5 transfer records that have been broken this summer

The effects of the Neymar transfer is still prevalent in the transfer market. The Brazilian’s transfer annihilated the previous world record transfer and the domino effect of that transfer has resulted in many more record-breaking transfers.

Last season, Kylian Mbappe became the world’s most expensive teenager and also the second most expensive player in the world. Philippe Coutinho became the most expensive purchase by a La Liga club and Virgil van Dijk became the world’s most expensive defender.

This summer is no different. We are nearing the end of July and already some transfer records have been shattered across Europe. By the time the transfer window closes, more records could be broken including the ones that have been broken already this summer.

On that note, take a look at five transfer records that have already been broken this summer.

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#5. Most expensive signing by a Dutch club - Daley Blind

Blind returned to Ajax after a four-year stint with Manchester United

In 2014, Daley Blind was sold to Manchester United for €17.5 million and the Dutchman played 141 games for the club while winning four trophies.

He was deemed surplus to requirements at the Premier League club and it was evident as he played just 17 games in his final season.

Although Blind is now 28 and played sporadically last season, Manchester United still got €16.50 million for the player this summer when he returned to Ajax.

This made Blind the most expensive player signed by a Dutch club, breaking the 18-year-old record held by Mateja Kežman! Yes, it took 18 years to break the record transfer in Eredivisie.

Blind’s transfer broke Kezman’s record by a very small margin as the Serbian cost €16.34 million in 2000. However, back then, that was a huge fee for a player. The difference to the current third most expensive signing by a Dutch club is also marginal and it too belongs to a Serbian. Miralem Sulejmani cost Ajax €16.25 million in 2008.

#4. Most expensive African player - Riyad Mahrez

Mahrez completed his long-awaited move to Man City this summer

Before the start of the 2017 summer transfer window, the most expensive African player was Liverpool’s, Sadio Mane. That record has been broken by four different players since.

It was first broken by Mohamed Salah when Liverpool signed him a year ago and then again by another Liverpool player, Naby Keita when the Reds agreed on a fee for him a year in advance.

When Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang completed his move to Arsenal in January for £56.1 million, he became the most expensive African player. However, he only held that record for a few months as Riyad Mahrez completed his long-awaited move to Manchester City.

The Algerian cost the Premier League champions £60 million from Leicester City and thus, also became the club’s record transfer, breaking the £57 million record set by Aymeric Laporte in January.

#3. Most expensive goalkeeper - Alisson Becker

Alisson is Brazil's #1

Liverpool have undergone a massive change in fortunes under Jurgen Klopp after a few years of mediocrity under previous managers and one reason behind that is the German manager’s brilliant signings.

Under Klopp, Liverpool broke the transfer record for the most expensive African player (thrice), most expensive defender and now the most expensive goalkeeper.

Before the Reds completed a move for Alisson Becker, in euros the most expensive goalkeeper was Gianluigi Buffon and in pounds, the record belonged to Ederson of Manchester City. This confusion was because of the change in the exchange rate.

However, now there is no confusion about who is the most expensive goalkeeper in the world in euros or pounds after Alisson completed his move to Liverpool for £56 million plus £9 million in add-ons.

There has been a lot of discussion about the money Liverpool spent on the player, but if you see his numbers from the 2017/18 season, you’ll understand why the Reds spent so much money on the Brazilian.

#2 & #1. Most expensive signing by a Serie A side and most expensive played aged 30+ - Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo left Real Madrid after a nine-year stint

Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Juventus has been the biggest transfer of the window so far and understandably so.

Ronaldo at 33 years cost Juventus €100 million while Ronaldo at 24 years cost Real Madrid €94 million.

The fee Juventus paid for the Portuguese international is the highest amount paid by a Serie A club, breaking the record set by Gonzalo Higuain in 2016 when he moved to Juventus from Napoli for €90 million.

This fee is also the sixth highest ever paid for a player after Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembele and Paul Pogba. This also makes him the most expensive played aged 30+.

Unless Lionel Messi moves from Barcelona, Ronaldo’s record for the most expensive played aged 30 plus should remain intact for a few years. However, the same can’t be said about the most expensive signing by a Serie A club.