GOAL takes a look back at the priciest moves from the past year
FIFA's Global Transfer Report 2021 indicates just under $5 billion (£3.6bn) changed hands as part of the business of football transfers in 2021.
According to the report, that figure marked a decrease of 13.6% on 2020 and a fall of 33.8% from the all-time high spend of 2019.
Despite much-publicised economic difficulties related to the global Covid-19 pandemic, there was still plenty of splashing out in football over the year, with Manchester City breaking a record in Britain while Manchester United scooped up a number of big-money signings.
GOAL takes a look back at the top 10 most expensive transfers of 2021.
1Jack Grealish | Aston Villa to Man City | £100m
Manchester City made Jack Grealish the most expensive British footballer of all time when they signed him from Aston Villa for £100 million ($139m) in the summer of 2021.
The reigning Premier League champions handed the Birmingham native a six-year contract and the No 10 shirt in what was a real statement signing.
The fee spent by City for Grealish catapulted him into the top 10 most expensive transfers of all time, sitting ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Romelu Lukaku.
AdvertisementGetty Images2Romelu Lukaku | Inter to Chelsea | £98m
Having rebuilt his reputation by helping Inter claim the Serie A title in 2020-21, Romelu Lukaku was brought back to Chelsea in August 2021 for £98 million ($136m) – making him the second most expensive footballer transferred in 2021. The transfer fee also pushed Lukaku into the top 10 most expensive signings of all time
"Since I left Chelsea, it’s been a long journey with a lot of ups and downs, but these experiences made me strong and the challenge is to try to help the team win some more trophies," Lukaku said in an interview with the club website after the deal was done.
"I can’t wait to get started and to help the club achieve more success."
Unfortunately for Lukaku and Chelsea, the striker has not yet managed to live up to the expectations associated with his fee and the ugly dispute over a Sky Sport interview in January 2022 – in which he was critical of Thomas Tuchel's tactics – has a sour taste for some. However, there is still time for the Belgian to redeem himself.
Getty Images3Jadon Sancho | Borussia Dortmund to Man Utd | £73m
Jadon Sancho returned to his native England in July 2021 when Manchester United forked out £73 million ($101m) in order to convince Borussia Dortmund to let him go.
That fee made the England international the third most expensive transfer of 2021, but his price tag puts him a staggering £25m behind Romelu Lukaku.
There had been speculation that Sancho might take the No 7 jersey at Old Trafford, as he had worn it at Dortmund, but it never happened and Cristiano Ronaldo quickly snatched it from Edinson Cavani on his return a few weeks later.
Getty Images4Achraf Hakimi | Inter to PSG | €70m
Inter collected a few considerable transfer fees in 2021 with Achraf Hakimi being bought by Paris Saint-Germain in a deal which saw €60 million (£52m/$71m) change hands, with a further €10 million (£9m/$12m) included in add-ons.
Speaking after the deal was announced, Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta explained, while it was "painful" to lose Hakimi to a European rival, the financial incentives allowed the Italian club "a bit of breathing room" following the difficulties associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.