New free agent record
Now it is a done deal: Lionel Messi is joining Paris Saint-Germain after his tearful departure from FC Barcelona. The 34-year-old signed a contract with the French top club until 2024. Just under a month after the signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Argentine replaces the latter as the world’s most valuable free transfer.
Messi, Beckham & Co. – The most valuable free transfers in history
44 Ruud van Nistelrooy – 2010 – Market Value: €16M
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Real Madrid to Hamburg
43 Goran Pandev – 2010 – Market Value: €16M
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Lazio to Inter
42 Ryan Fraser – 2020 – Market Value: €17.5M
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Bournemouth to Newcastle
41 Max Meyer – 2018 – Market Value: €18M
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Schalke to Crystal Palace
40 Mark Uth – 2018 – Market Value: €18M
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Hoffenheim to Schalke
39 Joel Matip – 2016 – Market Value: €18M
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Schalke to Liverpool
38 Maxi Rodríguez – 2010 – Market Value: €18M
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Atlético to Liverpool
37 David Beckham – 2007 – Market value: €19.8M
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Real Madrid to LA Galaxy
36 Edinson Cavani – 2020 – Market Value: €20M
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PSG to Manchester United
35 Henrikh Mkhitaryan – 2020 – Market value: €20M
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Arsenal to Roma
34 Dani Parejo – 2020 – Market value: €20M
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Valencia to Villarreal
33 Mario Balotelli – 2019 – Market value: €20M
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Marseille to Brescia
32 Diego Godín – 2019 – Market value: €20M
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Atlético to Inter
31 Mario Balotelli – 2019 – Market value: €20M
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Nice to Marseille
30 Jack Wilshere – 2018 – Market value: €20M
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Arsenal to West Ham
29 Yevgen Konoplyanka – 2015 – Market value: €20M
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Dnipro to Sevilla
28 Sami Khedira – 2015 – Market value: €20M
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Real Madrid to Juventus
27 Keisuke Honda – 2014 – Market value: €20M
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CSKA Moscow to Milan
26 Fernando Llorente – 2013 – Market value: €20M
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Athletic Club to Juventus
25 Michael Ballack – 2010 – Market value: €20M
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Chelsea to Leverkusen
24 Luis Figo – 2005 – Market value: €20M
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Real Madrid to Inter
23 Yacine Brahimi – 2019 – Market value: €21M
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Porto to Al Rayyan
22 Joe Cole – 2010 – Market value: €21M
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Chelsea to Liverpool
21 Héctor Herrera – 2019 – Market value: €22M
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Porto to Atlético
20 Samuel Eto’o – 2013 – Market value: €22M
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Anzhi to Chelsea
19 Willian – 2020 – Market value: €22.5M
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Chelsea to Arsenal
18 Thomas Meunier – 2020 – Market value: €24M
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PSG to Borussia Dortmund
17 Sergio Agüero – 2021 – Market value: €25M
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Manchester City to Barcelona
16 Ander Herrera – 2019 – Market value: €25M
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Manchester United to PSG
15 Georginio Wijnaldum – 2021 – Market value: €30M
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Liverpool to PSG
14 Santi Mina – 2019 – Market value: €30M
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Valencia to Vigo
13 Emre Can – 2018 – Market value: €30M
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Liverpool to Juventus
12 James Rodríguez – 2020 – Market value: €32M
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Real Madrid to Everton
11 Adrien Rabiot – 2019 – Market value: €35M
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PSG to Juventus
10 Michael Ballack – 2006 – Market value: €35M
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Bayern Munich to Chelsea
9 Hakan Calhanoglu – 2021 – Market value: €35M
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AC Milan to Inter Milan
8 Aaron Ramsey – 2019 – Market value: €40M
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Arsenal to Juventus
7 Leon Goretzka – 2018 – Market value: €40M
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Schalke to Bayern Munich
6 Stefan de Vrij – 2018 – Market value: €40M
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Lazio to Inter
5 Memphis Depay – 2021 – Market value: €45M
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Olympique Lyon to Barcelona
4 Robert Lewandowski – 2014 – Market value: €50M
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Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich
3 David Alaba – 2021 – Market value: €55M
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Bayern Munich to Real Madrid
2 Gianluigi Donnarumma – 2021 – Market value: €60M
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AC Milan to PSG
1 Lionel Messi 2021 – Market value: €80M
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Barcelona to PSG
For PSG, Messi is already the fourth high-profile free agent signing for the 2021/22 season after Donnarumma from AC Milan, Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid, and Georginio Wijnaldum from Liverpool. Together, the quartet has a total market value of €185 million.
Messi had already mentioned PSG as a possibility for his future during his emotional press conference at FC Barcelona on Sunday. The Argentine was forced to leave Barça against his will after 21 years because the club, which accumulated debts in the region of €490 million, would not have been able to comply with the Spanish LaLiga’s Financial Fair Play rules if he had stayed on.
PSG: Messi joins Neymar and Mbappé in most valuable front three
With the signing of Messi, PSG are nearing €1 billion in squad value. The Parisians’ total market value rises to €997 million. Only Manchester City, with €1.06 billion, are ahead of the French top club – but even the Citizens do not have an attack like PSG. With Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, the French giants currently have the most valuable front three; together, the three top stars have a market value of €340 million. Only eight trios in history have been more valuable.
