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10 transfers for €40m+
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In modern football we have begun to see a real trend of the top clubs focusing on bringing in younger players. With more stringent financial fair play and restrictions, teams have had to be more careful with their money, and in general lowering the average age of the squad is more likely to lead to sustainability. Real Madrid are arguably the biggest club in the world. They were once proclaimed as the 'Galacticos' as they used to splash out huge money for the world's biggest stars. But in more recent years they have become the antithesis of this. Concentrating more on bringing in younger talents, such as Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo and developing them. Or bringing in players on free transfers when their contracts have run out such as Kylian Mbappé or Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Spanish giant's modification in strategy has become the paradigm for many of Europe's top clubs. However, in years gone by it's not been followed by all, with some teams splashing out mouth-watering amounts of money to sign players in the twilights of their careers. At Transfermarkt, we have trawled through the archives to determine the most expensive ever transfers for players in their 30s. Some stars actually still represented decent value. Nonetheless, others were signings that clubs would rather forget.
The most expensive transfers for players aged 30 or over
Leading the way is none other than global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese forward moved from Real Madrid to Juventus when he was 33 years old for the huge fee of €117 million. His market value was still as high as €100m at the time, and he went on to score 101 goals in 134 games for the Italian giants to somewhat justify that fee, before moving on to Manchester United three years later for just €17m. In second place is England captain Harry Kane who moved from Tottenham to Bayern Munich aged 30 for €95m in the summer of 2023. He has since scored 77 goals in 83 games for the Bavarians.
Third place goes to Neymar, who moved from PSG to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, aged 31 in 2023 for €90m. It's safe to say that's the first transfer on the list that can be deemed a categorical failure, with the Brazilian playing just seven games in two years for the Saudi side before leaving on a free transfer to return to boyhood club Santos. Fourth goes to Casemiro - some eyebrows were raised when Manchester United forked out €71m to sign the then 30 year old midfielder from Real Madrid in 2023. Miralem Pjanić's controversial transfer from Juventus to Barcelona for €60m when he was 30 is fifth. In sixth is Italian midfielder Marco Verratti, who traded PSG for Qatari-side Al-Arabi for €45m.
Prolific Polish goalscorer Robert Lewandowski was also signed for €45m in his 30s - at 33 he moved from Bayern Munich to Barcelona for that fee putting him seventh on the list. Eighth position goes to Brazilian midfielder Paulinho, who moved from Barcelona to Chinese Super League outfit Evergrande for €42m, aged 30. Legendary Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci also went for €42m when he was 30 - from Juventus to AC Milan. Defender Kalidou Koulibaly completes the top 10 having transferred from Napoli to Chelsea aged 31 for €42m back in 2022.
