It’s official! The summer transfer window of 2022 has broken all records for spending in the Premier League.
Not far shy of an eye-popping £2 billion was spent on new talent, smashing the previous record of £1.5 billion set back in 2017.
What makes this figure even more remarkable is that it’s a higher amount than Europe’s other big four leagues – La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1 – combined!
Chelsea broke the record for the most spent by one club in a transfer window – £251 million to be precise, while Manchester United smashed their own spending record with £214 million splurged on fresh faces as part of Erik ten Hag’s revolution.
Elsewhere, promoted Nottingham Forest have beaten the previous mark for most players signed in a single window – a staggering 21. At least ten of those are in for a shock when they realise that a starting line-up can only have eleven players in it.
To celebrate this exorbitant occasion, here’s a look at the ten most expensive transfers in the Premier League during the 2022 summer window.
Top 10 Transfer Fees Paid (Summer 2022)
| Player | Fee | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antony | £85.5m | Ajax | Manchester United |
| Wesley Fofana | £72.3m | Leicester City | Chelsea |
| Darwin Nunez | £67.5m | Benfica | Liverpool |
| Casemiro | £63.6m | Real Madrid | Manchester United |
| Alexander Isak | £63.0m | Real Sociedad | Newcastle United |
| Marc Cucurella | £58.7m | Brighton | Chelsea |
| Erling Haaland | £54.0m | Borussia Dortmund | Manchester City |
| Richarlison | £52.2m | Everton | Tottenham |
| Lisandro Martinez | £51.6m | Ajax | Manchester United |
| Raheem Sterling | £50.5m | Manchester City | Chelsea |
#1 – Antony (Manchester United, £85.5 million)
Those that have seen Antony play are convinced the winger has what it takes to be a success in the Premier League.
But at £85.5 million, the 22-year-old will carry a hefty fee on his shoulders having been crowned the most expensive signing of the summer transfer window.
The Brazilian delivered 12 goal involvements in the Dutch Eredivisie last season as an Ajax player, but it’s his turn in the Champions League – two goals and four assists in seven games – that marked him out as a potential star for now and the future.
#2 – Wesley Fofana (Chelsea, £72.3 million)
Despite suffering a sickening broken leg last season, Wesley Fofana has bounced back to become Chelsea’s biggest spend of an already money-spinning window.
The 21-year-old becomes the third most expensive defender in history behind Harry Maguire (£75 million) and Virgil van Dijk (£73 million) despite making just 36 Premier League appearances so far.
#3 – Darwin Nunez (Liverpool, £67.5 million)
Talk about making an impact.
Liverpool’s marquee signing of the summer, Darwin Nunez, has already scored the effective winner of the Community Shield game against Manchester City, netted and assisted in a 39-minute cameo against Fulham and headbutted Joachim Andersen to score his first red card in the Premier League.
After such a lively introduction to English football, it will be interesting to see where the Uruguayan goes from here!
#4 – Casemiro (Manchester United, £63.6 million)
As a defensive midfielder that does the dirty work, Casemiro’s transfer from Real Madrid to Manchester United has not received as many column inches as others on this list.
But the Brazilian won 18 major trophies at the Galacticos including five Champions League titles, as well as Copa America and Under-20 World Cup honours for his country. This is a guy who is used to winning….
#5 – Alexander Isak (Newcastle United, £63 million)
If rumours are to be believed, Alexander Isak didn’t even know if he’d be making his Newcastle debut at Anfield in midweek some two hours before the game as administrative red tape caused confusion.
In the end, the Swede’s move from Real Sociedad was finally rubber-stamped….and Isak notched his first Newcastle goal just 38 minutes into his debut. What a welcome!
#6 – Marc Cucurella (Chelsea, £58.7 million)
Despite having Ben Chilwell, Marcos Alonso and Emerson capable of playing in the left wing back role, Chelsea’s lust for spending knew no bounds as they also brought in former Brighton man Marc Cucurella in the position.
The Spaniard has already become first choice on the left flank, and delivered two assists in his first five competitive appearances for the Blues.
#7 – Erling Haaland (Manchester City, £54 million)
Of all the players on this list, it’s surely Erling Haaland that will go down as the biggest bargain of them all.
A striker with a prolific goal record at Borussia Dortmund and Salzburg, Manchester City paid a relatively paltry £54 million for the 22-year-old.
And the Norwegian has already come up trumps for Pep Guardiola’s men, blasting a ridiculous nine goals in his opening five Premier League games – including consecutive hat-tricks against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest.
Just when you thought the Premier League champions couldn’t get any stronger, they go out and sign the hottest striker on the planet.
#8 – Richarlison (Tottenham, £52.2 million)
Rarely a shrinking violet at the best of times, one of Richarlison’s first acts as a Tottenham player was to court controversy by showboating in the final moments of the win over Nottingham Forest – he was unceremoniously taken out in response.
In typical fashion for the Brazilian, he had just moments earlier delivered a sublime outside of the foot cross for Harry Kane to nod home – Spurs fans had better ready themselves to cheer on a player with supreme talent but a maddening penchant for acting the fool.
#9 – Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United, £51.6 million)
Standing 5ft 9in tall, Lisandro Martinez does not have the standard physical credentials for a centre back.
But his old Ajax boss, Ten Hag, knows him better than anybody, and was only too happy to fork out £51.6 million for the diminutive defender.
In truth, the Argentine was bullied in the 0-4 defeat at Brentford, but he has since bounced back with commanding performances and consecutive clean sheets in the victories over Leicester and Southampton.
#10 – Raheem Sterling (Chelsea, £50.5 million)
Although nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors at a football club, it still felt like something of a surprise that Guardiola would allow Raheem Sterling to leave Manchester City so cheaply.
The England international has netted three times in five Premier League starts already this term, adding to the 16 goals he notched last term for City. His replace at the Etihad Stadium, Jack Grealish, only has 18 Premier League goals to his name in his career….