From 3 clubs only – The most valuable front threes in history
2019 | Messi (150), Griezmann (130), Suárez (50) | Total value: €330M
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FC Barcelona
2021 | Mbappé (180), Neymar (128), Kean (30) | Total value: €338M
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Paris Saint-Germain
2018 | Messi (180), Suárez (85), Dembélé (80) | Total value: €345M
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FC Barcelona
2019 | Messi (150), Griezmann (130), Dembélé (100) | Total value: €380M
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FC Barcelona
2019/20 | Mané (150), Salah (150), Firmino (90) | Total value: €390M
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Liverpool
2020 | Mbappé (200), (160), Sarabia (35) | Total value: €395M
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Paris Saint-Germain
2019 | Mbappé (200), Neymar (180), Draxler (30) | Total value: €410M
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Paris Saint-Germain
2019 | Mbappé (200), Neymar (180), Di María (45) | Total value: €425M
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Paris Saint-Germain
2019 | Mbappé (200), Neymar (180), Cavani (55) | Total value: €435M
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Paris Saint-Germain
2019 | Mbappé (200), Neymar (180), Icardi (75) | Total value: €455M
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Paris Saint-Germain
Even before the official announcement, broadcaster RMC Sport speculated about Messi’s PSG debut. Everything indicates that this will not happen before September, the media outlet said, after Messi went on holiday to Miami and Ibiza with his family after winning the Copa América with Argentina.
Messi level with Neymar
Record market values on Transfermarkt
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It will soon be a reality for Ligue 1 fans and a nightmare for defenders, wrote sports newspaper L’Équipe, but also asked about Messi’s form when he starts for PSG, now 34 and with over 900 senior appearances in 17 years – all for FC Barcelona. “Far from finished,” the paper ultimately found, also dedicating a page to the Argentine just with his successes and praising Messi as a “legend of the century.”
For Messi transfer: PSG must be “inventive” in financial ways
Despite the signing of Messi, PSG are not expected to part ways with any top performers. This is also possible because of the temporary relaxation of Financial Fair Play due to the COVID-19 crisis. At PSG, Messi is set to receive an annual net salary of €40 million, according to French media reports. For comparison, Neymar is reportedly earning €35 million and thus slightly less.
However, to be able to handle the transfer, PSG have to find financial ways and possibilities and be creative. Wage costs have apparently never been as high as they are at present. The preliminary budget for 2021/22 provides for a loss of between €250 million and €300 million, PSG had calculated with player sales in the amount of €180 million – as of now (€9 million) a distant goal. By signing Messi, however, the French top club hopes for additional revenue and new partnerships, as well as a strengthening of its brand.
After Messi’s tearful departure: FC Barcelona leave doors “always open”
Meanwhile, after Messi’s tearful departure from FC Barcelona, club president Joan Laporta has nurtured hopes that the six-time Ballon d’Or winner could return at some point. “The doors of Barça are always open to you. Thank you for everything, Leo,” Laporta stated on social media. “I wish you and your family all the best.”
All Ballon d’Or winners since 1990
1990: Lothar Matthäus (Inter Milan – Germany)
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1991: Jean-Pierre Papin (Olympique Marseille – France)
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1992: Marco van Basten (AC Milan – Netherlands)
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1993: Roberto Baggio (Juventus – Italy)
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1994: Hristo Stoichkov (FC Barcelona – Bulgaria)
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1995: George Weah (Paris Saint-Germain/AC Mailand – Liberia)
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1996: Matthias Sammer (Borussia Dortmund – Brazil)
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1997: Ronaldo (Inter Milan/FC Barcelona – Brazil)
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1998: Zinédine Zidane (Juventus – France)
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1999: Rivaldo (FC Barcelona – Brazil)
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2000: Luís Figo (Real Madrid/FC Barcelona – Portugal)
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2001: Michael Owen (Liverpool – England)
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2002: Ronaldo (Real Madrid – Brazil)
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2003: Pavel Nedved (Juventus – Czech Republic)
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2004: Andrii Shevchenko (AC Milan – Ukraine)
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2005: Ronaldinho (FC Barcelona – Brazil)
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2006: Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus/Real Madrid – Italy)
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2007: Kaká (AC Milan – Brazil)
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2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United – Portugal)
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2009: Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona – Argentina)
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2010: Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona – Argentina)
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2011: Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona – Argentina)
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2012: Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona – Argentina)
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2013: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid – Portugal)
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2014: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid – Portugal)
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2015: Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona – Argentina)
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2016: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid – Portugal)
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2017: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid – Portugal)
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2018: Luka Modric (Real Madrid – Croatia)
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2019: Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona – Argentina)
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Messi had said goodbye to FC Barcelona in an emotional press conference on Sunday. It is a change against his will because Messi wanted to stay. “It’s so hard for me. I’ve been here all my life, I’m not ready for this,” said Messi, who had moved to Spain from Rosario, Argentina, as a 13-year-old and assured he wanted to come back to Barcelona.
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