10 most expensive players aged 30 plus

#5 Claude Makelele - £16m, Real Madrid to Chelsea, 2003

Claude Makelele revolutionised the idea of the holding midfielder in the Premier League

Arguably the most important signing on this list, Makelele’s move from Real Madrid to Chelsea in 2003 signalled a massive change for both clubs; at Madrid he’d been used as the holding midfielder to sit alongside Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and Raul – players hardly renowned for tracking back – and once he left and was replaced largely by David Beckham, the Galactico era had begun – and suddenly Real were somehow less successful.

At Chelsea meanwhile, despite being 30 when he made his move, he changed the fortunes of the side within a season – 2004/05 saw them win the Premier League for the first time under manager Jose Mourinho, who used Makelele in the same midfield lynchpin role he’d seen so much success at Madrid in – shielding great attackers like Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Arjen Robben.

Makelele won the Premier League again in 2005/06 and once he left Chelsea in 2008, he’d essentially revolutionised the idea of the defensive midfielder in the Premier League, laying the blueprints for the future success of the likes of N’Golo Kante, Eric Dier and Nemanja Matic. Not bad for a 30-year-old!