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#3 Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) - €84.65 million
Virgil van Dijk is one of the best active centre-backs in the game. He has almost single-handedly transformed Liverpool's fortunes since arriving at the club three years ago.
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The 30-year-old Dutchman was key to the Reds winning the Champions League in 2018-19 and their first league title in three decades a season later. Possessing impressive aerial and tackling prowess, very few players can successfully dribble past the powerful Van Dijk.
After suffering a season-ending injury early last season, his absence led to a gaping hole in the Liverpool defense. The Reds' title defense faltered as Fortress Anfield was breached by opponents with alarming regularity.
Van Dijk has also been a key player for the Netherlands. The Dutch missed out on his commanding presence in defense as they exited Euro 2020 in the Round of 16.
#2 Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus) - €85.5 million
Matthijs de Ligt is arguably the best young defender in the game at the moment. The young Dutchman led from the front as Ajax made a fairy-tale run from qualifying to the Champions League semi-final in 2018-19, eliminating Italian giants Juventus from the last eight.
A few weeks later, the Bianconeri splurged the cash to make De Ligt one of the most expensive defenders in the history of the game.
The 21-year-old took his time to adapt to a new league and a new country but has become a key presence in the Juventus defense. De Ligt, who has scored five times in 75 appearances for the Bianconeri, is a clean tackler of the ball and is touted as a future leader of the club.
Already the subject of interest from a plethora of top clubs, it remains to be seen if De Ligt stays on at Juventus or embarks on a different challenge.
#1 Harry Maguire (Manchester United) - €87 million
Harry Maguire arrived at Manchester United on a gargantuan €87.5 million transfer in the summer of 2019, a transfer fee that raised quite a few eyebrows.
However, after two seasons at the club, Maguire has performed reasonably well and has been one of United's better players. The 28-year-old is not the fastest on the field, but makes up for that with his impressive aerial ability and tackling prowess.
The Manchester United captain recently shone for England at Euro 2020, winning a staggering 84% of his aerial duels as the Three Lions made the final.
Maguire has missed only four league games in two seasons at Manchester United, scoring three goals and providing as many assists.
