As we approach the end of 2023, we decided to shine a spotlight on the most expensive transfers that were completed over the course of the year.
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This year has been yet another staggering one as far as transfer fees are concerned. The emergence of the Saudi Pro League has seen a large influx of even greater transfer figures than what football fans are accustomed to, while teams in the Premier League continue to set themselves apart from the rest of Europe in terms of splashing the cash.
The oil-rich kingdom of Saudi Arabia has, however, made the biggest splash in the market, not only with their astronomical wages, but also with exorbitant transfer figures. Young stars such as Kylian Mbappe and Victor Osimhen were courted by teams in the Middle East, but while that young duo opted to stay in Europe, a superstar of the game who made their way to the Gulf state was Neymar.
The Brazilian saw his six-year spell at Paris Saint-Germain come to an end in 2023 as the French record title holders accepted a €90 million (R1.8 billion) bid from Saudi Pro League leaders Al Hilal for his services. The Ligue 1 winners did not rest on their laurels, though, as they also spent big to replace the Brazilian.
PSG added Randal Kolo Muani to their attack following his stellar campaign with Eintracht Frankfurt last season. His 23 goals and 17 assists with the Bundesliga outfit earned him a €95 million (R1.9 billion) move back to his hometown.
Click through the gallery below to see the most expensive transfers of 2023, according to Transfermarkt:
While the German top flight bid farewell to a budding star, it welcomed an established superstar in Harry Kane. The Englishman became the most lucrative arrival in the league's history when Bayern Munich decided to pay Tottenham Hotspur €95 million for their all-time top goalscorer.
The London native has taken no time to adapt to his new surroundings after spending entirety of his professional career with the Lilywhites – he already has 25 goals and eight assists in just 22 appearances for the Bavarians in all competitions so far this season.
As impressive as Kane has been at the Allianz Arena this season, though, he perhaps has strong competition for the title of best-performing Englishman in world football. That competition goes by the name of Jude Bellingham.
When the Stourbridge native arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu for €103 million (R2.1 billion) from Borussia Dortmund, perhaps people knew that one day he would turn out to be a special player, but it is unlikely anybody saw him starting the new season the way he has. in Just 21 games as a Madridista, the 20-year-old already has 17 goals and five assists to his name and has been Los Blancos' most important player in the early parts of the campaign.
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The money the Spanish giants spent on Bellingham is looking like a relative bargain considering how quickly he has become so prominent for Real. Carlo Ancelotti's charges go into the new year on top of LALIGA and with a 100% record in the UEFA Champions League, thanks in large part to the Englishman's goals.
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