Top 10 most expensive U21 transfers of all time ft. Jude Bellingham & Kylian Mbappe
(Courtesy : LaLiga)
Exploring the priciest U21 transfers in football history!
In the world of football, the pursuit of talent knows no bounds, and clubs are willing to break the bank to secure the services of promising young players. The market for transfers has witnessed astronomical figures with record-breaking fees attached to the brightest prospects. The significant financial investments made in these young talents reflect not only their potential on the field but also the lucrative rewards that await both the club and the player in the future.
The young stars represent the future of the beautiful game, and their transfers have sent shockwaves through the footballing world for so many years now, they symbolize the immense value placed on youth and the anticipation that surrounds their development. Whether they meet the lofty expectations or succumb to the pressures, their journeys will always be remembered.
As the market continues to evolve, we can only imagine the staggering sums that future U21 stars will command, further solidifying their status as the game’s most sought-after treasures. Here are the top 10 most expensive U21 transfers of all time:
Most expensive U21 transfers in football history
| Rank | Name | Fee | Clubs |
| 1 | Kylian Mbappe | $194.5M | AS Monaco to PSG |
| 2 | Ousmane Dembele | $146M | Dortmund to Barcelona |
| 3 | Joao Felix | $137.5M | Benfica to Atletico Madrid |
| 4 | Jude Bellingham | $111.3M | Dortmund to Real Madrid |
| 5 | Neymar | $95M | Santos to Barcelona |
| 6 | Matthijs de Ligt | $92.4M | Ajax to Juventus |
| 7 | Jadon Sancho | $91.9M | Dortmund to Manchester United |
| 8 | Wesley Fofana | $87M | Leicester City to Chelsea |
| 9 | Kai Havertz | $86.5M | Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea |
| 10 | Victor Osimhen | $81M | Lille to Napoli |
10. Victor Osimhen: $81M
Napoli completed the signing of forward Victor Osimhen from Lille. Napoli announced the signing of Victor Osimhen in 2020. The deal to bring Osimhen was a club record fee of $81 million, including the bonuses. He has been impressive as he scored 60 goals since then for Napoli in the Serie A.
He was directly involved in 30 goals this season, helping Napoli win the Scudetto. He now plays in the Turkish Süper Lig with Galatasaray.
9. Kai Havertz: $86.5M
Chelsea signed the German attacking midfielder Kai Havertz on a five-year contract in 2020. The 21-year-old made a move from Bayer Leverkusen to Stamford Bridge for a fee that will rise. Lampard was very keen on signing him, and he helped Chelsea clinch the Champions League title after scoring in the final against Manchester City in 2021.
He joined Arsenal in the summer of 2023.
8. Wesley Fofana: $87M
The 21-year-old French defender was signed by Chelsea after agreeing on a seven-year deal. Before joining Chelsea, he made 37 Premier League appearances after joining Leicester from French side Saint-Etienne in 2020.
Fofana was part of Brendan Rodgers’ starting XI as Leicester won the FA Cup for the first time in their history by beating Chelsea in the 2021 final. His career with the Blues has been marred by constant injuries.
7. Jadon Sancho: $91.9M
After his participation at Euro 2020, the England international became Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s second signing of the summer following the addition of goalkeeper Tom Heaton. He signed a five-year deal at Manchester United, with an option for a further year.
The 21-year-old joined the Premier League club after four years in the Bundesliga with Dortmund, where he won the German Cup in his final season and scored 50 goals across 137 appearances. He has not lived up to the hype and is set to leave the Red Devils as a free agent this summer.
6. Matthijs de Ligt: $92.4M
Juventus completed the signing of Netherlands centre-back Matthijs de Ligt from Ajax in 2019. The then 19-year-old, who had previously been linked with Manchester United and Barcelona, signed a five-year contract with theSerie A champions. He became the most expensive defender in Serie A history. He was replaced by Torino defender Gleison Bremer. In 2022, after he joined the German champions Bayern Munich, he now plays for Manchester United
5. Neymar: $95M
Neymar was 21-years-old when he arrived in Barcelona in June 2013 as football’s most exciting young talent. The Brazilian spent four years at the Camp Nou, during which he won two league titles, three Copa del Reys and a UEFA Champions League. He became a part of the legendary trio of Messi, Neymar and Suarez, also known as MSN. They were an integral part of the Barcelona squad that was playing top football and winning trophies for fun.
4. Jude Bellingham: $111.3M
Real Madrid signed Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2023. The England midfielder agreed a six-year contract at the Bernabeu. During his time with Dortmund, Bellingham scored 24 goals and provided 25 assists, and was recently named the Bundesliga’s player of the season.
They missed out on the title in agonising fashion on the final day of the campaign, with Bellingham having to watch from the sidelines due to a knee injury. The England international is expected to run Madrid’s midfield for years to come.
3. Joao Felix: $137.5M
Atlético Madrid signed 19-year-old striker João Felix from Benfica in 2019, making him the fourth most expensive player of all time. He also became Atletico Madrid’s most expensive player, surpassing the price of Thomas Lemar.
He went on to enjoy a breakout season in 2018-19, netting 15 goals and providing nine assists in 26 appearances as Benfica reclaimed the Primeira Liga title. Felix had enormous potential, but is currently playing in the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr.
2. Ousmane Dembele: $146M
Ousmane Dembele was 20-years-old when he joined the Spanish side, Barcelona. He was brought from Dortmund after he agreed to sign a five-year contract. His signing was the second biggest transfer ever in 2017; Neymar’s transfer to Paris St-Germain was the highest ever.
Dembele suffered a lot of injuries during his time in Barcelona, but he joined PSG in 2023 and has finally found top form. He helped Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) achieve their first-ever historic treble in the 2024–25 season by winning Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and their first UEFA Champions League title, defeating Inter Milan 5-0 in the final. Ousmane Dembélé won the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
1. Kylian Mbappe: $194.5M
In 2017, Mbappe joined Paris St-Germain as an 18-year-old, after his breakthrough season with AS Monaco. His performances in Monaco impressed the French club; he was lethal in attacking alongside Bernardo Silva, who was a part of the Monaco squad.
The French attacker has since then become the club’s all-time top scorer and won the World Cup once and remains one of the most influential players in the world right now. He joined Real Madrid in 2024.
When did Mbappe join PSG from Monaco?
In 2018.
How much did Barcelona pay to sign Neymar from Santos?
$95M.
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Hardik is a journalist and Senior Assistant Editor at Khel Now. A graduate of Maharaja Agrasen College, Delhi University, he brings a versatile skill set to the table with experience in writing, editing, and on-camera work. A passionate follower of Manchester United, Lewis Hamilton, and CM Punk. He combines his love for sports with sharp editorial insight.