There was a time when football was played by commoners to escape their hectic daily lives. Nowadays, however, this beautiful sport has become a money-making machine, generating billions of dollars every year. Alongside experienced elite players, many talented youngsters from across the world have been making headlines not only through their dazzling performances but also due to their impressive bank balances. Big clubs like PSG, Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Barcelona are keen to secure future stars, often paying exorbitant amounts of money for teenage talent.
Over the years, several young footballers under the age of 20 have been traded for extortionate fees, with many being sold for over €100 million. For instance, a young Kylian Mbappe joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 on a deal worth €180.1 million. Many teenage footballers have become millionaires due to the high price tags attached to their portfolios. The big European clubs constantly monitor top young talents worldwide. Some teenagers rise to the highest levels of competitive football very early, attracting attention from elite teams with substantial financial backing.
These talented youngsters are often pursued by numerous clubs, leading to bidding wars where the highest bidder secures the player. In this article, we will discuss the top 10 most expensive teenagers in the history of football, who have often shattered fee structures and transfer records.
List of Most Expensive Teenagers in Football Ever
10. Javier Saviola (€36 million, Barcelona)
Barcelona shelled out a substantial amount of money to sign Javier Saviola in 2001. At that time, the former Argentine professional was making waves with his goal-scoring prowess at River Plate. The Catalan side was the first team to contact the player’s entourage and signed him for a €36 million fee. The then 19-year-old attacker was considered one of the top five teenage talents in football.
9. Wayne Rooney (€37 million, Manchester United)
Wayne Rooney set the tone as one of the top teenage prospects in the transfer market by scoring 15 goals in 67 appearances for Everton. Following his sensational goal against Arsenal, Manchester United management couldn’t wait much longer to send their agents to sign the exceptionally talented youngster for €37 million. Rooney later ended up as the highest goal scorer in the history of the Red Devils.
8. Luke Shaw (€37.6 million, Manchester United)
Luke Shaw made significant strides since his explosive performances for Southampton in the Premier League. During Manchester United’s squad overhaul, Shaw caught the attention of the club’s management, especially after his inclusion in the England squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The Red Devils approached Southampton with a €37.6 million offer to bring the talented 18-year-old full-back to Old Trafford. Shaw has since proved to be a valuable transfer for United.
7. Fabio Silva (€40.2 million, Wolves)
Fabio Silva emerged as one of the hot teenage prospects in the European transfer market after his exploits in the Portuguese top division. However, much to everyone’s surprise it was Wolves who came calling for the 17-year-old striker. Porto sold the versatile attacker for €40.2 million, making Silva one of the most highest paid teenagers of all-time in football.
6. Vinicius Junior (€45.1 million, Real Madrid)
Vinicius Junior secured the sixth position on the list of the most expensive teenagers in football when he moved to Real Madrid at a tender age. The Brazilian superstar, who is a favorite to win the Ballon d’Or, began mesmerizing the world with his magical quick feet and dribbling skills during his stint at Flamengo. In search of their own Neymar, Los Blancos picked up Vinicius from the Brazilian top-flight club for €45.1 million. Since joining the Spanish outfit, Vinicius has proven himself to be one of the best players in the world.
5. Rodrygo (€45.1 million, Real Madrid)
Real Madrid’s love for Brazilian youngsters is well-known, and Rodrygo’s signing is a fresh example of that fact. The former Santos FC forward can play anywhere in the attacking zone—forward, false nine, wing—you name it, Rodrygo can be deployed anywhere up front. The keen eyes of Real Madrid’s scouting team discovered this teenage sensation in Brazil. The 15-time Champions League winners spent €45.1 million to bring the 16-year-old footballer to Santiago Bernabeu in 2019.
4. Anthony Martial (€60 million, Manchester United)
Manchester United’s pursuit and signing of Anthony Martial shocked most of the club’s loyal fans. It was termed a shock buy by the majority of the club’s fan base on social media. The Red Devils bought the 19-year-old French forward for a whopping €60 million in 2015. Many raised questions about this huge price tag, as it seemed like an overpriced deal. United’s desperate move made Martial one of the most expensive teenagers ever in football.
3. Matthijs de Ligt (€85.5 million, Juventus)
Remember the Ajax team’s incredible run in the 2018-19 Champions League that saw them beat the likes of Juventus and Real Madrid! A young Matthijs de Ligt led that side to the semifinals of the European club tournament. A few youngsters have leadership qualities and the Dutch defender is one of them. After his breakthrough season at Ajax, Juventus broke the bank to complete one of the most expensive teenage transfers in history.
2. Joao Felix (€127.4 million, Atletico Madrid)
Joao Felix is one of the two teenagers for whom more than €100 million has been spent on a transfer deal. Many still view it as a panic buy by Atletico Madrid, prompted by the impending departure of their long-standing attacker Antoine Griezmann to Camp Nou. The Madrid outfit spent a club record fee of €127.4 million to buy the young teenager from Benfica in 2019.
1. Kylian Mbappe (€180.1 million, PSG)
Kylian Mbappe is the most expensive teenager in the history of football. He showcased commendable performance in the Champions League for AS Monaco and PSG was the first party to reach out to the player. Despite a fierce battle with Real Madrid, the French club managed to buy Mbappe on a €180.1 million deal in 2017.
FAQs
Q1: Who is the most expensive teenage football player?
Kylian Mbappe
Q2: What’s the age of the most expensive teenage footballer?
During the transfer, the most expensive teenage footballer was 18 years old.