Top 12 most expensive Premier League transfers in summer 2022

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The Premier League is the epitome of Europe's domestic football competitions. Due to the league generating the highest revenue year in and out, the share for each team is significantly larger than some of the shared pools of other domestic divisions. In recent years, superstars have often flocked to compete in the English top tier as it presents them the best stage to compete on.

With the league already well-established, the appeal of each player rises manifold. Investment in the Premier League has also risen, with the newly promoted sides such as Nottingham Forest spending much more than the giants of Europe, only to extend their stay in the league. Here, we take a look at the 10 most expensive transfers in the Premier League.

12. Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli to Chelsea)- £34.20m

Chelsea lost a lot of players from their defensive line, so spending adequately was the need of the hour. Under new ownership, the London-based side opted for some of the biggest names in their search for replenishment.

Koulibaly's signature was sought after by many top teams. Chelsea's proposed fee was good enough for him to bid farewell to Napoli and the centre-back joined the Blues.

After spending eight years in the Serie A, the Senegal international had matured in a league that boasts about its defensive style of play. Partnering alongside a fellow Serie A and Ligue 1 veteran in Thiago Silva, everyone can expect a solid partnership brewing at Stamford Bridge.

11. Matheus Nunes (Sporting CP to Wolves)- £40.50m

Unsurprisingly, another Portugal international has opted to join Bruno Lage's Wolverhampton. This time, it's an attacking midfielder from Lisbon who makes the shift. With a good set of passing abilities, the Wolves demand the player to play his regular number 8 role to contribute an extra edge to their attacking.

The 23-year-old was regularly praised for his effectiveness in breaking defensive lines with penetrative passes and flourishing in a double pivot system. That would work well for his new team as well, and fellow Portuguese midfielders Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho are adept with that strategy.

10. Kalvin Phillips (Leeds to Manchester City) - £43.87m

After committing himself to the cause of Leeds, it was finally time for the Phillips to move on. The Leeds faithful were thankful to Phillips for playing a prominent role in their promotion after many years of insignificancy.

Manchester City regarded him as a proper replacement for their departing captain Fernandinho. The proposed offer was too good for Leeds to dismiss, and thus the English international made a switch. Phillips now belongs to arguably the strongest side in the league. The possibilities for the 26-year-old are endless, as he will get the opportunity to shine under one of the best managers in the game.

9. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City to Chelsea) - £50.58m

Sterling felt unpleased after a memorable seven-season stay at Manchester City. He required a change of scene, away from Pep Guardiola's shadow. The English international deemed his status was diminishing at City.

Elsewhere, Thomas Tuchel needed to replenish their departing numbers. Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku left for Germany and Italy respectively. Chelsea needed a Premier League-proven player, not taking a gamble with another choice.

The opportunity that Sterling desired was promised at the Bridge. The winger, thus, switched, opting to play for another top side in the league he has developed for years.

8. Lisandro Martínez (Ajax to Manchester United) - £51.63m

Many raised their eyebrows when Erik ten Hag demanded players from his previous project at Ajax. A choice like Martínez was torn apart by the English media for his non-ideal stature. Everyone wrote him off simply because he was not a traditional six-foot defender.

But Martínez only needed an opportunity to prove his naysayers wrong. He showed why he was an urgent requirement for ten Hag in their last outing against Liverpool. The Argentina international was a critical factor in preventing an own goal that would have cost Manchester United its first win of the season. He's just 24, and there is still plenty of time left for him to mature and develop.

7. Richarlison (Everton to Tottenham) - £52.2m

The Brazilain forward was one of the main reasons for Everton's survival in the Premier League. Due to his attacking prowess and verstality, the Merseysiders managed to evade the axe of relegation. His persistency and determination ignited Antonio Conte's interest in him.

With a drop in Everton's quality last season, their prime goal-scorer wanted a way out of another possible relegation battle. Richarlison, as a Brazil international, had every right to compete in a better squad. So when the opportunity came from Tottenham, the forward grabbed it with both hands.

6. Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City) - £54m

Last year Pep Guardiola competed without a regular centre-forward, with Gabriel Jesus functioning from the bench as a back-up. The gamble eventually got to the star-studded side as they came up short again in the knockouts of the Champions League.

That piece of silver has eluded the Citizens for years, despite being a reckoning force within the league. The message was clear - they needed the best goalscorer that money could buy.

The Norwegian striker inherits a supremely-talented supply line behind him, making him an infamous threat to any opposition. In just three league games, the 22-year-old has already scored three times. He's a guaranteed goalscorer and is now one of Europe's best. For that fee, City might have just got the best bang for their buck in this summer's window.

5. Marc Cucurella (Brighton to Chelsea) - £58.77m

Cucurella's first season at Amex was an impressive one. Adjusting to the robust nature of English football is a daunting task, but he made it look easy. For his series of phenomenal performances, he was named Brighton's Players' Player of the Season and Player of the Season, thriving under Graham Potter.

Plenty of other European teams were keen on the product of Barcelona's youth system. The 24-year-old, however, dreamt of moving back to Spain and playing in a packed Camp Nou. However, a good offer arrived at Brighton from London. The left-back accepted the move to join Chelsea's ranks for the new season, making him one of the highest-paid wingbacks in the league. It will be interesting to see if Cucurella can replicate or improve upon his first season's performance under Thomas Tuchel for the Pensioners.

4. Alexander Isak (Real Sociedad to Newcastle United) - £63.00m

The latest entry to this list arrives as Real Sociedad has completed Isak's deal with Newcastle for a fee of £63.00m. The Swede had played 132 games and found his name on the scoresheet 44 times in a Sociedad shirt since 2019. Eddie Howe has purchased him with the clear indication of their strengthening their centre-forward options as just Callum Wilson and Chris Wood on the bench won't suffice for an entire season if they want to maintain their chances of a European finish.

3. Casemiro (Real Madrid to Manchester United) - £63.59m

The lack of a proper defensive midfielder was cited, often as an excuse for Manchester United's shortcomings in recent seasons. Thus, Erik ten Hag's latest signing was a move the fans have wanted for years.

Frankly, only a handful believed in the materialization of such a move. Casemiro has been a bonafide champion for Real Madrid since 2013. He has emerged as one of the regulars to aid in the team's decade of success. It was unlikely for a three-time La Liga champion, five-time Champions League winner, three-time Super Cup, and Club World cup winner with a Copa América title to leave all that behind for a move to a struggling outfit.

The Brazil international is an ideal choice for a balanced defensive midfielder role. His individual qualities are a near-perfect amalgamation of what the Red Devils have been lacking in terms of quality.

2. Darwin Núñez (Benfica to Liverpool) - £67.5m

It was becoming evident that Liverpool was shifting into stagnation after its peak years were concluding. To refresh, Jürgen Klopp needed reinforcements guaranteed to score goals regularly at the top level. To battle it out against Manchester City, the Reds couldn't afford to take a break.

Darwin Núñez was one name that had already impressed the Merseysiders. He had emerged as a potential target during his audition against them in the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. The Uruguayan scored two goals over two legs to have a lasting impression.

As soon as the window opened, Liverpool needed to spend to fill their ranks after Sadio Mane's departure. Klopp opted to buy the 23-year-old to strengthen his frontline firepower. Núñez is an intriguing prospect, already having scored once in his first two games.

1. Antony (Ajax to Manchester United) - £81.3 million

After some back-and-forth negotiations with Ajax, Antony Matheus dos Santos would finally bring his dancing feet to the Theater of Dreams. Manchester United's Dutch manager was hell-bent on reuniting with his trusted winger, and the Red Devils had to reach deep into their pockets to budge Ajax's evaluation of the highly-rated Brazilian.

The 22-year-old is being cultivated for his close control and technical skills. His addition, alongside the other signings over the window, clearly indicates their ambitions for this season. His transfer fee is an initial £81.3 million, with a further £4.27 million in add-ons, making him the highest and latest addition to this list.

**The article was last updated on August 31, 2022.