Florian Wirtz is about to make history. In a few days or weeks – depending on how long the formalities take – the Bayer Leverkusen player will move to Liverpool for an astronomical £127.6 million.
With this transfer, Wirtz becomes:
- The third most expensive player ever
- New record holder for a transfer involving a British club
- The most expensive 22-year-old in football history
Sports Mole has compiled a complete list of the most expensive transfers for each age, based on figures from Transfermarkt.
Read: Manchester United are trying to push in Joshua Zirkzee in what could be one of the biggest transfers of the summer
Under 12s – Rodri (£1.3m)
What did we do as 11-year-olds? Certainly not to sign for Atlético Madrid for £1.3 million, which Rodri did in 2007. Fittingly, the most expensive non-teenager in history later became a Ballon d’Or winner.
13 years old – Arda Güler (£2.1m)
13-year-old Arda Güler cost £2.1 million when he moved from Gençlerbirliği to Fenerbahçe in 2019 – a sign of great potential ahead of his later move to Real Madrid.
14 years old – Sheyi Ojo (£2.1m)
Liverpool took a similar chance on 14-year-old Sheyi Ojo in 2011, but he failed to establish himself at Anfield and now plays for Slovenian side Maribor.
15 years – Fran Merida (£2.7m)
Before Cesc Fàbregas became the household name who left Barcelona for Arsenal, 15-year-old Fran Merida made the same transfer for £2.7 million. He scored a memorable goal against Liverpool in the League Cup, but did not reach the expected level.
16 years old – Pedri (£19.6m)
Barcelona paid £19.6 million for Pedri from Las Palmas – an investment that has paid off, as he is now considered among Europe’s best midfielders.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">17 years old – Jude Bellingham (£25.7m)
Before his brother Jobe followed in his footsteps, 17-year-old Jude Bellingham signed for Borussia Dortmund from Birmingham for £25.7 million in 2020. Dortmund sold him at a huge profit to Real Madrid three years later.
18 years old – Leny Yoro (£52.8m)
Leny Yoro became the most expensive 18-year-old ever in 2024 when Manchester United paid £52.8 million for the French talent.
19 years old – Kylian Mbappé (£153.2m)
World champion Kylian Mbappé remained the second most expensive player in history after his £153.2 million move to PSG. He scored 256 goals for the club before finally leaving them.
20 years – Ousmane Dembélé (£114.9m)
Barcelona did not get value for the £114.9 million they paid for 20-year-old Ousmane Dembélé, but he has since become a Ballon d’Or candidate at PSG.
21 years old – Moisés Caicedo (£98.7m)
After turning down Liverpool, 21-year-old Moisés Caicedo became Chelsea’s most expensive signing ever (£98.7 million). He began to justify the price tag in the 2024/25 season.
22 years old – Enzo Fernández (£103m)
Enzo Fernández became the Premier League’s most expensive signing at 22 in 2023, but Liverpool are about to break this record with Wirtz.
23 years old – Paul Pogba (£89.4m)
Manchester United paid £89.4 million to bring back Paul Pogba from Juventus – one of the most controversial transfers in football history.
24 years old – Declan Rice (£99.2m)
Arsenal paid almost £100 million for 24-year-old Declan Rice, who has already proven worth the investment.
25 years old – Neymar (£188.9m)
Neymar’s £188.9 million move from Barcelona to PSG in 2017 is still the most expensive ever.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">26 years old – Harry Maguire (£74m)
Manchester United captain Harry Maguire was bought for £74 million – a transfer that has been both promising and controversial.
27m – Luis Suárez (£69.5m)
Barcelona got a huge deal when they signed 27-year-old Luis Suárez for £69.5 million. He scored 195 goals and won the Champions League.
28m – Eden Hazard (£102.8m)
Real Madrid’s £102.8 million for 28-year-old Eden Hazard was a disappointment, with only seven goals in 76 appearances.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">29 years old – Zinedine Zidane (£66m)
Real Madrid’s £66 million for the 29-year-old Zidane in 2001 was huge at the time, but his legendary goal in the Champions League final made it worth it.
30m – Harry Kane (£80.8m)
Bayern Munich paid £80.8 million for 30-year-old Harry Kane, who finally won his first major title in 2024/25.
31 years old – Neymar (£76.6m)
PSG sold Neymar for £76.6 million to Al-Hilal as a 31-year-old – a huge sum for a player of that age.
32 years old – Riyad Mahrez (£29.8m)
Al-Ahli paid almost £30 million for 32-year-old Riyad Mahrez in 2023.
33 years old – Cristiano Ronaldo (£99.6m)
Only Ronaldo could be sold for almost £100 million at 33 (Juventus in 2018).
34 years old – Yann Sommer (£7.7m)
Bayern Munich paid £7.7 million for 34-year-old Yann Sommer as a short-term replacement for Manuel Neuer.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">35 years old – Marko Arnautovic (£9.3m)
Inter paid almost £10 million for 35-year-old Marko Arnautovic in 2024.
36 years old – Cristiano Ronaldo (£14.5m)
Manchester United paid £14.5 million to bring 36-year-old Ronaldo home in 2021.
37 years old – Jacques Songo’o (£5.5m)
Cameroonian goalkeeper Jacques Songo’o was brought back to Metz for £5.5 million at the age of 37.
38 years old – Marko Simeunovic (£765,000)
AEL Limassol sold 38-year-old Marko Simeunovic at a profit to NK Interblock.
39 years old – Craig Brewster (£340,400)
Scotsman Craig Brewster was bought by Dundee United at the age of 39 and played until he was 43.
40 years old – Bogdan Stelea (£85,100)
Romanian goalkeeper Bogdan Stelea was sold for twice the purchase price as a 40-year-old.
The list shows how the player market has changed over the years, with record sums for players of all ages.
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