5 most expensive attackers in football history

Bhargav
Kylian Mbappe is one of the most expensive attackers in the game's history
Kylian Mbappe is one of the most expensive attackers in the game's history

#3 Ousmane Dembele - €135 million

Ousmane Dembele at Barcelona
Ousmane Dembele at Barcelona

Ousmane Dembele arrived amid much fanfare at Barcelona in the summer of 2017 after a dazzling campaign at Borussia Dortmund.

But four years and a plethora of injuries later, it can be said that Dembele has arguably been one of Barcelona's worst transfers in the club's history. The €135 million man has been a pale shadow of his illustrious self at Dortmund, often failing to break into the Barcelona first team, even when fully fit.

In 118 appearances in all competitions, the 24-year-old has had a massively underwhelming return of 30 goals and 21 assists. Dembele almost joined Manchester United last summer, but the move broke down in the 11th hour.

The winger enjoyed an improved 2020-21 campaign, scoring 11 goals in 44 appearances. Barcelona have also offered him a 'renewed' contract with a 50% salary reduction due to their financial concerns. The deal seems to be telling him not too subtly that he remains surplus to requirements a year after a move away fell through.

It remains to be seen where the Frenchman will play when the 2021-22 club season commences.


#2 Kylian Mbappe - €145 million

Kylian Mbappe at PSG<p>

Kylian Mbappe at PSG

Kylian Mbappe is arguably one of the best young players in the game. He has repeatedly been tipped to carry forward the legacy of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

The Frenchman is only 22, but he already has a dazzling resume in club and international football. Mbappe has won four Ligue 1 titles, three of them with PSG, and is the first teenager in six decades to score in a FIFA World Cup final.

Four years after his gargantuan €145 million move from Monaco, it can be said that Mbappe has been a roaring success at PSG. The Frenchman has averaged more than a goal contribution per game (193 goals and assists in 171 matches).

Mbappe had an underwhelming outing at Euro 2020. He failed to score in four games and missed a penalty in France's shootout defeat to Switzerland. But there is no doubting the class and pedigree of Mbappe, who could soon turn down a contract extension at PSG to join Real Madrid.


#1 Neymar - €222 million

Neymar Jr. at PSG
Neymar Jr. at PSG

Brazilian superstar Neymar arrived at PSG on a world-record €222 million transfer in the summer of 2017.

After winning a continental treble and multiple league titles at Barcelona, the 29-year-old landed on French shores to pull out of Lionel Messi's shadow. Although he hasn't played as many games as he would have hoped to, Neymar has registered 139 goal contributions in 116 games for PSG.

Rumors of a return to Barcelona have surfaced every summer since Neymar joined PSG. However, the Brazilian signed a lucrative contract extension with the French giants this summer, indicating his desire to stay in Paris.

The PSG attacker has also been a star performer for Brazil as well, scoring 68 goals and assisting 48 times for the Selecao in 111 appearances.

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Edited by Anantaajith Raghuraman
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