Manchester United is one of the most valuable and biggest clubs in the world. For many decades, the club has been home to many world-class players, they also have the biggest net-spend in the Premier League. With many players plying their trade at Old Trafford, the club has made some of the most expensive transfers in football history. In this article, we look at the 5 most expensive signings made by Manchester United.
#5 Angel Di Maria
The signing of Di Maria in 2014 which cost the club 67.5m, caused a spark of joy and excitement among the Manchester United fans as they had got one of the best wingers. The club got the player at the perfect time, Di Maria was flying at the time as he had just come off with a brilliant World Cup and had also won a Champions League recently. The Argentine has been an exceptional player over the years.
He got off to a flying start as he was directly involved in seven goals in just six games, proving his worth. The dip in his form, on the other hand, was severe. After a bright start, the winger struggled with pace and form as he managed to score just four goals in the 32 games he played for the Red Devils. He struggled to adjust to the English conditions which affected his on-field efforts which eventually led him to get transferred just one season later.
#4 Romelu Lukaku
After coming off a brilliant season with Everton, every big club in the league wanted to acquire the services of Lukaku. United beat the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City to land the striker at Old Trafford. Priced at 80m euros, the Belgian forward was what United fans thought they needed to win the Premier League. But Romelu failed to score consistently and was frequently criticized for his poor first touch.
His spell at the club lasted only two seasons, where he scored a respectable 42 goals in 96 matches across all competitions. The striker then moved to Inter Milan, where he has been enjoying great success, leading Inter to their first Serie A crown in a decade.
#3 Jadon Sancho
After months and months of speculations, Manchester United finally managed to land Sancho, who had been on their radar since 2018. The player cost them 85m euros, making him the most expensive forward in the history of the Premier League. Jadon took no time to establish himself as a key player in the Dortmund side, scoring 50 goals in less than 150 matches for them.
In recent years, Sancho has emerged as one of the world’s most interesting and exciting young prospects, and that is exactly the reason Manchester United were so keen on getting him. All eyes will be on Jadon as he will look to justify his price tag in the upcoming season.
#2 Harry Maguire
Ever since the club has acquired the services of Harry Maguire, he has been one of the most prominent members of the club. Leading his team from the front, captain Maguire has been rock solid at the back while at the same time, has been a serious threat in the air. Many eyebrows were raised when Manchester United splashed a whooping 87m to acquire the services of Harry Maguire, and while it took some time for him to adjust at the club, he has now established himself as one of the best defenders in the world right now.
Despite all the questions and doubts, Maguire has only grown in the famous red jersey. His performances at the Euro 2020, which also helped his team reach the finals of the tournament have hailed him as one of the best in the game right now. He has put a lot of effort to get every penny back to his and club, and it shows. And he will be key if the club are to challenge for trophies in near future.
#1 Paul Pogba
Manchester United signed Pogba in 2016 from Serie A giants Juventus for then a world-record transfer fee which costed them close to 95m euros, as he tops the list of the 5 most expensive signings made by Manchester United. During his time at Juventus, he won the Scudetto four times and finished second in the Champions League once, the French midfielder was also named the Serie A player of the year in 2013/14. While the player enjoyed a great career at Juventus, things have not quite worked out for him at Manchester United.
His time in England has been a roller coaster ride, he has had a mixed time. While excelling at times, his inconsistency has plagued him. Pogba has made 199 appearances for the Red Devils, finding the net just 28 times. He played an integral part in the team as United won the Europa League in 2017.
