Top 10 Most Expensive Accepted & Rejected Soccer Transfer Bids Ever

In top-tier soccer, talent comes at a premium, often with an astronomical price tag attached. The sport has seen some mind-boggling transfer bids that not only illustrate the prowess of the players but also the financial firepower of clubs willing to stake their fortunes on a single individual. Let’s dive into the top ten most expensive soccer transfer bids of all time, starting from number ten and working our way up to the record-breaking number one.

After the world record bid from Al-Hilal for PSG’s Kylian Mbappe, we decided to embark on a journey of soccer’s priciest negotiations. We’ll unravel tales of audacious bids, strategic decisions, and the evergreen allure of world-class talent. While these bids provide us with a glimpse into the clubs’ financial strategies, they also highlight the indelible mark players can leave on teams worldwide.

From English Premier League powerhouses, ambitious outfits across Europe to the mega-rich Saudi Arabian new kids on the block, these clubs demonstrate an insatiable appetite for success, often substantiated by a willingness to break the bank.

With each transfer saga, we uncover a narrative that extends beyond the sport’s 90-minute spectacle, delving into the fascinating realm of contracts, negotiations, and colossal checks. So, without further ado, let’s kick off our countdown, starting from the tenth most expensive transfer bid in soccer history.

10. Declan Rice – $138 Million

• From: West Ham United
• To: Arsenal
• Bid: $138 Million
• Bid Result: Accepted

Arsenal have got themselves a serious player in Declan Rice 💪 pic.twitter.com/TXz22Pqrem

— Premier League (@premierleague) July 15, 2023

Arsenal shattered their club record with a staggering $138 million bid to secure Declan Rice’s services from West Ham. The move not only underscored the Gunners’ intent to strengthen their midfield but also set a new benchmark for transactions between two British clubs.

A noteworthy highlight of this significant deal was the eclipsing of Arsenal’s previous record outlay for Nicolas Pepe from Lille in 2019.

9. Jude Bellingham – $148 Million

• From: Borussia Dortmund
• To: Real Madrid
• Bid: $148 Million
• Bid Result: Accepted

Bellingham’s debut for Real Madrid was really good. So composed on the ball, his spatial awareness is so, so impressive. So press resistant as well. It was just one preseason game, but I saw a lot of positives from his performance. What a player.pic.twitter.com/OPIbXLG039

— Managing Madrid (@managingmadrid) July 24, 2023

Jude Bellingham’s meteoric rise in the soccer world was affirmed when Real Madrid splashed out $148 million to secure the young Englishman’s services. From being the most expensive 17-year-old in history after his $32 million move to Borussia Dortmund in 2020, Bellingham’s value catapulted in an astonishingly short span.

His move to Madrid not only highlights the massive profit Dortmund reaped from their initial investment but also underlines Bellingham’s incredible potential as one of the future stars of the game.

8. Harry Kane – $150 Million

• From: Tottenham Hotspur
• To: Manchester City
• Bid: $150 Million
• Bid Result: Rejected

 

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Harry Kane, Tottenham’s captain and star forward, caused quite a stir when he expressed a desire to leave North London in search of silverware in 2021. Manchester City, ever eager to enhance their attacking prowess, tabled an astounding $150 million bid.

Despite their substantial offer and Kane’s desire to move, Tottenham’s firm stance on their star player’s valuation meant that he stayed put. This saga underscores the complexities of player valuation and loyalty in the intricate world of soccer transfers.

7. Phillipe Coutinho – $186 Million

• From: Liverpool
• To: Barcelona
• Bid: $186 Million
• Bid Result: Accepted

This is why Barcelona paid 150M

Coutinho was World Class at Liverpool man, what a player 🇧🇷 🔥pic.twitter.com/6vWeLrcjIr

— Vision 🇭🇺 (@Lfc__vision) June 23, 2023

In 2018, Barcelona went all out to secure Phillipe Coutinho from Liverpool with a colossal $186 million bid. Liverpool had initially resisted Barcelona’s advances, even rejecting a $90 million bid for the Brazilian playmaker. However, the Catalan giants’ persistent courting eventually led to Coutinho’s move to the Nou Camp.

Despite the high expectations associated with his hefty price tag, Coutinho’s Barcelona stint did not pan out as envisioned. He now finds himself back in the Premier League with Aston Villa, highlighting the unpredictable nature of big-money moves in soccer.

6. Wayne Rooney – $192 Million

• From: Manchester United
• To: Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
• Bid: $192 Million
• Bid Result: Rejected

Rooney’s best Man Utd goals 😍

What a player.pic.twitter.com/WTQYARIkYh

— GOAL (@goal) May 31, 2020

Manchester United’s record goalscorer, Wayne Rooney, found himself in the middle of a significant transfer saga in 2012. Paris Saint-Germain, aiming to lure Rooney with the prospect of a new challenge, proposed a record-breaking $192 million deal. Manchester United, however, opted to keep their talismanic forward, thus turning down what would have been a world-record payday.

