#1
Neymar Jr.
FC BarcelonaParis Saint-Germain· Season 2017/18
Release clause paid in full — still the world record fee.
€222m
Transfer fee
Record Transfers & Highest-Paid Athletes
The five biggest football transfer fees ever — with season and clubs — alongside the world's top earning athletes.
Top 5 most expensive football transfers of all time
#2
Kylian Mbappé
AS MonacoParis Saint-Germain· Season 2018/19
Loan in 2017/18 made permanent for a reported €145m plus €35m in add-ons.
€180m
Transfer fee
#3
Philippe Coutinho
LiverpoolFC Barcelona· Season 2017/18
€120m guaranteed plus performance-based bonuses.
€145m
Transfer fee
#4
Ousmane Dembélé
Borussia DortmundFC Barcelona· Season 2017/18
Signed days after Neymar's exit as a direct replacement.
€140m
Transfer fee
#5
João Félix
SL BenficaAtlético Madrid· Season 2019/20
Funded largely by Antoine Griezmann's release-clause sale.
€127.2m
Transfer fee
Highest-paid athletes (latest 12-month earnings)
| # | Athlete | On-field | Off-field | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo Football · Al Nassr | $225m | $50m | $275m |
| 2 | Stephen Curry Basketball · Golden State Warriors | $56m | $100m | $156m |
| 3 | Tyson Fury Boxing · Heavyweight | $140m | $6m | $146m |
| 4 | Dak Prescott American Football · Dallas Cowboys | $131m | $6m | $137m |
| 5 | Lionel Messi Football · Inter Miami | $60m | $75m | $135m |
Data source & update method
Transfer fees: compiled from publicly reported club statements and transfer databases (Transfermarkt, club announcements). Fees include agreed add-ons where reported.
Athlete earnings: based on the most recent Forbes highest-paid athletes ranking, covering salary, prize money, bonuses and endorsement income over a 12-month period.
How it updates: this list is curated and reviewed manually whenever a new record transfer or a new annual earnings ranking is published. Figures are estimates and may be reported differently by other outlets.