The 11 biggest signings of 2024/25

There have been some eye-watering sums of money spent on players this season, but who has been the most expensive addition in football since the summer?

The January transfer window is now slowly nearing its conclusion, but clubs still have an opportunity to make new signings, with deadline day not arriving until 3rd February.

There have been some high-profile pieces of business since summer 2024, with Kylian Mbappe moving to Real Madrid on a free transfer as the French superstar finally joined the team he always dreamed of playing for.

But who have been the most expensive signings in 2024/25 to date? Here are the top 11.

11

Michael Olise

Crystal Palace to Bayern Munich (£50m)

Michael Olise

was always a great player to watch during his Crystal Palace days, but with all due respect to the Eagles, it was clear that his talent merited playing for a top European club.

Bayern Munich came calling last summer, splashing out £50m on the Frenchman, and he has produced some brilliant moments in his maiden season at the Allianz Arena. He has six goals and assists apiece in the Bundesliga, as well as four goals in the Champions League, one of which was a superb solo effort against Shakhtar Donetsk.

10

Amadou Onana

Everton to Aston Villa (£50m)

It was no great surprise to see Amadou Onana depart Everton for Aston Villa in last year’s summer transfer window, no doubt feeling that he needed to join a club playing in the Champions League rather than one battling to stay in the Premier League.

The Belgian has enjoyed a solid first season at Villa Park, starting 14 matches in the Premier League and chipping in with two goals in the competition. That said, Villa fans may want a little more from him as he attempts to justify the £50m fee the Villans paid for him.

9

Moussa Diaby

Aston Villa to Al-Ittihad (£50m)

Having looked like a superb signing for Villa just over a year ago, Moussa Diaby’s time there petered out a little as the months passed, and he ended up joining Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad last summer.

They paid a reported £50m for his services, but only one goal has been scored in 10 league appearances this season, perhaps suggesting that Villa did well to get a healthy sum of money for the winger.

8

Manuel Ugarte

PSG to Man Utd (£50.5m)

Manchester United sealed a mega-money deadline-day move for PSG midfielder Manuel Ugarte just a year after the Uruguayan joined the French giants from Sporting CP.

The Red Devils paid an initial £42.1m to bring the Ligue 1 champion to Old Trafford, with add-ons worth around £8.4m allowing PSG to break even following their outlay on Ugarte 12 months prior.

With Erik ten Hag departing the club just months later, it has not been the greatest of first campaigns for Ugarte, though all parties will be hoping he can show his best, particularly with his former club agreeing a sell-on fee in their negotiations.

7

Dani Olmo

RB Leipzig to Barcelona (£51m)

Dani Olmo was one of the star players at Euro 2024, standing out with his attacking brilliance and helping inspire Spain to glory, alerting some of Europe’s top clubs in the process.

It was Barcelona who eventually acquired the signature of the 26-year-old, signing him for £51m from RB Leipzig, but it was a complex transfer not without its issues, as he was only registered for the first half of the season.

That problem has now been overcome, with Olmo granted permission to continue representing the Catalan giants amid rumours over his short-term future.

6

Pedro Neto

Wolves to Chelsea (£54m)

Pedro Neto was always a great player to watch for Wolves, but injuries seemed to hold him back. Still, that didn’t stop Chelsea from taking a punt on him last summer.

So far, the Portuguese’s availability has been good, with 19 league appearances handed to him in his first half-season, but his only goal in the competition was a great long-range strike at home to Arsenal. More is needed to justify the £54m that the Blues spent on him.

5

Leny Yoro

Lille to Man Utd (£58.9m)

Leny Yoro was arguably Manchester United’s most exciting signing of the summer considering he arrived with a reputation as one of the world’s leading young centre-backs.

However, it’s fair to say that it has been a sobering first season at Old Trafford for the Frenchman, with only four starts and nine appearances coming his way in the league my mid-January. That said, the defender is still only 19 and is playing in a mediocre team, so it would be unfair to judge him too much at this point.

United paid just over £52m upfront for the former Lille starlet, with add-ons taking the potential total transfer fee to £58.9m.

4

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Napoli to PSG (£59m)

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has been one of Europe’s most devastating wingers in recent years, and once the January window arrived, it became clear that a move away from Napoli was on the cards.

The 23-year-old was linked with various top clubs, including Liverpool, but he ended up joining PSG in January 2025 for £59m plus add-ons. While the specific financial details were not disclosed by either club, it is likely that these add-ons would take the overall transfer fee well past the £60m mark, if not more.

Having lit up Serie A as Napoli marched to Scudetto glory and with Georgia as they made their historic major tournament debut, Kvaratskhelia could become one of PSG’s key men post-Mbappe.

3

Joao Neves

Benfica to PSG (£60m)

Joao Neves has been considered one of Europe’s leading young midfielders for a number of years, and it was always clear that Benfica were going to find it extremely hard to keep hold of him.

Paris Saint-Germain snapped up the Portuguese for an initial £50m prior to the start of the new season, with the price potentially rising to £60m including add-ons.

Neves hasn’t disappointed in France, proving to be a key figure in the middle of the park. The 20-year-old has registered seven assists in just 13 starts in Ligue 1, and it feels as though there are still plenty of further levels to find in his career.

2

Dominic Solanke

Bournemouth to Tottenham (£65m)

Dominic Solanke may not have made the grade at Liverpool, but an excellent spell at Bournemouth saw him land a move to Tottenham last summer for a total of £65m.

The Englishman may be part of a Spurs team struggling badly at the moment, but he has arguably been one of the few positives for Ange Postecoglou. He has 10 goal involvements (seven goals and three assists) in 18 Premier League outings, and he also scored a brace against United in the EFL Cup.

Spurs’ initial £55m deal for Solanke could yet reach £65m in performance-related add-ons.

1

Julian Alvarez

Man City to Atletico Madrid (£81.5m)

In hindsight, Manchester City’s decision to allow Julian Alvarez to join Atletico Madrid at the start of the season has felt increasingly baffling by the month.

The Argentinian is the most expensive signing of 2024/25, heading to Diego Simeone’s team for a potential £81.5m. What Pep Guardiola would have done to have him at different points since August.

Around £20m of that fee is in possible add-ons, but considering Atleti are still in the Champions League and firmly in the La Liga title race, it has so far been money well spent by El Cholo.