Rooney’s illustrious career took him from Manchester to Everton, the MLS, and eventually a managerial role at DC United.

5. Kylian Mbappe – $231 Million

• From: Monaco
• To: Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
• Bid: $231 Million
• Bid Result: Accepted

🔴⚪️ Mbappé was just getting started, scoring twice at Dortmund #OTD in 2017 🔥@AS_Monaco_EN | #UCL pic.twitter.com/37X94Wlt5A

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 12, 2021

Kylian Mbappe first hit the financial high notes of soccer transfers when he moved from Monaco to PSG in 2018 making his loan move permanent. It was a big move that set the tone for the French prodigy’s career.

PSG, aiming to build a powerhouse team capable of dominating Europe, saw Mbappe as the perfect fit for their ambitious project.  The whopping $231 million bid, which Monaco accepted, underlined PSG’s commitment to cultivating a future-forward team, with Mbappe at its heart.

4. Cristiano Ronaldo – $231 Million

• From: Real Madrid
• To: Manchester City
• Bid: $231 Million
• Bid Result: Rejected

Cristiano Ronaldo’s outside the box goals are satisfying to watch…pic.twitter.com/whleyZ98dl

— Soham. (@ronaldogoatsfc) July 21, 2023

In the world of soccer, few names resonate as loudly as Cristiano Ronaldo. Back in 2011, Manchester City, armed with their vast financial resources, made a bold $231 million bid to snatch the Portuguese superstar from Real Madrid. However, Madrid’s firm refusal set Ronaldo on a different journey, one that would take him to Juventus, back to Manchester United, and ultimately Al-Nassr.

3. Neymar – $246 Million

• From: Barcelona
• To: Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
• Bid: $246 Million
• Bid Result: Accepted

🇧🇷 Neymar jr. Incredible career stats:

👕 708 games
⚽️ 436 goals
🎯 248 assists
🏆 1x Champions League
🏆 1x Club World Cup
🏆 5x Ligue 1
🏆 3x French Cup
🏆 2x LaLiga
🏆 3x Copa del Rey
🏆 1x Spanish SuperCup
🏆 2x French league Cup pic.twitter.com/niqH2evKeU

— Sholy Nation Sports (@Sholynationsp) July 16, 2023

Neymar’s exit from Barcelona in 2017 came as part of a massive PSG spending spree that saw the French club invest heavily in global superstars.

PSG, envisioning a team capable of ruling European soccer, saw the charismatic Brazilian as a crucial piece of the puzzle. The successful $246 million bid cemented Neymar’s move to Paris, creating a strong Brazilian connection within the team. However, despite the colossal financial commitment, Neymar’s transfer did not bring the Champions League glory PSG so desperately sought.

The Brazilian maestro did lead them to domestic success, but it still raises the question: was the investment worthwhile?

2. Lionel Messi – $289 Million

• From: Barcelona
• To: Inter Milan
• Bid: $289 Million (Approx. $440 million after inflation adjustment)
• Bid Result: Rejected

15 years ago today, Lionel Messi took the No. 10 shirt at Barcelona.

Then we were treated to this iconic image 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭 📸 pic.twitter.com/Dkxc0g8I4A

— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 24, 2023

No list of high-profile soccer bids would be complete without the mention of Lionel Messi. Inter Milan’s staggering $289 million bid in 2006, which translates to around $440 million today when adjusted for inflation, was surprisingly turned down by Barcelona.

Messi would later be offered a deal worth over a billion dollars to play in Saudi Arabia, which he refused. Ultimately, Messi chose a different path, joining Inter Miami and marking another significant chapter in his illustrious career.

1. Kylian Mbappe – $332 Million

• From: Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
• To: Al-Hilal
• Bid: $332 Million
• Bid Result: Accepted

BREAKING: PSG have accepted Al Hilal’s £259m offer for Kylian Mbappe 🇸🇦✅ pic.twitter.com/i78jAwS1QP

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 24, 2023

Kylian Mbappe tops our list with his earth-shattering $332 million potential transfer from PSG to Al-Hilal. The Saudi club’s audacious bid not only underlined their intent to become a dominant force in global soccer but also turned the transfer market on its head.

For PSG, selling Mbappe will bring in a significant profit, enabling them to potentially reinvest and reshape their squad. This monumental transfer signals a shift in soccer dynamics, with the new Saudia Arabian clubs not hesitating to splash the cash in pursuit of top-tier talent.

Complete List of the Top 10 Highest-Ever Transfer Bids

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