Ranking the 6 Most Expensive Teenage Transfers in Football History
- Teenage footballers with immense potential have commanded record-breaking transfer fees, as clubs invest heavily in future superstars
- From Kylian Mbappe’s £154m move to PSG to Joao Felix’s £108m switch to Atletico Madrid, the demand for young talent has driven transfer prices to staggering heights
- While some of these players have justified their hefty price tags, others have struggled under the immense pressure of expectation
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Football has always been a sport of passion, skill, and drama, but in recent years, money has played an increasingly dominant role.
Clubs with deep pockets—often backed by billionaires or even entire states—have the power to sign the best talent, regardless of cost.
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This has led to staggering transfer fees, with even teenagers commanding astronomical sums due to their potential and marketability.
Young talents are now capable of dictating the future of clubs. A wonderkid’s sale can provide financial relief to struggling clubs, while for others, acquiring a teenage superstar is a long-term investment in dominance.
The Premier League, widely regarded as the richest league in the world, has played a significant role in skyrocketing teenage transfer fees.
YEN.com.gh takes look at the six most expensive teenage transfers in football history, ranking them based on their record-breaking price tags.
6. Anthony Martial - £51m (Monaco to Manchester United)
When Anthony Martial arrived at Manchester United in 2015, few outside France knew much about him.
But after his sensational debut goal against Liverpool, with commentator Martin Tyler’s iconic call—"Welcome to Manchester United, Anthony Martial"—it was clear that the Red Devils had acquired a special talent.
United paid Monaco an initial £36m for the French forward, but performance-based add-ons took the total fee to £51m.
The contract even included a Ballon d'Or clause, meaning Monaco would receive an extra payment if Martial ever won the award. Though he never quite lived up to his early promise, his potential at the time justified the hefty price tag.
5. Leny Yoro - £52m (Lille to Manchester United)
The 18-year-old had already made a name for himself as one of Europe's most promising young defenders.
Making his Ligue 1 debut at 16, he quickly established himself as a commanding presence in Lille's backline. Naturally, some of the biggest clubs in the world were interested.
Manchester United ultimately won the race for Yoro’s signature, beating Real Madrid, who preferred to wait until 2025 when his contract expired.
Instead, United acted fast, securing the French center-back for £52m. France U21 coach Thierry Henry described his career start as “exemplary,” and United fans are hoping he lives up to the hype.
4. Romeo Lavia - £53m (Southampton to Chelsea)
After Southampton’s relegation in 2023, Romeo Lavia became one of the most sought-after young midfielders in Europe.
Despite the team’s struggles, he stood out as a composed, ball-winning midfielder with excellent passing ability and defensive awareness.
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Chelsea swooped in with a £53m offer, seeing Lavia as the perfect addition to their midfield rebuild.
While injuries hampered his first season at Stamford Bridge, his blend of power, technical ability, and footballing intelligence makes him a player with the potential to justify his hefty transfer fee in the coming years..
3. Matthijs de Ligt - £72.5m (Ajax to Juventus)
Ajax's fairytale run to the 2019 Champions League semi-finals was one of the most memorable campaigns in recent history.
Key to their success was their teenage captain, Matthijs de Ligt. His leadership, composure, and defensive prowess belied his years, making him a target for Europe's elite.
Juventus won the bidding war, signing De Ligt for £72.5m in the summer of 2019.
While he had a mixed spell in Italy, struggling at times with injuries and tactical adjustments, the Dutch defender remains one of the most expensive teenagers ever and a testament to the growing value of young defenders.
2. Joao Felix - £108m (Benfica to Atletico Madrid)
Few transfers have caused as much shock as Joao Felix's move to Atletico Madrid in 2019.
The Portuguese forward was just 19 when he left Benfica for a staggering £108m, making him one of the most expensive players in history, not just among teenagers.
Felix’s dribbling, vision, and goal-scoring ability made him an exciting prospect, but the pressure of such a high price tag proved difficult to handle.
His time at Atletico was turbulent, leading to loan spells at Chelsea and Barcelona. While his talent is undeniable, his transfer remains one of the most debated in modern football.
1. Kylian Mbappe - £154m (Monaco to PSG)
Kylian Mbappe is one of the sport's biggest superstars - and his spell at Monaco foreshadowed an incredible career.
In 60 appearances for the club, he scored 27 goals with 16 assists. He helped Monaco reach the Champions League semi-finals in 2017 with a string of spectacular performances, including against heavyweights Manchester City.
Due to this, he joined Paris Saint-Germain on loan in 2017, before making the move permanent in 2018 for a price of £154m.
The permanent move came off the back of Mbappe becoming just the second teenager to score in a World Cup final - after Pele - almost immediately justifying his expensive price tag.
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Source: AFP
