04:03 BST 29/07/2021
Goal takes a look at the 10 most expensive central defenders of all-time…
With a move from Real Madrid to Manchester United all but done for a transfer fee close to €50m, Raphael Varane becomes the joint 10th most expensive centre-back of all time.
The 28-year-old, who spent the last 10 seasons at Real Madrid, won every single trophy in Spain including four Champions Leagues and three La Liga titles. He won a total of 18 titles at Santiago Bernabeu and is one of the most accomplished defenders of the current generation.
English international Harry Maguire is the most expensive central defender of all time after he moved to Manchester United in the summer of 2019 for a record fee of €87.1m from fellow Premier League club Leicester City.
Maguire’s transfer overtook Liverpool’s signing of Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk for €84.5m from Southampton which was the record transfer fee for centre-back until 2019.
In the list of most expensive transfers of central defenders, Manchester City have the most number of players, four out of the top 11 transfers.
Who are the top 10 most expensive centre-backs of all time?
| Pos. | Player | Clubs | Year | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harry Maguire | Leicester City – Manchester United | 2019 | €87.1m |
| 2 | Virgil van Dijk | Southampton – Liverpool | 2018 | €84.5m |
| 3 | Lucas Hernandez | Atletico Madrid – Bayern Munich | 2019 | €80m |
| 4 | Matthijs de Ligt | Ajax – Juventus | 2019 | €75m (+€10.5m) |
| 5 | Ruben Dias | Benfica – Manchester City | 2020 | €68m (+€3.6m) |
| 6 | Aymeric Laporte | Athletic Bilbao – Manchester City | 2018 | €65m |
| 7 | David Luiz | Chelsea – PSG | 2014 | €62.5m |
| 8 | John Stones | Everton – Manchester City | 2016 | €58m |
| 9 | Eliaquim Mangala | Porto – Manchester City | 2014 | €51.7m |
| 10 | Eder Militao | Porto – Real Madrid | 2019 | €50m |
| 10 | Raphael Varane | Real Madrid – Manchester United | 2021 | €50m |
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