Footballers from lesser known countries who commanded astronomical transfer fees

#3 Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan to Chelsea – €43.875)

Andriy Shevchenko achieved cult status for his play with AC Milan

The Ukranian international had already won it all before he completed his €43.875 million from AC Milan to Chelsea in the summer of 2006 – a year later after reports had suggested that Russian oligarch and Chelsea’s owner Roman Abramovich had offered Milan €75.2 million and Hernan Crespo for the services of the striker.

Boasting of 173 goals from 296 appearances for the San Siro outfit and having won the Serie A, UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup prior to his big money move to the English Premier League outfit, huge things were expected from the Ukranian. However, his stint at Stamford Bridge was nothing short of a glorious failure as he managed to score only 22 goals in 76 appearances for the Blues before being loaned out to the Rossoneri.

He returned to Stamford Bridge to make one more appearances for the club before being sold to his boyhood club Dynamo Kyiv in the summer of 2009.