PSG, Manchester United & Co – Which clubs have spent the most on attackers in the 21st century?

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Five PL teams in top 10 

©TM/IMAGO

Throughout the ages of football, the idea that the players at the top end of the pitch are the most valuable, has been pretty much ever-present. Often the most adored and idolised, those who finish off the team moves, get goals and assists, and get the crowd off their feet in the final third, are usually the most adulated. As former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher famously once said, “No kid wants to grow up and be a Gary Neville [A right back].” This notion has not only been synonymous with young kids’ dreams and aspirations, but also been very much reflected in the transfer market over the past couple of decades. Incredibly, 14 of the 20 most expensive transfers of all-time have been attackers (strikers and wingers).

Since the turn of the century 25 years ago, clubs have laid out mind-boggling figures to try and bring in the attacking elite – some of the figures have been truly startling. The most expensive transfer ever remains PSG’s €222m acquisition of Neymar from Barcelona in 2017. But which clubs have laid out the most cash in total for attackers since the year 2000? At Transfermarkt, we have crunched the numbers and compiled a list of the teams to have spent the most money on signing strikers and wingers in the 21st century, and there may be some shocks on the list.

Unsurprisingly at number one are Chelsea. Over the past 25 years, the Blues have laid out an astronomical €1.45 billion on attackers alone. Bringing Romelu Lukaku back to the club in 2021 for €113m remains Chelsea’s most expensive ever attacker – only beaten in general by the signings of midfielders Enzo Fernández (€121m) and Moisés Caicedo (€116m). The club also splashed out €80m for forward Kai Havertz and €70m for winger Mykhaylo Mudryk. In second place on the list of clubs to have spent most on attackers are PSG, who have spent €1.20b to bring in new stars for their front-line since 2000. The most notable two are the two record transfers of all-time – Neymar (€222m) and Kylian Mbappé (€180m).

In third place, having spent €1.13b on attackers this century, are Barcelona. Their most expensive attackers being Ousmane Dembélé (€135m) and Antoine Griezmann (€120m). In fourth come Manchester City, who have laid out €955m on forwards. They are followed by Real Madrid in fifth, with Los Blancos having spent €903m on attackers. In sixth are Manchester United with a spend of €892m, whilst Juventus are seventh having spent €877m. Atlético Madrid take eighth spot spending €848m on attackers. Liverpool come ninth with a €782m spend, whilst Tottenham complete the top 10, having spent €680m.