There’s so much money in football at the moment, the transfer fees being paid for players can sometimes be hard to get your head around.
As a result, there is always an emphasis on record fees spent, with many clubs boasting of ‘club-record’ transfer fees being paid when they announce their big-name buys during the transfer windows.
But what about club-record sales? They’re spoken about far less despite often representing the true value of a deal years after it’s happened once you evaluate the player’s career post-transfer.
Did the club get a good fee for their player? Or should they have tried to hold on for more given the success he went on to have? So many questions.
So we’ve taken a look at every Premier League club’s record transfer fee received, and there are so many in here you will have even forgotten happened or will be surprised still stand as records.
Have a flick through…
Arsenal – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – £35m
Arsenal made £35m when they sold midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Liverpool in 2017.
With a number of players being linked with a move away from the Emirates this summer, this record might just be broken before the beginning of next season.
Aston Villa – Christian Benteke – £32m
Christian Benteke was a goal machine during his time at Aston Villa, and that form earned him a move to Liverpool in 2015. The Anfield club paid Villa £32m for the striker, but since then he’s not been able to replicate his clinical touch in front of goal.
With Jack Grealish heavily linked with a move away from Villa Park this summer, we won’t be surprised if this record is broken by the time August comes around.
Bournemouth – Tyrone Mings – £21m
Tyrone Mings impressed while on loan at Villa during the 2018/2019 season, playing a key role in helping them secure promotion back to the Premier League via the play-offs.
It led to Villa agreeing to pay Bournemouth £21m for Ming’s permanent signature.
Brighton – Leonardo Ulloa – £9m
During his first Brighton spell, Ulloa’s goals caught the eye of Leicester, who were happy to pay Brighton £9m for his services back in 2014.
Brighton remains the only Premier League club with a record sale under £10m.
Burnley – Michael Keane – £25m
Michael Keane was so solid for Burnley between 2015 and 2017 that Everton were happy to part ways with £25m to bring him to Goodison Park.
Keane has been a solid member of the Toffees’ defence ever since.
Chelsea – Eden Hazard – £88.5m
Chelsea are mostly used to spending big in the transfer market but after years of Eden Hazard constantly wowing Premier League fans and increasing his profile, Real Madrid came calling with an £88.5m offer for his services and the Blues couldn’t do anything to stop the Belgian from moving on.
Crystal Palace – Aaron Wan-Bissaka – £45m
The right-back was so impressive during his break-through season at Crystal Palace that it didn’t take long for big clubs to start circling Selhurst Park.
Man United eventually won the race, with a £45m deal bringing the youngster to Old Trafford last summer.
Everton – Romelu Lukaku – £75m
Romelu Lukaku has scored goal wherever he’s been, not least at Goodison Park where he arguably made his biggest impact so far.
The striker joined Man United for £75m in 2017 and the Toffees have struggled to replace his goals ever since.
Leicester City – Harry Maguire – £80m
Another player who left for Old Trafford, Harry Maquire became the most expensive defender in the world when he left Leicester for Man United in an £80m deal last summer.
Liverpool – Philippe Coutinho – £142m
Currently standing as one of the most expensive transfers in football history, Coutinho’s £142m switch to Barcelona didn’t raise too many eyebrows at the time because he really was that good.
But now, in hindsight, it’s fair to say the Spanish giants overpaid for the Brazilian somewhat and Liverpool got a fantastic deal at the time.
Manchester City – Danilo – £34m
This deal may have slipped under the radar for many, but City received a club-record transfer income of £34m when they sold Danilo to Juventus, with Joao Cancelo arriving at the Etihad as part of the deal.
Manchester United – Cristiano Ronaldo – £80m
A list like this wouldn’t be complete with Cristiano Ronaldo making an appearance.
His move to Real Madrid back in 2009 was a world record deal at the time and many people couldn’t believe the finances involved.
But it’s fair to say he repaid that fee back and then some to Real Madrid.
Newcastle United – Andy Carroll – £35m
Part of a shock deadline day move to Liverpool in 2011, Carroll couldn’t really live up to his £35m pricetag at Anfield and his career has been plagued by injury ever since.
Now back at Newcastle, it’s fair to say the Magpies ended up getting a very good deal back then.
Norwich City – James Maddison – £22m
Only £22m? Yep, Leicester managed to get James Maddison for a what looks like a cut-price fee in 2018 and while Norwich are back in the Premier League, they could’ve really done with a player like him this season.
The fact Leicester could potentially sell Maddison on for four-times that fee proves just how good a piece of business that is.
Sheffield United – David Brooks – £10m
Considering the season Sheffield United have had, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see this record broken this summer, but getting just £10m for David Brooks looks a bit cheap now.
While Brooks has struggled with injury at Bournemouth, he’s still regarded as one of the most exciting young players in the Premier League right now.
Southampton – Virgil van Dijk – £75m
One of many Southampton players to have moved to Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk’s long transfer saga ended with the Reds paying the Saints £75m for his services in 2018.
Since then he has become one of the best defenders in world football and is beginning to fill his trophy cabinet up with almost every big trophy there is to win.
Tottenham Hotspur – Gareth Bale – £85m
This record could be broken if Spurs decide to sell Harry Kane in the near future but as things stand, Bale’s £85m move to Real Madrid in 2013 remains Tottenham’s record player sale.
They wasted almost every single penny of it, too!
Watford – Richarlison – £35m
Richarlison followed Marco Silva to Goodison Park after impressing under the Portuguese at Watford, with Everton paying £35m up front for the forward, with another £15m ready to be paid in add-ons.
He has continued to be just as is important to the Toffees and could go for more if the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid decide to act on their reported interest.
West Ham – Dimitri Payet – £26m
West Ham more than doubled their money on Payet when they reluctantly agreed to sell Payet back to Marseille for £26m in 2017, but not before the Frenchman had gone from fan favourite to public enemy number one in east London.
Many fans think the club could’ve got a lot for him at the time, but they were undoubtedly forced into taking a lower fee after the midfielder refused to play for the club in an attempt to push the deal through.
Wolves – Ivan Cavaleiro – £15m
We’re almost certain this record won’t last for much longer at Wolves, with several players currently attracting huge interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
But until then, Fulham’s £15m raid for Cavaleiro remains Wolves club-record player sale.