Jose Mourinho's 15 Most Expensive Signings Ever
- Think Football Ideas
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The 15 Most Expensive Jose Mourinho Signings of All-time
When Jose Mourinho sealed the UEFA Champions League back in 2004 with Porto, few had heard of the Portuguese tactician beyond Iberian borders. He was like the sharp disruptor in the shadows of European football, ready to change the order of things.
But following his first interview as Chelsea boss in 2004, the spending began. And with that spending came a procession of players who defined his reigns at clubs across England, Spain, and Italy, shaping his reputation as one of football’s most compelling managers.
Mourinho has always been more than a coach. In his most successful years as a manager, he was a builder of squads, a recruiter who thrives on bringing in figures who fit his tactical theatre.
Every major stop in his career has been accompanied by headline-grabbing arrivals, many of whom carried extraordinary price tags.
Some of these recruits grew into legends, powering title triumphs. Others struggled, reminders of the risk that comes with heavy investment. Together, they form a transfer legacy as complex and compelling as Mourinho himself.
Here are The 15 Most Expensive Jose Mourinho Signings of All-time
15. Didier Drogba – £24 (Marseille → Chelsea)
When Didier Drogba joined Chelsea in 2004, the signing raised eyebrows. Who would have thought someone who started his career as a right back would thrive in the English top flight?
Few in England truly knew what the Ivorian could deliver, despite his remarkable year at Marseille. Chelsea beat off competition from several Italian sides, including Juventus, to secure Drogba’s signature.
Mourinho’s conviction, however, never wavered. The Abidjan-born lad, Drogba grew into one of the most iconic strikers of his generation, blending sheer physicality with an ability to deliver in the biggest moments.
His Champions League-winning goal against Bayern Munich eight years later became folklore, though the foundations of his legend were laid in Mourinho’s first Chelsea cycle. Drogba’s arrival symbolised Mourinho’s eye for transformative players.
14. Michael Essien – £24.4 (Lyon → Chelsea)
Michael Essien’s move to Chelsea in 2005 set a transfer record for the West London club when he signed a five-year deal, but Mourinho saw him as far more than a headline-grabber.
“I wanted him because I was looking for a player to complete what was already a very strong squad in every position,” Mourinho explained at the time.
The Ghanaian midfielder arrived from Lyon, combining raw power with unexpected finesse after offers of £10m, £16.75m, £18m, £21m, and even £21m plus Tiago had been rejected by the French champions.
Mourinho prized grit, and Essien embodied it, as he went on to shield the defence while surging forward with relentless energy.
He became a cornerstone of Chelsea’s midfield, dictating battles and shaping the tempo of matches. Though injuries curtailed his later years, his early spell remains one of the defining chapters of Mourinho’s career.
13. Henrikh Mkhitaryan – £26.3m (Borussia Dortmund → Manchester United)
Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s arrival at Manchester United in 2016 reflected Mourinho’s ambition to inject creativity into a side searching for a spark.
Fresh from dazzling at Borussia Dortmund, where he won the 2015-16 Bundesliga player of the season, scoring 23 goals in all competitions, the Armenian carried the hopes of Old Trafford’s faithful.
He was also Armenia’s all-time top scorer at that point, with 19 goals in 59 appearances, a record that amplified the sense of responsibility on his shoulders when he crossed into English football.
His time under Mourinho was mixed, yet memorable. He played a crucial role in the Europa League run, including a decisive strike in the final, underlining his technical gifts.
However, inconsistency limited his impact, and his Old Trafford journey ended earlier than expected. Still, his signing highlighted Mourinho’s willingness to gamble on flair.
12. Andriy Shevchenko – £30m (AC Milan → Chelsea)
Andriy Shevchenko’s move to Chelsea in 2006 was framed as a transfer that could tilt the balance of European football. A Ballon d’Or winner with AC Milan, he arrived with a reputation as one of the world’s most lethal forwards at age 29.
Yet life in England proved challenging as he scored only 9 league goals in two seasons. Struggles with adaptation and injuries meant Shevchenko never delivered the returns expected from his price tag, which eclipsed the £24.5m they paid Lyon for Essien in 2005.
For Mourinho, it became one of the most frustrating sagas of his tenure, a reminder that even the most celebrated talents can falter under new conditions.
11. Willian – £30m (Anzhi → Chelsea)
Willian’s path to Chelsea was full of intrigue, nearly ending at Tottenham before the winger made a decisive switch to Stamford Bridge. His arrival injected pace, creativity, and unpredictability into Mourinho’s attacking setup.
Over the years, he became a dependable presence in key matches, contributing to multiple Premier League title runs. Known for his work ethic and ability to stretch defences, Willian carved out a reputation as both a reliable team player and a player capable of moments of individual brilliance.
10. Luka Modric – £30m (Tottenham → Real Madrid)
When Mourinho orchestrated Luka Modric’s transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid, few could foresee the enduring impact the Croatian would have on European football.
Modric’s vision, composure, and ability to dictate tempo quickly elevated him into the core of Los Blancos’ midfield.
While his finest years unfolded under Zidane and Ancelotti, the foundation laid during Mourinho’s tenure allowed him to flourish.
Modric combined tactical intelligence with technical mastery, creating a blueprint for midfielders like Casemiro who balanced defensive responsibility with creative orchestration at the highest level.
9. Cesc Fàbregas – £30m (Barcelona → Chelsea)
Cesc Fàbregas’ return to England under Mourinho marked a period of renewed purpose for the Spaniard. Transitioning from Arsenal legend to Chelsea playmaker, he immediately impacted matches with his vision, passing range, and intelligent positioning.
Among his standout contributions were a sublime assist to Diego Costa on 5 October 2014 against Arsenal and another decisive pass to Costa in a home game versus Manchester United on 7 February 2016, illustrating his ability to change outcomes in a single moment.
