Some of the most significant transfers in Premier League and football history have featured Manchester United.

Managers have shown a penchant for extravagant spending over the years. Although Manchester United has a strong academy, the club has had to resort to major spending in order to bolster its first team.

For maximum trophy success, investment is essential. There have been some high-profile signings in the past that turned out to be club legends. Some, however, have bluntly failed to take off.

Recent high-priced signings to Manchester United’s roster include Mason Mount, Andre Onana, and now Rasmus Hojlund. Here, then, is a rundown of United’s all-time record contracts…

List of Manchester United’s Highest Paid Players

The ten priciest players to ever join Manchester United

Paul Pogba

Spending £89 million to get him from Juventus in 2016

Signing Antony,

formerly of Ajax, for £81.3 million in 2022.

In 2019, Leicester City paid £80 million to sign Harry Maguire.

In 2017, £75 million was spent to acquire Romelu Lukaku from Everton.

Sancho Jadon

A £72.6 million transfer fee was paid to Borussia Dortmund in 2020.

Hojlund, Rasmus

£64 million contract, signed with Atalanta in 2023.

£60 million for the 2022 signing of Casemiro from Real Madrid.

A total of £59.7 million was paid to acquire Angel di Maria from Real Madrid in 2014.

£55 million with add-ons to sign Mason Mount from Chelsea in 2023.

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£50 million 2019 signing bonus from Crystal Palace

Bruno Fernandes Joins Chelsea from Sporting for £47 Million in 2020

In 2018, Shakhtar paid £47 million to have Fred sign with them.

Martinez, Lisandro

£46 million signing bonus + add-ons will be paid to Ajax in 2022

In 2023, the club paid £43 million to sign him away from Inter Milan.

Juan Mata’s 2014 transfer from Chelsea cost £37 million.

In 2015, Manchester United paid £36 million plus bonuses to sign Anthony Martial from Monaco.

Famous actor Donny van de Beek

Purchased at £35 million plus add-ons from Ajax in 2020.

Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane signed with the club for £34.2 million (plus bonuses) in 2021.

Lindelof, Victor

Paid £31 million to sign him away from Benfica in 2017.

With £31 million, Memphis Depay joined the Red Devils from PSV Eindhoven in 2015.

Paid £30.75 million (then) to acquire from Tottenham in 2008.

Transferred from Leeds in 2002, Rio Ferdinand cost £30 million to sign.

Mr. Eric Bailly

£30 million to sign him away from Villarreal in 2016.

Success and failure

We’ve avoided making the above list more complicated than it has to be by treating optional extras as if they were part of the primary transfer charge. Amad wouldn’t be excluded if the full sum of his £37 million fee hadn’t been paid in incentives, but just £19 million of that was. Indeed, the Ballon d’Or clause in Anthony Martial’s contract is quite unlikely to ever be exercised.

Over the years, there have been a lot of successes and failures. Many would say that Manchester United has wasted most, if not all, of the £89 million they spent on Paul Pogba. Neither Angel di Maria nor Romelu Lukaku played more than two full seasons.

Even now, Bruno Fernandes appears to be a steal, and with any luck, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund will prove to be similarly inexpensive in the future.

British stars like Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand down the list have been invaluable to the club throughout the course of their careers.