A playing XI comprising of most expensive footballers for every position

Football has changed. In recent years, the influx of money from sponsorships and TV rights has ensured that clubs these days can spend millions on a single player without blinking an eye. To stop financial mismanagements by clubs, the Financial Fair Play (FFP) was introduced. However, it hasn’t stopped clubs from spending big in the transfer market.

Today, we will look at the most expensive footballers signed by clubs for every position.

#1 Kepa Arrizabalaga (Goalkeeper, £71 million)

Kepa Arrizabalaga spent two seasons at Athletic Bilbao’s first team before Chelsea came calling. The Blues were facing a race against time to replace Thibaut Courtois, who moved to Real Madrid in summer of 2018. Kepa played 53 games for Bilbao in La Liga and had one cap for Spain at the time he was sold by the Spanish outfit. The 25-year-old had a £71 million release clause which was paid in full by Chelsea to make him the world’s most expensive keeper.

#2 Kyle Walker (Right-back, £53 millon)

Kyle Walker moved to Manchester City in the summer of 2017 from Tottenham Hotspur. The Citizens had to pay £45 million upfront and another £8 million in add ons for the player. Walker, who is in his third year at the Etihad, has already won the Premier League twice, in addition to winning three League Cups and an FA Cup.

#3 Harry Maguire (Centre-back, £80 million)

Harry Maguire was signed by Manchester United from Leicester City last summer for £80 million, thus making the Englishman the most expensive defender in the world. Maguire has settled well in his first season at Old Trafford and was appointed club captain after Ashley Young left for Inter Milan in the January transfer window.

#4 Virgil van Dijk (Centre-back, £75 million)

Before Harry Maguire, Virgil van Dijk was the most expensive defender in the world after Liverpool paid Southampton £75 million to acquire his services in the winter transfer window of 2017. The Dutchman has justified the price tag and is considered one of the best defenders in the world at present. Van Dijk was a key reason behind Liverpool winning the Champions League last season.

#5 Lucas Hernandez (Left-back, £68 million)

Lucas Hernandez’s transfer to Bayern Munich raised a few eyebrows because of the fee. The Bundesliga champions paid £68 million to Atletico Madrid to sign Hernandez, who is primarily a left-back but can also play as a centre back. Hernandez won the World Cup with France in 2018 but since moving to Bayern Munich at the start of the season, he hasn’t shown the same form and has struggled with injuries.

#6 Rodri (Defensive midfielder, £62.8 million)

Rodri was signed by Manchester City from Atletico Madrid last summer after the Citizens decided to pay his release clause of £62.8 million, following the player expressing his desire to play under Pep Guardiola. After a slow start to life at the Etihad, the Spaniard has managed to establish himself as a key player for the Premier League champions. Besides shielding his team’s defence, Rodri has scored three times and set up another in 26 league games this season.

#7 Paul Pogba (Central midfielder, £89.3 million)

Paul Pogba was once the world’s most expensive footballer when Manchester United paid Juventus £89.3 million in the summer of 2016 to bring back the Frenchman to Old Trafford. Pogba is a versatile midfielder and is definitely one of the best in his position in the world. However, due to frequent injuries, he has not been able to showcase his full potential to the Manchester United faithful yet.

#8 Neymar (Left-wing, £198 million)

Neymar is by far the world’s most expensive player in the history of football. Paris Saint-Germain shocked the world in the summer of 2017 when they announced that they have reached an agreement worth £198 million with Barcelona for the mercurial Brazilian. Neymar has not fully justified his price tag after moving to PSG as his time in Paris has been injury-riddled. Moreover, he has often been linked with returning to Barcelona in order to resurrect his career.

#9 Kylian Mbappe (Right-wing, £166 million)

Kylian Mbappe moved to Paris Saint-Germain from Ligue 1 rivals Monaco in 2017, initially on a loan deal. The move was made permanent by PSG for £168 million next summer, thereby making Mbappe the second-most expensive footballer in history. Considered to be the heir to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the 21-year-old Frenchman has already won a World Cup. Mbappe is a generational talent and is expected to dominate the footballing world for years to come.

#10 Joao Felix (Attacking midfielder, £113 million)

Atletico Madrid are not really known for spending big in the transfer market but the Spanish outfit forked out £113 million to sign Joao Felix from Benfica last season after triggering his release clause. The Portuguese had a stellar campaign with Benfica which made him one of the hottest prospects in world football. However, it has not been smooth sailing for Felix in Spain as he has struggled for form and game time in his first season at the Wanda Metropolitano.

#11 Antoine Griezmann (Striker, £107 million)

This was a very controversial transfer as Barcelona were accused of illegally tapping up Antoine Griezmann. Regardless of the controversy, the Catalan giants signed the Frenchman from Atletico Madrid for £107 million last summer. However, the performances of Griezmann for Barcelona have been average so far as he is being played out of position to accommodate Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

Now let’s see how a team comprising of the most expensive footballers for every position would look on paper.

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