10 most expensive players aged 30 plus

#4 Claudio Bravo - £16m, Barcelona to Manchester City, 2016

Claudio Bravo's move to Manchester City was an absolute disaster

One of the most controversial aspects of Pep Guardiola’s 2016 takeover of Manchester City was his treatment of longtime goalkeeper Joe Hart. Sure, Hart had looked shaky between England’s sticks in Euro 2016, but he’d been solid for years for City and was liked by the fans. If Pep had dispensed of him due to his form it would’ve been one thing, but instead, Guardiola removed him for the crime of not being good enough with his feet.

Obsessed with “playing the ball out from the back”, Guardiola then spent £16m on Chilean goalkeeper Bravo – 33, a young age for a keeper but old enough to make this list – basically because there was no way he’d ever have gotten Manuel Neuer. And for as good as Bravo was with his feet, unfortunately, he seemed just as terrible with his hands. Which is kind of important if you’re a goalkeeper.

After a series of gaffe-filled games Bravo was replaced at times by Willy Caballero, and this summer he’s been replaced by another expensive new keeper in Ederson, who cost almost double Bravo’s fee and seems, well, a little better at least.