Top six most expensive uncapped English players in history

Jamie Gittens is set to become the latest addition to this list!

Unimaginable sums of money are splattered across the football landscape twice a year, during the summer and winter transfer windows.

While the English Premier League and Spanish LaLiga, two of the most costly football leagues in the world, spend a lot of money throughout Europe, the Saudi Pro League has subsequently shown its strength by spending enormous sums of money to entice players to join their teams.

There are many stars who have demonstrated their worth for the club and earned big money transfers despite being neglected by their national team. Here are the top six most expensive uncapped English players in history:

6. Max Kilman (Wolves to West Ham, £40m, July 2024)

Max Kilman played futsal instead of association football, which stopped Kilman from switching allegiance to play for Ukraine starting at Euro 2021; therefore, the Three Lions were his sole option to represent a nation.

He was on the verge of an England call-up due to his consistency for Wolves, and a £40 million transfer to West Ham should have been the last straw. But under Thomas Tuchel, he doesn’t feel like he’s getting any chance of playing for the Three Lions.

4. Anthony Gordon (Everton to Newcastle, £40m, January 2023)

Many people believed Newcastle had lost all reason when they threw up to £40 million at Everton for a forward who had seven goals and eight assists in 78 games.

But joining Magpies played a key role for the winger as it opened the gates to play for the national team after his impressive performance before the Euro 2024. Gordon was called up for the Euro as he led his side to the final of the tournament.

5. Morgan Gibbs-White (Wolves to Nottingham Forest, £42.5m, August 2022)

Morgan Gibbs-White was among the most expensive uncapped English players when he joined Nottingham Forest from Wolves. The midfielder enhanced his game and helped the Forest avoid relegation, and his exploits attracted the likes of Manchester City and later a call-up to the national team.

3. Cole Palmer (Manchester City to Chelsea, £42.5m, September 2023)

The absurdity of this move at the time is easy to ignore. It made no sense at all: Manchester City would never have let Cole Palmer go if he had been of the necessary calibre, and Chelsea did not need another youthful, dynamic forward.

Cole Palmer was the source of motivation rather than just another dubious transaction, but Chelsea have thrown sufficient at the wall for some to stick.

He was their most important player at the end of the year, and his responsibilities only grew when he made his England debut, scored a goal, was selected for the European Championship team, and scored a goal in the championship game.

2. Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Crystal Palace to Manchester United, £50m, July 2019)

Fans of Crystal Palace likely thought that Gareth Southgate’s decision to call up Aaron Wan-Bissaka two months after he joined Manchester United and not cap him was just another example of his big club biases.

Wan-Bissaka was still uncapped for England during his time at Old Trafford as he was at Selhurst Park, but the rise of Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, and Adam Wharton demonstrated that Palace were in fact the former manager’s favourite team.

In May 2025, he formally changed his allegiance to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, closing the door to featuring for England.

The completion of Chelsea's deal for Jamie Gittens will see him become the most expensive uncapped English player 💸 pic.twitter.com/QjVHpCTJbD

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) June 30, 2025

1. Jamie Gittens (Dortmund to Chelsea – £55.5m, July 2025)

Borussia Dortmund have accepted Chelsea’s £55 million bid for Jamie Gittens, and the winger will soon undergo a medical at the Premier League team, making him one of the most costly uncapped English players to be signed.

Earlier in June, the 20-year-old Englishman and Chelsea reached an agreement on a seven-year contract. Jamie Gittens has played for Dortmund in the current Club World Cup, hence he would not be permitted to participate for the Blues.

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