Ronaldo, Fàbregas & Co. – The 15 most valuable players to return to former clubs

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Pogba features twice 

It’s not uncommon for players to return to their former clubs later in their careers and there’s been some high-profile examples in recent years. The biggest arrived in August 2021 when Cristiano Ronaldo completed his whirlwind return to Manchester United amid interest from their city rivals. 

Although it ultimately proved an unsuccessful reunion, Ronaldo scored 24 goals in his first season back at Old Trafford and provided some nostalgic moments for United fans.On Friday Dani Olmo rejoinedBarcelona after progressing through their famed La Masia youth academy before leaving for Dinamo Zagreb in 2014. Barcelona paid RB Leipzig €55 million to re-sign Olmo, which makes him the third most valuable player in history to return to their former club.

The most valuable players to return to former clubs 

Using Transfermarkt’s famed market value data, we’ve calculated the most valuable players to return to their former clubs – excluding loan deals. Romelu Lukaku’s €113m return to Chelsea from Inter Milan in 2021 ranks top with the Belgian international valued at €100m. Chelsea had sold Lukaku to Everton for just €35.36m seven years prior but brought him back to Stamford Bridge after he netted 30 goals in 44 games for Inter during the 2020/21 campaign. As the graphic below illustrates, Paul Pogba features twice in the top then with his return to Manchester United from Juventus in 2016 ranking second and he moved in the opposite direction again in 2020, which ranks sixth.

Man United famously lost Pogba on a free to Juventus in 2012 before buying him back for €105m six years later only to lose him on a free to the Serie A giants again in 2022. Cesc Fàbregas’ return to Barcelona from Arsenal in 2011 ranks fourth with the Spaniard valued at €53m – the Gunners previously signed Fàbregas from Barcelona’s academy in 2003 for €3.2m. Diego Costa’s decision to rejoin Atlético Madrid from Chelsea completes the top five with Ronaldo’s Manchester United return seventh and Mats Hummels features twice in the top fifteen after moving between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.