Manchester United’s 10 Most Expensive Transfers Of All Time
Updated: 4 days ago
The 10 Most Expensive Players Manchester United Have Signed
There's nothing subtle about Manchester United in the transfer market. When they go big, and they often do, they make sure the whole world's watching. From jaw-dropping bids to deadline-day drama, United have built a reputation for turning heads and breaking records with their spending.
Whether it's chasing global superstars or filling urgent gaps in the squad, they've splashed serious cash over the years. So, who is Manchester United's most expensive signing?
Let's break down the Man Utd top 10 transfer fees of all time, a list full of blockbuster deals, sky-high expectations, and no shortage of debate.
Below Are Man Utd’s 10 Most Expensive Transfers Of All Time
10. Bruno Fernandes – From Sporting CP in 2020: £47 Million
Bruno Fernandes arrived at Manchester United from Sporting CP in January 2020 for an initial fee of around £47 million, with add-ons capable of taking the deal higher.
Unlike some of the other names on this list, Fernandes didn't need years to justify his price tag. He quickly became one of United's most important players, providing goals, assists and a creative spark that the team had badly needed.
He also took on the captaincy and became a central figure during one of the club's more turbulent periods.
His creativity reached another level in the 2025/26 season. Fernandes provided 21 Premier League assists, breaking the record for the most assists by a player in a single Premier League season.
The previous record of 20 was jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. Fernandes also won the Premier League Playmaker award for the first time.
Fernandes has since established himself as one of United's most productive midfielders of the modern era, making his relatively modest place on this list look rather different when judged by what he has actually delivered.
9. Casemiro – From Real Madrid in 2022: £60 Million
In a summer when Manchester United desperately needed steel and structure, they turned to a proven winner in Casemiro.
Casemiro's arrival from Real Madrid in August 2022 for a fee of around £60 million brought immediate authority to Erik ten Hag's midfield.
With five Champions League titles to his name, the Brazilian wasn't simply another signing. He arrived with an extraordinary winning pedigree and quickly demonstrated why United had been willing to pay such a substantial fee for an experienced midfielder.
He played an important role in United's 2022/23 campaign, helping the club win the League Cup and finish third in the Premier League. Despite a difficult second season, he won the FA Cup, and in his final campaign, he demonstrated precisely why United had invested in him.
8. Matheus Cunha – From Wolves in 2025: £62.5 Million
Matheus Cunha became Manchester United's first major signing of the summer 2025 rebuild when he joined from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £62.5 million.
The Brazilian had enjoyed an excellent 2024/25 campaign at Wolves, scoring 15 Premier League goals before making the move to Old Trafford.
His first season in Manchester produced 10 goals in all competitions, including a memorable winner against Arsenal at the Emirates. He also became an important part of the attack as United moved into a new era under Michael Carrick.
Cunha's ability to play across the forward line gives United tactical flexibility, while his energy and willingness to take defenders on have made him one of the more entertaining recent additions to the squad.
7. Bryan Mbeumo – From Brentford in 2025: £65 Million
Bryan Mbeumo joined Manchester United from Brentford in July 2025 after establishing himself as one of the Premier League's most productive attackers.
United agreed an initial fee of around £65 million, with further add-ons taking the potential value to approximately £71 million. The Cameroon international made an immediate impact in his first season, finishing 2025/26 with 12 goals in all competitions.
That tally put him joint-top among United's players for the campaign alongside fellow 2025 signing Benjamin Šeško.
Mbeumo's pace, direct running and ability to play across the attack have made him a key part of United's new-look forward line.
6. Jadon Sancho – From Borussia Dortmund in 2020: £72.6 Million
After years of pursuit, United finally landed Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund in July 2020 for £72.6 million.
Touted as one of Europe's most exciting young wingers, Sancho arrived at Old Trafford with enormous expectations after his outstanding years in Germany.
His United career never developed as many expected. There were flashes of his ability, but consistency proved difficult, while his relationship with Erik ten Hag eventually broke down.
Sancho subsequently returned to Borussia Dortmund on loan and later spent time at Chelsea.
His move remains one of United's most expensive deals, although the gap between the promise surrounding the signing and what ultimately followed is one reason it is still discussed whenever the club's biggest transfer fees are mentioned.
