The 10 most expensive centre midfielders of all time

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 16 Feb 2025 07:57 CST
• 5 min read

Enzo Fernandez is the most expensive centre midfielder of all time, courtesy of his €121 million transfer from Benfica to Chelsea in January 2023.

The Argentina World Cup winner joined the Blues on Transfer Deadline Day after a month-long saga with Benfica following an impressive six months in Portugal.

Fernandez was one of several big-money signings made by Chelsea during the 2022-23 season, although he couldn't prevent a 12th-place finish during his first half-season at Stamford Bridge. He has had a mixed time at Chelsea so far.

READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024: All the Done Deals

Declan Rice is the second most expensive central midfielder in history. The England international joined Arsenal for a fee of €116.6m from West Ham in the 2023 summer transfer window. He had helped the Hammers win the Europa Conference League during his final appearances for the club. In his first season at Arsenal, they finished second.

In third place is Moises Caicedo, thanks to his €116m transfer to Chelsea. The Ecuadorian midfielder was involved in a transfer tug-of-war between the Blues and Liverpool, with the west London club winning. After a slow start, he has begun to show his best form.

Paul Pogba is the fourth most expensive centre midfielder of all time thanks to his 2016 transfer from Juventus back to Manchester United.

The Frenchman originally left Old Trafford to join the Italian giants on a free transfer in 2012, and re-signed for the Red Devils for €105m after four successful years in Turin.

Following six mixed years back at Man Utd, Pogba once again left the club to join Juventus on a Bosman transfer in 2022 where he was a disaster.

Jude Bellingham is fifth on this list due to his €103m transfer to Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in 2023. The England star was previously chased by both Manchester City and Liverpool, but Los Blancos won the race to sign him. He has been a phenomenon at Madrid.

Frenkie de Jong is the sixth most expensive centre midfielder in history; he cost Barcelona €86m when he joined from Ajax in 2019. The Blaugrana splashed the cash on the Dutchman after his pivotal role in Ajax’s run to the 2018/19 Champions League semi-finals. De Jong has failed to live up to his potential at Barca.

Next up is Arthur Melo, who was involved in a swap deal with Miralem Pjanic in 2020. The Brazilian left Barcelona to join Juventus for €80.6m, while Pjanic moved the other way for €60m. Both players were a disaster.

READ: The 10 most expensive goalkeepers of all time

READ: The 10 most expensive centre-backs of all time

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READ: The 10 most expensive right-backs of all time

READ: The 10 most expensive wingers of all time

READ: The 10 most expensive strikers of all time

The eighth most expensive centre midfielder of all time is Aurelien Tchouameni after his €80m transfer to Real Madrid in the 2022 summer window. The France international joined Los Blancos from AS Monaco after spending two-and-a-half years in the French principality. He has been a success.

In ninth place in the standings is another Real Madrid signing - Zinedine Zidane. The French legend was one of the first Galacticos to join Los Blancos in the early noughties, signing for €77.5m from Juventus in 2001.

Belgium international Kevin de Bruyne completes the top 10. He joined Manchester City from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg for €76m in 2015 after impressing in Germany after a disappointing spell at Chelsea. He has been one of the best Premier League players of all time.

The 10 most expensive centre midfielders of all time