Football’s most expensive stars
10. Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden)
Combined transfer fees: €169.1 million (R2.8 billion)
AC Milan veteran Zlatan Ibrahimović is one of the game’s great journeymen and has enjoyed a glittering 23-year career that has spanned nine clubs across seven countries and two continents so far.
The Sweden international is widely regarded as one of the world’s most prolific strikers – a reputation that is supported by the nearly 600 career goals to his name for club and country – and boasts an impressive playing CV that includes spells with Malmö FF, Ajax Amsterdam, Juventus, Inter Milan, FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, Los Angeles Galaxy, and two stints with the Rossoneri.
His moves between these clubs have attracted cumulative transfer fees reported to be in the region of €169.1 million (R2.8 billion) which is the 10th most for any player in the history of the game, not considering inflation.
The most notable deal included in this number was his 2009 move to from Inter to Barcelona which cost the LaLiga giants a figure of around €69.5 million (R1.1 billion) and saw Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o move in the opposite direction.
9. Ousmane Dembélé (France)
Combined transfer fee: €175.1 million (R2.9 billion)
Ousmane Dembélé is one of the latest stars to emerge from France’s never-ending
