Potential record fee for defender
Wesley Fofana finally got what he wanted, Leicester’s demands were fulfilled as well, while AS Saint-Étienne also receive a share of the transfer fee. The centre-back put pen to paper on a seven-year contract with Chelsea, who signed the 21-year-old for a potential world-record fee for a defender.
French outlet L’Équipe, among others, mentions €82.5 million as the initial price for Fofana, which can rise by another €5 million in add-ons. The Frenchman could thus replace Harry Maguire (Man United), who was also sold by Leicester in 2019, as the most expensive defender in history.
Koulibaly, Ferdinand & Co. – The most expensive centre-backs in history
Kalidou Koulibaly – 2022/23 – Napoli to Chelsea – Fee: €38m
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Last updated: August 31, 2022
Eric Bailly – 2016/17 – Villarreal to Man United – Fee: €38m
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Raphaël Varane – 2021/22 – Real Madrid to Man United – Fee: €40M
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Ibrahima Konaté – 2021/22 – RB Leipzig to Liverpool – Fee: €40M
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Bremer – 2022/23 – Torino to Juventus – Fee: €41m
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Shkodran Mustafi – 2016/17 – Valencia to Arsenal – Fee: €41M
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Thiago Silva – 2012/13 – AC Milan to PSG – Fee: €42M
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Davinson Sánchez – 2017/18 – Ajax to Spurs – Fee: €42M
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Leonardo Bonucci – 2017/18 – Juventus to AC Milan – Fee: €42M
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Dayot Upamecano – 2021/22 – RB Leipzig to Bayern Munich – Fee: €42.5M
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Nicolás Otamendi – 2015/16 – Valencia to Man City – Fee: €44.5M
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Eliaquim Mangala – 2014/15 – Porto to Man City – Fee: €45M
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Nathan Aké – 2020/21 – Bournemouth to Man City – Fee: €45.3M
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Rio Ferdinand – 2002/03 – Leeds to Man United – Fee: €46M
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David Luiz – 2014/15 – Chelsea to PSG – Fee: €49.5M
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Éder Militão – 2019/20 – Porto to Real Madrid – Fee: €50M
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Jules Koundé – 2022/23 – Sevilla to Barcelona – Fee: €50M
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John Stones – 2016/17 – Everton to Man City – Fee: €55.6M
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Lisandro Martínez – 2022/23 – Ajax to Man United – Fee: €57.4m
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Ben White – 2021/22 – Brighton to Arsenal – Fee: €58.5m
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Aymeric Laporte – 2017/18 – Athletic Club to Man City – Fee: €65m
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Matthijs de Ligt – 2022/23 – Juventus to Bayern Munich – Fee: €67m
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Rúben Dias – 2020/21 – Benfica to Man City – Fee: €68m
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Lucas Hernández – 2019/20 – Atlético to Bayern Munich – Fee: €80m
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Virgil van Dijk – 2017/18 – Southampton to Liverpool – Fee: €84.7m
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Matthijs de Ligt – 2019/20 – Ajax to Juventus – Fee: €85.5m
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Harry Maguire – 2019/20 – Leicester to Man United – Fee: €87m
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The club from the East Midlands had signed the U-21 international for €35 million from ASSE in 2020 and the deal is said to have included a 20% sell-on clause on the profit made of his next sale. As €82.5 million are paid for Fofana, it corresponds to a transfer profit of €47.5 million, consequently €9.5 million go to Saint-Étienne.
Chelsea spend almost €270 million – Leicester yet to pay a fee
In the final stages of the transfer sage, Fofana did not show up for training and was demoted to Leicester’s U-21 as a result. He has made 82 first team appearances and missed 62 games due to injury in his career so far and has yet to make an appearance for the French national team due to strong competition.
While Chelsea’s transfer spending on six new players is approaching the €270 million mark, financially struggling Leicester are the only Premier League side yet to pay a penny in transfer fees. That looks set to change now as head coach Brendan Rodgers is expected to get a replacement for Fofana in Belgium international Wout Faes of Stade Reims.
If Chelsea sign another top-class player, or at least a very, very expensive player, the Londoners could break Real Madrid’s all-time spending record in their first transfer window under new owner Todd Boehly. Los Blancos spent €325.5 million on new players in the summer of 2019.
Highest transfer spending in a single summer – PSG, Real & Barça in top 10 twice
11 PSG | 2018/19 | Signings: 5 | Expenditure: €222.0m
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Transfer balance: -€113.5m
10 FC Barcelona | 2017/18 | Signings: 5 | Expenditure: €232.7m
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Transfer balance: -€6.7m
9 Manchester United | 2022/23 | Signings: 5 | Expenditure: €238.0m
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Transfer balance: -€227.0m
9 PSG | 2017/18 | Signings: 4 | Expenditure: €238.0m
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Transfer balance: -€168.0m
8 Chelsea | Saison 2020/21 | Signings: 7 | Expenditure:€247.2m
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Transfer balance: -€190.7m
7 Atlético | 2019/20 | Signings: 9 | Expenditure: €247.4m
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Transfer balance: +€61.1m
6 Manchester City | 2017/18 | Signings: 8 | Expenditure: €248.5m
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Transfer balance: –€157.1m
5 Real Madrid | 2009/10 | Signings: 8 | Expenditure: €258.5m
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Transfer balance: -€170.0m
4 Juventus | 2018/19 | Signings: 8 | Expenditure: €259.1m
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Transfer balance: -€166.5m
3 Chelsea | 2018/19 | Signings: 6 | Expenditure: €269.1m
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Transfer balance: -€142.2m
2 FC Barcelona | 2019/20 | Signings: 6 | Expenditure: €273.5m
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Transfer balance: -€123.1m
1 Real Madrid | 2019/20 | Signings: 8 | Expenditure: €325.5m
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Transfer balance: -€190.0m
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