Spending money has always been a trusted route to success in the world of football and Real Madrid are a club that has always exercised their financial muscle in the market. Over the years, Los Blancos have earned a reputation for not only spending big, but also spending wisely.
Under mercurial President Florentino Perez, the club has assembled a star-studded team in the yesteryears that was dubbed ‘The Galacticos’. However, the tradition of splurging on the top talent worldwide has continued as the club aim to reach new heights.
That being said, let’s take a look at the top 10 most expensive Real Madrid signings in history.
10. Luis Figo from FC Barcelona | €60m
One of the most controversial transfers in the history of the sport, Luis Figo’s move from one bitter rival to the other did not go down well. He was jeered and booed by Barca fans whenever the two sides faced, but that did not deter the Portuguese star from proving his worth.
Figo spent five years with Los Blancos between 2000-05, making 245 appearances and scoring 57 goals and providing 93 assists. A physically strong yet elegant dribbler, Figo had bursts of acceleration that helped him beat opponents and a powerful shot as well. He won two La Liga titles and one UEFA Champions League with Real.
9. Luka Jovic from Eintracht Frankfurt | €63m
One of the rare misses by the club in the transfer market, Jovic could not do much to justify his spot among the most expensive Real Madrid signings. The Serbian striker arrived at the club in June 2019 on the back of a promising 2018/19 season with Frankfurt, netting 27 times and providing seven assists in 48 games.
However, his three-year spell in Madrid was a poor reflection of the player’s ability. Jovic made just 51 appearances for the club, scoring only three goals and providing five assists. He was loaned back to Frankfurt in 2021 and then departed for Fiorentina on a permanent move the following year.
8. Kaka from AC Milan | €67m
Kaka arrived at Real Madrid as one of the best players to have ever played for AC Milan, having won the Champions League with the club. A tall yet skilful and elegant player, Kaka had the unique ability to create goals out of nothing. With 104 goals and 81 assists in 307 games for Milan, he was expected to bring the same quality to the Bernabeu.
However, the Brazilian could not continue the same momentum and was later side-tracked from the main group by Jose Mourinho. He played 120 games for Los Blancos, scoring 29 times and providing 39 assists. Despite being one of the most expensive Real Madrid signings, Kaka was unable to perform to the best of his abilities.
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7. James Rodriguez from AS Monaco | €75m
Rodriguez had an incredible 2014 World Cup with Columbia, scoring six goals and providing two assists in five games as his nation made it to the quarter-finals. Following his incredible showing, Real Madrid made him the fourth most expensive player in the world at the time as he penned a six-year deal in July 2014.
Blessed with a wand of a left foot that he could use to pass as well as strike the ball sweetly, Rodriguez was unable to hit the heights that were expected of him, but still did reasonably well at Real. He made 125 appearances for the club, scoring 37 goals and providing 42 assists. Despite running down his entire contract, Rodriguez was unable to fully justify his spot among the most expensive Real Madrid signings.
6. Zinedine Zidane from Juventus | €77.5m
Zidane joined Real Madrid in 2001 for a then-world record fee as one of the best players in the world. He had already made a name for himself with Bordeaux and Juventus and arrived as a World Cup and Euro winner. A player with a tall and lanky frame, Zidane possessed close control and spatial awareness like few others in the history of the sport.
He made 227 appearances for Los Blancos, scoring 49 goals and providing 68 assists for his teammates. A serial winner wherever he went, Zidane won one La Liga title and one Champions League with Real, among other honours. Despite arriving in the twilight of his career, Zidane deserves his spot among the most expensive Real Madrid signings.
5. Aurelien Tchouameni from AS Monaco | €80m
Tchouameni came through the ranks at Bordeaux and represented the club between 2018-20, after which he joined Monaco and burst onto the scene. A strong player with an ability to read the game, pick a pass and score the occasional thunderous strike, the Frenchman’s abilities convinced Real Madrid that he would be worth the investment.
Often moved out of position to cover for injuries, Tchouameni has done well so far to justify his price-tag. He has made 88 appearances for the club, scoring three goals and providing five assists. He has already won La Liga and the Champions League, and aged just 24, he still has plenty of time to justify his place among the most expensive Real Madrid signings.
4. Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United | €94m
In a move that sent shockwaves through the footballing world, Ronaldo made the switch from United on the back of a Ballon d’Or winning year with the club. The Portuguese sensation did more than enough to justify his place among the most expensive Real Madrid signings and ended his nine-year tenure as one of, if not their greatest-ever player.
Ronaldo made 438 appearances for Los Blancos, scoring a staggering 450 goals and providing 131 assists as well. He won two La Liga titles, four Champions League titles and three FIFA Club World Cups, among other honours. He won three league golden boots, three European Golden Shoes and four more Ballon d’Or awards while with Real.
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3. Gareth Bale from Tottenham | €101m
Bale moved from Spurs to Madrid in the first-ever transfer in history to breach the 100m mark and had some iconic moments for the club. He scored in two Champions League finals and an amazing solo goal in a Copa del Rey final against Barcelona to etch his name in the club’s rich history.
He made 258 appearances for the club, scoring 106 goals and also providing 67 assists for his teammates. A lightning quick player with a thunderous left foot, Bale was a constant goal threat throughout his prime years. He won three La Liga titles and five Champions League titles, among other honours.
2. Jude Bellingham from Borrusia Dortmund | €103m
Although it has been just one season since he joined the club, Bellingham seems to have already taken big strides towards proving he belongs among the most expensive Real Madrid signings. He arrived at the club with over 100 appearances for Dortmund and had an incredible first season in Spain.
Bellingham made 42 appearances across competitions, scoring 23 goals and providing 13 assists. He won La Liga, Supercopa de Espana and the Champions League in his first year and the sky is the limit for the 20-year-old.
1. Eden Hazard from Chelsea | €120.8m
A two-time Premier League winner and also winner of Player of the Season with Chelsea, Hazard arrived at Real Madrid with great expectations placed on him. Ronaldo had just departed and a big void was left in their attack, with the Belgian touted to fill it.
A natural dribbler of the ball, Hazard’s ability to weave through tight spaces and unleash thunderous shots allowed him to score some wonderful goals throughout his career. However, he was unable to bring that form to Spain, making 76 appearances for Los Blancos, scoring seven goals and providing 12 assists. His story remains one of the biggest what-ifs as he was unable to justify his spot among the most expensive Real Madrid signings due to his fitness issues.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who is the most expensive signing in Real Madrid’s history?
A. Eden Hazard’s €120.8 million move from Chelsea is the club’s record transfer.
Q. Who is the best signing for Real Madrid?
A. Cristiano Ronaldo is regarded as their best-ever signing.
Q. Is Real Madrid the most expensive team in the world?
A. Yes, Real Madrid ranks first with a value of $6.6bn.