The Premier League is probably the most popular league competition in the world. Because of how popular they are around the world, they make a lot of money from broadcasting, sponsorship, and endorsement deals. Premier League teams are also owned by very wealthy people.

As a direct consequence of this, top-flight teams in English football are among the wealthiest in the world. This is evident in the massive amounts of money that they consistently invest in the transfer market.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at five of the most expensive acquisitions in the history of the Premier League. Each of these players was acquired for a staggering amount of money.

5. Antony (Ajax to Manchester United) – €95 million

Manchester United were in dire need of a solution to their right-wing conundrum last summer. Erik ten Hag had just been appointed as the new manager and was determined to acquire some top-notch signings. With the pressure mounting, he set out to find the perfect player to fill the void and bolster the team’s chances of success.

Ten Hag used his power to secure the services of Antony, one of the Ajax players he trusted the most. The unconventional winger has a very high potential upside and was beginning to get attention with his play for Ajax in the Eredivisie and the Champions League.

However, the Dutch titans were not eager to let him go without a hefty price tag attached. In order to get the services of the Brazilian national team player, Manchester United was had to pay an enormous 95 million euros.

4. Paul Pogba (Juventus to Manchester United) – €105 million

Manchester United’s decision to let Paul Pogba leave as a free agent in 2012 came back to haunt them. The Frenchman joined Juventus, where he blossomed into a world-class midfielder, leaving United with a severe lack of quality in midfield. Former manager Jose Mourinho desperately wanted Pogba back at Old Trafford, but the Bianconeri were determined to keep hold of their star player. In his final season with Juventus, Pogba finished as the joint-top assist provider (12) alongside Miralem Pjanic.

In a move that shocked the footballing world, Manchester United broke their transfer record and splashed out an eye-watering €105 million to bring their academy product back to the Premier League. Unfortunately, Pogba’s time at Manchester United was tumultuous and he eventually left the club last summer as a free agent once again.

3. Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan to Chelsea) – €113 million

Romelu Lukaku’s stock went up a lot after he led Inter Milan to their first Serie A title in 11 years in the 2020-21 season. His old team, Chelsea, was looking for a dangerous striker, and they set their sights on the big Belgian.

In the summer of 2021, Lukaku was bought for €113 million, which was a club record at the time. The former Manchester United striker had a good start to the season, but his play got much worse as the season went on.

Lukaku also said some bad things about the club in a controversial interview with Sky Sports at the end of December 2021. This made him lose favor with the people who go to Stamford Bridge. Lukaku was finally loaned out to Inter Milan last summer after he lost his form and became less friendly.

2. Jack Grealish (Aston Villa to Manchester City) – €117.5 million

In 2008, the Abu Dhabi United Group made a game-changing move when they purchased Manchester City, transforming the club into one of the wealthiest in the world. With money no longer a barrier, City quickly began to acquire some of the most talented players in the world.

In the summer of 2021, Manchester City made their most expensive signing to date when they acquired Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for a staggering €117.5 million. Grealish had already established himself as one of the premier attacking midfielders in the Premier League and was widely expected to join one of Europe’s elite clubs.

After a slow start, Grealish is now beginning to find his footing and is showing why City were so eager to bring him to the Etihad.

1. Enzo Fernandez (Benfica to Chelsea) – €121 million

The change in Enzo Fernandez during the 2022-23 season has been huge. Last summer, Benfica got him from River Plate for just €10 million. He fit right in with the Primera Liga and quickly became a key player for Benfica.

Fernandez then worked his way into the starting lineup for Argentina at the FIFA World Cup in 2022. Everyone was amazed by how hard he worked and how well he could do things. Fernandez’s hard work in midfield was a big reason why Argentina won the World Cup.

Fernandez was named the ‘Best Young Player’ of the tournament. Top European clubs had him on their radar but a January move seemed unlikely. However, Chelsea decided to trigger his €121 million release clause and make Fernandez the Premier League’s most expensive signing.