Credit: Getty Images/Ash Donelon/Manchester United/Paul ELLIS / AFP/Alex Livesey

Features

FeaturedFeaturesManchester UnitedEnglish Premier League

Manchester United’s most expensive signings ever, including player who left for £89m loss

Billy Meyers

Tue 18 February 2025 13:57, UK

Manchester United have spent a lot of money since Sir Alex Ferguson chose to retire in 2013.

Well over £1bn has been splashed on players as the Red Devils attempt to navigate life after the legendary Glaswegian – but unfortunately, there have been far more misses in the market than hits.

This botched recruitment strategy has ultimately led Manchester United to their current position of 15th in the Premier League – a telling sign of how poorly the club have operated in the market.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
15	Man UtdManchester United	25	8	5	12	28	35	-7	29
16	West HamWest Ham	25	7	6	12	29	47	-18	27
17	WolvesWolves	25	5	4	16	35	54	-19	19
18	IpswichIpswich	25	3	8	14	23	50	-27	17
19	LeicesterLeicester	25	4	5	16	25	55	-30	17
20	SouthamptonSouthampton	25	2	3	20	19	57	-38	9

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the ten most expensive signings in the history of Manchester United.

Lisandro Martinez

• £57m
• Ajax to Manchester United (July 2022)

Lisandro Martinez followed Erik ten Hag from Ajax to Manchester United back in the summer of 2022.

The Argentina international has actually been a decent addition – unlike most of the players on this list – but is unfortunately out of action right now after a serious knee injury.

Arsenal also wanted to sign Martinez – but the Gunners lost out to the Red Devils.

Angel Di Maria

• £59.7m
• Real Madrid to Manchester United (August 2014)

Manchester United smashed the British transfer record at the time to bring Angel Di Maria to Old Trafford – just after the Argentine was named Man of the Match for Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League final.

Angel Di Maria’s incredible chip against Leicester 🪄

— Premier League (@premierleague)

It was a statement signing under Louis van Gaal, although the South American struggled to settle in Manchester, and scored just four goals in 32 appearances.

Mason Mount

• £60m
• Chelsea to Manchester United (June 2023)

Mason Mount was an odd signing by Manchester United.

The Red Devils could have landed the England international for free had they waited another 12 months – due to his contract situation at Chelsea – but strangely opted to throw £60m at the Blues to bring the transfer forward.

Mount has since struggled tremendously with injuries – managing only 32 appearances, which have yielded just two goal involvements at the time of writing.

Casemiro

• £70m
• Real Madrid to Manchester United (August 2022)

Football clubs in the modern era often refrain from spending huge fees on players either in their thirties, or on the cusp of entering them, due to a lack of resale value.

Casemiro is a prime example of why these deals should not be made.

The Brazilian started well at Old Trafford, scoring seven goals and providing six assists in his first season as Manchester United won the Carabao Cup.

However, TBR Football understand Manchester United now want Casemiro gone, as his £350,000-a-week wages put strain on the club’s resources and his performance level wanes.

Rasmus Hojlund

• £72m
• Atalanta to Manchester United (August 2023)

Rasmus Hojlund was one of the hottest strikers in Europe when Manchester United made the Dane their fifth-most expensive signing back in August 2023.

“Maybe there’s a new Scandinavian in Manchester who’s going to make headlines!” 📰👀

Ramsus Hojlund gets his second goal of the night – and puts Manchester United back in front 🙌

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt)

Despite flashes of his obvious talent in the 2023/24 campaign, the Denmark international has slowed down, scoring just two Premier League goals so far this season.

Jadon Sancho

• £73m
• Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United (July 2021)

Manchester United secured one of the most exciting talents on the planet when bringing Jadon Sancho to Old Trafford in July 2021.

However, the England international did not get along well with Ten Hag, and managed to register just 12 goals in 83 appearances.

Manchester United have since loaned Sancho to Chelsea – although he is set to leave for good as the Blues hold a £21m obligation to buy.

Romelu Lukaku

• £75m
• Everton to Manchester United (July 2017)

Romelu Lukaku actually boasts a solid record for Manchester United.

😎 makes no mistake.

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup)

The Belgian failed to win any silverware during his two years at Old Trafford, but did score 42 goals in 96 games, a tally which ensured Manchester United were able to break even when selling the striker to Inter Milan for £75m in August 2019.

Harry Maguire

• £80m
• Leicester City to Manchester United (August 2019)

Manchester United broke the world record transfer fee for a defender when spending £80m to take Harry Maguire off Leicester City back in August 2019.

The England international has since racked up 231 appearances – helping the Red Devils win the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup.

Antony

• £86m
• Ajax to Manchester United (September 2022)

The £86m signing of Antony could well be the worst deal in Premier League history.

In 96 games for Manchester United, the Brazilian has only scored 12 goals, and is currently on loan at Real Betis after failing to impress Ruben Amorim.

Paul Pogba

• £89m
• Juventus to Manchester United (August 2016)

Manchester United developed Paul Pogba in the academy before Juventus took the Frenchman on a free transfer back in 2012.

After blossoming into one of Europe’s best in Turin, the Red Devils then paid a world record transfer fee to bring the France international back in an £89m deal.

He 𝙝𝙞𝙩 that ☄️

🔴
⚽
🇫🇷

— Manchester United (@ManUtd)

Amazingly, Manchester United then lost Pogba for free to Juventus again in 2022 – resulting in an £89m loss for the Red Devils as the midfield maestro ran down his contract.