5. Benjamin Šeško – From RB Leipzig in 2025: £73.7 Million
Benjamin Šeško became one of Manchester United's most expensive signings when he joined from RB Leipzig in August 2025.
The deal included around £66.3 million guaranteed, with add-ons capable of taking the total package to approximately £73.7 million.
The Slovenian striker arrived at Old Trafford as one of Europe's most highly rated young forwards and quickly showed why United had been interested in him.
Šeško scored 12 goals in all competitions during his first season, matching Mbeumo's tally as United's joint-leading scorer in 2025/26. Still only 23, he remains one of the club's biggest long-term investments and one of the most important pieces of United's attacking rebuild.
4. Romelu Lukaku – From Everton in 2017: £75 Million
In the summer of 2017, Manchester United beat Chelsea to the signature of Romelu Lukaku, paying Everton £75 million for the prolific Belgian striker.
Lukaku hit the ground running under José Mourinho, scoring 27 goals in his debut season.
His form later became less consistent, and by 2019 he had left Old Trafford for Inter Milan.
It ultimately wasn't the long-term success United had hoped for, but Lukaku still produced more goals than several players who have commanded similarly huge fees. His £75 million move remains one of the biggest transfer deals in United's history.
3. Harry Maguire – From Leicester City in 2019: £80 Million
Harry Maguire's £80 million move from Leicester City to Manchester United in 2019 made him the world's most expensive defender at the time.
The England centre-back arrived after impressing at Leicester and during the 2018 World Cup, and United handed him the captaincy not long after his arrival.
Maguire's time at Old Trafford has produced plenty of criticism, but also some strong periods and important performances. The fee remains one of the most debated in United's transfer history, particularly because the pressure surrounding an £80 million defender was enormous from day one.
Still, Maguire has remained a senior figure at the club and has continued to contribute despite the ups and downs of his United career.
2. Antony – From Ajax in 2022: £81.3 Million
A deadline-day move in the 2022 summer transfer window saw Manchester United pay Ajax £81.3 million for Brazilian winger Antony.
The transfer reunited Antony with Erik ten Hag, who had previously coached him at Ajax.
Antony scored on his debut against Arsenal and initially looked capable of providing the explosive attacking threat United had been seeking.
However, his form became increasingly inconsistent, and he struggled to justify the enormous fee. He eventually spent time away from Old Trafford on loan at Real Betis, where he enjoyed a productive spell.
His £81.3 million price tag still makes him the second-most expensive signing in Manchester United's history.
1. Paul Pogba – From Juventus in 2016: £89 Million
Who is Manchester United's most expensive signing? The answer remains Paul Pogba. When United brought the French midfielder back to Old Trafford from Juventus in 2016 for £89 million, it was the biggest transfer in world football at the time.
Pogba was a graduate of United's academy who had left for Juventus as a teenager before developing into one of Europe's leading midfielders. His return was supposed to signal the beginning of a new era at Old Trafford.
There were spectacular goals, impressive performances and cup success, including the Europa League and League Cup in his first season. But injuries, inconsistency and controversy also became part of the story.
Pogba never quite reached the level many expected when United paid a world-record fee for his services, but his £89 million transfer remains the biggest fee Manchester United have ever paid for a player.
Table: Manchester United's 10 Record-Breaking Transfer Signings
Rank | Player | From | Fee |
1 | Paul Pogba | Juventus | £89m |
2 | Antony | Ajax | £81.3m |
3 | Harry Maguire | Leicester City | £80m |
4 | Romelu Lukaku | Everton | £75m |
5 | Benjamin Šeško | RB Leipzig | £73.7m* |
6 | Jadon Sancho | Dortmund | £72.6m |
7 | Bryan Mbeumo | Brentford | £65m* |
8 | Matheus Cunha | Wolves | £62.5m |
9 | Casemiro | Real Madrid | £60m |
10 | Bruno Fernandes | Sporting CP | £47m* |
* Figures can increase through add-ons.
Who Is Manchester United's Most Expensive Signing?
Paul Pogba remains Manchester United's most expensive signing, with the club paying £89 million to bring him back from Juventus in 2016.
The fee was a world record at the time and remains higher than the amounts United subsequently paid for Antony, Harry Maguire, Romelu Lukaku and their major 2025 signings.
The arrival of Šeško and Mbeumo has changed the lower end of the top 10, but neither has yet displaced Pogba from the summit.
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