The 10 most expensive Italian players of all time

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 7 Nov 2024 09:49 CST
• 6 min read

Italy remain one of the biggest footballing nations in the world and while Serie A is no longer the best league in Europe, it still remains fiercely competitive.

Italy boast some of the most well-known footballers in history and several have moved clubs for huge transfer fees.

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

READ MORE: The 10 most expensive English players of all time

10. Gianluca Scamacca - €38.6m (Sassuolo to West Ham, 2022)

After spending time in the academies of Lazio, Roma and PSV, Gianluca Scamacca ended up at Sassuolo, but he only enjoyed one full season in the first-team following four loan spells away.

The Italian forward netted 16 goals in 36 Serie A games during that campaign, which prompted West Ham United to spend €38.6 million to sign him in 2022.

Scamacca suffered with injuries in east London, however, and he was sold to Atalanta after just one season at West Ham.

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9. Federico Bernardeschi - €40m (Fiorentina to Juventus, 2017)

Federico Bernardeschi shone during his time at Fiorentina and Juventus decided to spend €40m to acquire his services in 2017.

However, the Italian never justified that investment and he struggled to become a regular starter during a five-year spell in Turin.

Bernardeschi won seven trophies at Juventus, but he left the club to join MLS side Toronto in 2022.

8. Leonardo Bonucci - €42m (Juventus to AC Milan, 2017)

Leonardo Bonucci stunned the European football world when he left all-conquering Juventus to join AC Milan in 2017.

He had won six consecutive Serie A titles in Turin, but he flirted with the idea of leaving and Milan pounced by offering Bonucci the allure of becoming club captain at San Siro.

The Italian was widely considered to be one of the best centre-backs in the world at the time and his arrival was seen as a major coup for Milan. However, he spent just one year with the Rossoneri before returning to Juventus in 2018.

7. Federico Chiesa - €44.6m (Fiorentina to Juventus, 2022)

Federico Chiesa progressed through the Fiorentina academy before making 153 first-team appearances for La Viola.

His form during the 2019-20 season convinced Juventus to sign him on a two-year loan deal and the move was made permanent for close to €45m in 2022.

Chiesa spent a further two years at Juventus, racking up a total of 32 goals in 131 games for the club, before joining Liverpool for €12m in August 2024.

6. Riccardo Calafiori - €45m (Bologna to Arsenal, 2024)

Riccardo Calafiori returned to Italy in 2023 following a successful stint at Basel, with Bologna signing the defender for €24.5m.

The Serie A club nearly doubled their money one year later following Calafiori’s sublime 2023-24 season and his performances at the 2024 European Championship.

He notched two goals and five assists as Bologna qualified for their Champions League, while he was Italy’s best player at Euro 2024. Arsenal beat Chelsea and Juventus to his signature, with the Gunners spending €45m to sign him.

5. Marco Verratti - €45m (PSG to Al Arabi, 2023)

Marco Verratti joined PSG from Italian side Pescara at the age of 20 and he spent 11 years in the French capital, becoming a club legend in the process.

Verratti racked up 416 appearances and 30 trophies at the Parc des Princes and while he suffered several key injury issues, he was one of Europe’s top midfielders for the majority of his time in France.

He finally left the club in 2023, joining Al Arabi for a whopping €45m.

4. Christian Vieri - €46.5m (Lazio to Inter, 1999)

After netting 29 goals in 31 games for Atletico Madrid, Christian Vieri sealed a big-money return to Serie A in 1998, joining Lazio for €28.4m.

However, he only spent one season at Lazio, scoring 14 times in 28 matches, before he signed for Inter Milan in 1999.

The San Siro giants paid €46.5m for the Italian and he spent six years at the club, notching 123 goals, before joining arch-rivals AC Milan on a free transfer.

3. Gianluigi Buffon - €52.9m (Parma to Juventus, 2001)

Gianluigi Buffon became the most expensive goalkeeper in history when Juventus paid an eye-watering €52.9m to sign him from Parma in 2001.

The previous record was held by Angelo Peruzzi, who joined Inter for €19m in 1999, but Buffon smashed that figure out of the park after establishing himself as arguably the best young shot-stopper in Europe.

He spent the next 17 years at Juventus, before returning to the club in 2019 after a one-year spell at PSG. In total, Buffon made 685 appearances, kept 322 clean sheets and won 22 trophies at Juventus.

2. Jorginho - €57m (Napoli to Chelsea, 2018)

Jorginho eclipsed Buffon’s record as the most expensive Italian player when he left Napoli to join Chelsea for €57m in 2018.

The midfielder followed Maurizio Sarri from Naples to Stamford Bridge after a four-year spell with the Serie A club.

Jorginho helped Chelsea win the Champions League in 2021 and he racked up 213 appearances for the club before departing to join Arsenal in January 2023.

1. Sandro Tonali - €64m (AC Milan to Newcastle, 2023)

Sandro Tonali is the most expensive Italian footballer of all time, courtesy of his €64m move from AC Milan to Newcastle in 2023.

He was reportedly happy to remain at San Siro, but Milan accepted Newcastle’s offer and Tonali was forced to leave his dream club, having 130 appearances for the Rossoneri.

However, Tonali’s debut campaign at Newcastle went disastrously as he was banned from all football activity due to betting charges.

The 10 most expensive Italian soccer players of all time