.

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9. Rodolfo Pizarro - €14.8m (Pachuca to Chivas, 2017)

Pizarro’s second inclusion is his initial move to Chivas from Pachuca. He cost €14.8m in January 2017.

The Mexican attacking midfielder scored 15 goals and provided 10 assists in 58 appearances for the club, and he played a key role as they won the league and cup double in 2016-17 and the CONCACAF Champions League in 2017-18.

8. Nery Castillo - €15m (Olympiacos to Shakhtar Donetsk, 2007)

Nery Castillo was a star at Olympiacos and his form in Greece convinced Shakhtar Donetsk to spend a whopping €15m to acquire his services.

Things didn’t go as planned in Ukraine, however, with Castillo netting just two goals in 18 appearances for Shakhtar. He was loaned out to Manchester City, Dnipro, Chicago Fire and Aris Saloniki before joining Mexican side Pachuca on a free transfer.

7. Edson Alvarez - €15m (Club America to Ajax, 2019)

Edson Alvarez’s first foray into European football came in 2019 when he joined Ajax for €15m.

The versatile central midfielder went on to make 147 appearances for the Dutch giants, while he helped them win three major trophies, including back-to-back Eredivisie titles.

6. Hirving Lozano - €15m (Napoli to PSV, 2023)

Hirving Lozano re-joined PSV Eindhoven for €15m in 2023 and that transfer sees him included in sixth place on this list.

The Mexico winger had originally joined PSV as a 22-year-old back in 2017, and he sealed a return to the Eredivisie after a four-year stint at Napoli.

5. Javier Hernandez - €17.8m (Bayer Leverkusen to West Ham, 2017)

Javier Hernandez, more commonly known as ‘Chicharito’, appears in fifth place. The Mexico legend left Manchester United for Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, but he sealed a Premier League return just two years later.

Hernandez joined West Ham for €17.8m in 2017 and he spent two seasons with the Hammers, scoring 17 goals, before joining Sevilla.

4. Raul Jimenez - €22m (Atletico Madrid to Benfica, 2015)

Raul Jimenez mustered just 28 appearances for Atletico Madrid and he left the club in 2015 following a €22m bid from Benfica.

The Mexico international subsequently racked up over 100 appearances for the Portuguese club during a four-year stay at the Estadio de Luz.

3. Raul Jimenez - €38m (Benfica to Wolves, 2019)

Jimenez is also the third-most expensive Mexican football player in history. He joined Wolverhampton Wanderers for €38m in 2019, having spent the previous season on loan at Molineux.

Jimenez eventually left Wolves for Fulham in 2023 and he departed the Midlands club with a record of 57 goals in 166 appearances.

2. Edson Alvarez - €38m (Ajax to West Ham, 2023)

Edson Alvarez is included on this list for a second time thanks to his €38m transfer to West Ham United in 2023.

The Mexican midfielder spent four years at Ajax and he joined West Ham upon his departure from the Netherlands, despite intense links with Chelsea.

1. Hirving Lozano - €45m (PSV to Napoli, 2019)

Hirving Lozano is the most expensive Mexican footballer of all time. The speedy winger left PSV Eindhoven to join Napoli for €45m in 2019 - the largest fee ever paid for a Mexican player.

Lozano spent four years at Napoli, mustering 155 appearances, 30 goals and a Serie A title, before returning to PSV in 2023.

The 10 most expensive Mexican soccer players of all time