10 most expensive transfers in Premier League history

#8 Kevin De Bruyne | £67 million, 2015

Manchester City v Sheffield United - Premier League

Kevin De Bruyne is hailed as one of the biggest matchwinners in world football currently and is amongst the most expensive players in Premier League history. Having swapped Wolfsburg for Manchester City in the summer of 2015, De Bruyne has taken the Premier League by storm with his exploits for the Cityzens.

Aside from his passing range and long-range shooting, the 28-year-old's versatility and work ethic has gained plaudits universally.

Most importantly, De Bruyne's unique ability to score goals as well as providing assists for his teammates from an attacking midfield positions means he is one of the most complete players of his generation.

The Belgian genius is an indispensable member of Pep Guardiola's squad and looks set to go down as a Premier League legend.

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#7 Angel di Maria | £67 million, 2014

Manchester United v Arsenal - FA Cup Quarter Final

Angel di Maria's Manchester United move in the summer of 2014 was seen as a massive statement of intent from the Red Devils, who were looking to move on in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

The Argentine midfielder arrived with a lot of buzz for a British record fee of £67 million at the time and quickly endeared himself to the fans with a series of eye-catching displays.

Di Maria also inherited the iconic #7 shirt worn by former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, as he aimed to make himself a hero at Old Trafford. However, it wasn't to be as his Premier League dream quickly turned into a nightmare.

His form dipped considerably in the second half of the season, as off-field events like his Manchester home being robbed compounded his misery. Di Maria was sold to Paris Saint-Germain after a solitary season at Old Trafford, where he rejuvenated his career and remains a key player for the club.

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#6 Kepa Arrizabalaga | £72 million, 2018

Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea FC - Premier League

After Thibaut Courtois sealed a move to Real Madrid in 2018, Chelsea broke the world-record fee for a goalkeeper to draft in Athletic Bilbao's Kepa Arrizabalaga. In terms of value for money, the brutal truth is that the Spaniard has been one of the most underwhelming signings in Premier League history.

Having started his Chelsea career in decent fashion, Arrizabalaga began drawing criticism in the second half of the 2018-19 season for his polarising performances in goal. His form went from bad to worse in the following season, as he made several high-profile blunders that led to him being dropped for Willy Caballero.

Arrizabalaga has the worst save percentage of any goalkeeper in Premier League history and has been a massive disappointment since joining for a staggering £72 million in 2018.

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#5 Nicolas Pepe | £72 million, 2019

Arsenal FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League

Arsenal unexpectedly broke the bank for Lille's Nicolas Pepe last summer, as they shelled out an eye-watering fee of £72 million to secure his signature. While the Ivorian winger has not set the world alight, he has shown glimpses of his potential and become a key player for the Gunners under Mikel Arteta.

A gifted dribbler on the ball with devastating pace to burn, Pepe also has a wand of a left foot and has carved out a place on the right-wing in Arteta's 3-4-3 system. Arsenal were linked with his compatriot Wilfried Zaha last summer but opted for Pepe instead, as he was viewed as the one with a higher ceiling.

The North London club's huge investment on the Ivorian is yet to pay dividends, but Pepe has shown enough to warrant the manager's trust for at least another season.

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