English football is famous for astronomical spending, but top-flight sides generate massive revenue when talent leaves. While supporters focus on incoming signings during the summer transfer window, EPL Clubs routinely command staggering sums for their star assets. Ranking every current English top-flight side by their record departure reveals remarkable financial growth across the division, with record player sales constantly resetting benchmarks for Premier League transfer fees.
20. Coventry City – Viktor Gyökeres (£17.5m)
Coventry City made a healthy profit when Viktor Gyökeres joined Sporting in 2023. The Swedish striker had scored 21 goals in the Championship before leaving for Portugal. He went on to become one of Europe’s most prolific forwards, scoring 29 goals in his first season with Sporting and 39 in his second.
19. Hull City – Jarrod Bowen (£22m)
Hull City received an initial £18m from West Ham for Jarrod Bowen, with performance-related add-ons taking the eventual value of the deal closer to £22m. Bowen has since established himself as an important player for West Ham, making the transfer a good piece of business for Hull.
18. Sunderland – Jobe Bellingham (£27m)
Jobe Bellingham followed in the footsteps of his older brother Jude by moving to Borussia Dortmund. The midfielder developed well at Sunderland before making the move to Germany, where he continues to build his reputation.
17. Ipswich Town – Omari Hutchinson (£37.5m)
Ipswich Town lost several talented players following their relegation from the Premier League. Liam Delap moved to Chelsea for £30m, but that fee was surpassed by the £37.5m Nottingham Forest paid for Omari Hutchinson. The winger has yet to consistently show his best form, but at 22, he still has plenty of time to justify the investment.
16. Arsenal – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (£40m)
Arsenal’s record sale remains Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s £40m move to Liverpool. The Gunners have not always been known for generating huge transfer fees from player departures, although that could change as their current squad continues to increase in value.
15. Leeds United – Raphinha (£49m)
Raphinha’s £49m move to Barcelona became Leeds United’s record sale. The Brazilian had established himself as one of Leeds’ key attacking players before earning a move to Spain. He has since developed into one of the world’s leading attackers and an important player for Barcelona.
14. Fulham – Aleksandar Mitrović (£50m)
Fulham cashed in when Aleksandar Mitrović joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal for £50m. The Serbian had scored 43 goals during Fulham’s promotion campaign before adding 14 in their first season back in the Premier League. Although Fulham would have preferred to keep their striker, the fee proved difficult to reject.
13. Bournemouth – Antoine Semenyo (£64m)
Antoine Semenyo’s release clause made a departure from Bournemouth increasingly likely after his impressive performances. Manchester City eventually won the race for the forward’s signature, paying £64m. Semenyo joined as part of a major January recruitment drive and is expected to play an important role for City.
12. Crystal Palace – Eberechi Eze (£68m)
Eberechi Eze’s departure earned Crystal Palace £68m after the attacking midfielder moved to Arsenal. Eze had been one of Palace’s most influential players, and his sale represented another major piece of business for the Eagles.
11. Brentford – Bryan Mbeumo (£71m)
Brentford received £71m when Bryan Mbeumo joined Manchester United. The Bees had signed Mbeumo from French club Troyes for around £5.8m in 2019, meaning they made a huge profit on the Cameroon international. His development was another example of Brentford’s successful recruitment model.
10. Everton – Romelu Lukaku (£75m)
Romelu Lukaku became Everton’s record sale when Manchester United paid £75m for the Belgian striker. Lukaku had scored 25 Premier League goals during the 2016-17 season, finishing second behind Harry Kane in the scoring charts. His form convinced United to make a major investment in the forward.
9. Manchester United – Cristiano Ronaldo (£80m)
Manchester United received £80m when Cristiano Ronaldo joined Real Madrid in 2009. Real Madrid had tried to sign Ronaldo the previous summer, but Sir Alex Ferguson persuaded the Portuguese star to remain at Old Trafford for another season. Ronaldo eventually left after confirming his desire for a new challenge and went on to score 450 goals in 438 appearances for Real Madrid.
8. Manchester City – Julián Álvarez (£81.5m)
Manchester City sold Julián Álvarez to Atlético Madrid for £81.5m. The Argentina international wanted more opportunities in the biggest matches despite receiving significant playing time under Pep Guardiola. City eventually accepted Atlético’s offer, generating a substantial return from the striker’s departure.
7. Tottenham Hotspur – Gareth Bale (£85.1m)
Gareth Bale’s move from Tottenham to Real Madrid remains Spurs’ record sale. Tottenham were determined to receive a huge fee for the Welshman, who had developed into one of the world’s best players. Although there were conflicting reports over the final figure, leaked documents later indicated that Real Madrid paid £85.1m. Bale went on to win multiple Champions League titles in Spain.
6. Brighton & Hove Albion – Moisés Caicedo (£115m)
Brighton have developed an impressive reputation for buying young players and selling them for huge profits. Moisés Caicedo’s £115m move to Chelsea is their record sale. Brighton had signed the Ecuadorian midfielder for around £4m, resulting in a remarkable return on their investment.
5. Nottingham Forest – Elliot Anderson (£116m)
Elliot Anderson became Nottingham Forest’s record sale after Manchester City agreed to pay £116m for the midfielder. Anderson impressed during his time at Forest and attracted interest from several top clubs. His move represents another huge financial boost for Forest and gives City another versatile option in midfield.
4. Aston Villa – Morgan Rogers (£117m)
Morgan Rogers became Aston Villa’s record sale after joining Chelsea for £117m. Rogers had developed into one of Villa’s most important attacking players before securing the big-money move. Chelsea will hope the England international can justify the substantial investment.
3. Newcastle United – Alexander Isak (£125m)
Alexander Isak’s move from Newcastle United to Liverpool followed a lengthy transfer saga. Newcastle were reluctant to sell their star striker but eventually agreed a £125m deal with Liverpool. The Swedish forward’s arrival at Anfield is expected to be particularly important following Hugo Ekitike’s long-term injury.
2. Chelsea – Eden Hazard (£130m)
Chelsea received £130m when Eden Hazard joined Real Madrid. The Blues arguably sold the Belgian at the perfect moment, having enjoyed the best years of his career at Stamford Bridge before receiving a huge fee. Hazard’s Madrid career was disrupted by injuries, and he struggled to reproduce the form that made him one of Europe’s best players at Chelsea.
1. Liverpool – Philippe Coutinho (£146m)
Liverpool top the ranking after Philippe Coutinho’s £146m move to Barcelona. The fee was enormous at the time and remains one of the biggest transfer sales in Premier League history. Coutinho made 106 appearances for Barcelona, scoring 25 goals and providing 14 assists, but he struggled to establish himself as a key player at Camp Nou. His most memorable moment against Barcelona came while on loan at Bayern Munich, when he scored twice in Bayern’s famous 8-2 Champions League victory over his parent club. Liverpool’s decision to sell Coutinho for such a huge fee ultimately proved to be excellent business, with the Brazilian remaining the most expensive player ever sold by a current Premier League club.