He repeatedly demonstrated this influence throughout his debut season at Stamford Bridge, which concluded with a league title.
During Mourinho’s second spell at Chelsea, Fàbregas combined technical finesse with tactical awareness, providing midfield stability while consistently driving the team’s attacking play.
8. Eric Bailly – £30m (Villarreal → Manchester United)
Eric Bailly became Mourinho’s first signing at Manchester United, representing a bold investment in defensive potential. The Ivorian centre-back impressed early, combining athleticism with aggressive ball-winning ability, helping United secure the Europa League.
Unfortunately, injuries repeatedly interrupted his momentum, causing him to miss over thirty games in just two-and-a-half seasons. Despite these setbacks, Bailly demonstrated glimpses of elite quality, particularly in high-intensity encounters.
7. Victor Lindelöf – £31m (Benfica → Manchester United)
Victor Lindelöf’s arrival at Old Trafford represented Mourinho’s effort to inject stability and composure into United’s backline. The Swedish defender displayed flashes of technical proficiency, reading of the game, and calmness under pressure.
However, consistency remained elusive, with performances oscillating between solid contributions and lapses in concentration. Despite these challenges, he offered depth and versatility, occasionally stepping into critical matches with impactful interventions.
6. Diego Costa – £32m (Atlético Madrid → Chelsea)
When Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge in 2014, he was determined to restore Chelsea’s cutting edge in attack.
The answer came in Diego Costa, a striker who had terrorised La Liga defenders with Atlético Madrid and fired them to their first league title since 1996.
He had struck 36 goals in 52 appearances for Los Rojiblancos the season before his arrival, joining Chelsea as the third summer signing after Cesc Fàbregas and Mario Pašalić.
At Chelsea, his fearless presence and combative edge were exactly what Mourinho demanded. Costa hit the ground running, scoring at a ruthless pace and powering the Blues to Premier League glory.
He thrived in Mourinho’s fiery environment, a forward perfectly suited to such intensity, and later added another league title under Mourinho’s successor, Antonio Conte.
5. Tammy Abraham – £34m (Chelsea → Roma)
Years after his Chelsea glory days, Mourinho set about rebuilding Roma’s attacking strength. Tammy Abraham, once regarded as a rotational figure in West London, became central to that mission in 2021.
He had been Chelsea's joint-top scorer the season before securing his move to Serie A, and with the Blues reigning as European champions at the time, a £68m buy-back clause was inserted into the deal. The transfer came only days after Chelsea had re-signed Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan.
In Italy, the English forward thrived, adapting swiftly to the tactical demands of Serie A and Mourinho’s expectations. His debut campaign brought goals both domestically and in Europe, capped by Roma’s Conference League triumph.
It was the kind of revival Mourinho relishes, taking a player once doubted and reshaping him into a genuine talisman for a historic season at the Stadio Olimpico.
4. Nemanja Matić – £40m (Chelsea → Manchester United)
Nemanja Matić’s connection with Mourinho spanned several clubs, built on a foundation of trust and mutual understanding. When Mourinho brought him to Manchester United in 2017 for £40m, it was a continuation of that loyalty.
Mourinho even described Matić as a “team player” who possessed “everything we want in a footballer: loyalty, consistency, and ambition.” The Serbian midfielder delivered steel and discipline at the heart of the side, providing the structure Mourinho demanded.
Although major trophies eluded them, Matić epitomised Mourinho’s preference for tactical intelligence and unwavering commitment. The move highlighted a recurring theme in Mourinho’s career: surrounding himself with trusted lieutenants who fully grasped his footballing philosophy.
3. Fred – £47m (Shakhtar Donetsk → Manchester United)
In 2018, Mourinho’s United turned to Shakhtar Donetsk for midfield reinforcement, bringing in Fred for a significant fee.
The Brazilian had already made 155 appearances for Shakhtar after joining from Internacional in 2013, contributing 15 goals and helping the club secure three league titles, three Ukrainian Cups, and four Ukrainian Super Cups.
At Old Trafford, Fred offered energy, ball progression, and transitional play, but his adaptation proved slower than expected. Though later managers drew more consistent performances from him, under Mourinho, he was still searching for rhythm.
2. Romelu Lukaku – £75m (Everton → Manchester United)
Romelu Lukaku’s switch from Everton to Manchester United in 2017 was one of the most scrutinised deals of the era.
At Everton, he had already netted 68 Premier League goals across two spells, including 25 in the season before United came calling, but many questioned both the player and the move.
Mourinho backed the powerful Belgian to become the focal point of United’s attack, and his debut season delivered a solid goal return. Yet, despite his productivity, debates around his fit at the club never subsided.
Mourinho’s vision for Lukaku reflected the ambition and challenges of big-money transfers, an investment that promised dominance but imposed pressures few could consistently bear.
The twist is that he still managed 42 goals in 89 appearances for United before seeking pastures new at Inter, where he revitalised his career.
1. Paul Pogba – £89m (Juventus → Manchester United)
Having left Manchester United for Juventus for £1.5m in 2012, the return of Paul Pogba to Old Trafford in 2016 was loaded with symbolism, and the amount exceeded the £85m Real Madrid spent on Tottenham’s Welsh winger Gareth Bale back three years earlier.
A former academy product re-signed for a record-breaking fee, and the Frenchman was meant to spearhead a new era under Mourinho. On the pitch, Pogba produced flashes of brilliance, helping United lift the Europa League and League Cup.
Yet his time also reflected tensions, clashes over role, style, and leadership. Despite the divided legacy, the magnitude of his transfer stands as Mourinho’s most expensive gamble, one that epitomised the complexities of modern football recruitment.
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