Featured Image Credit: PAOLO COCCO / Staff via Getty Images
Topics: Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, Football, Transfers
James Taylor
Topics: Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, Football, Transfers
The mind-blowing adjusted transfer fees of Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo highlight just how much money Real Madrid have spent over the years.
A new leaderboard reveals the most expensive transfers ever, Real Madrid dominating the list.
Action Network commissioned the creation of the Football Transfer Window Price Index, which uses a special interest rate to calculate the value of historic transfers in 2025.
The 15-time Champions League winners have never been afraid to flex their financial muscle in the transfer market.
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In 2001, they signed Zinedine Zidane from Juventus for £46 million, a fee that the Football Transfer Window Price Index now equates to an astonishing £471 million.
The Frenchman scored one of the most iconic Champions League goals ever against Bayer Leverkusen and also won one La Liga title.
He later returned as manager and became the first person in history to win three consecutive Champions League titles.
A year before Zizou, Real Madrid made the hugely controversial signing of Luis Figo from arch-rivals at FC Barcelona for £37 million, now valued at £397 million.
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Figo won the Ballon d'or in 2000 and was one of the first Galactico's signed by Madrid in the 2000s.
Third on the list is more recent move of Neymar from Barcelona to PSG for £200 million, now worth £358 million.
Despite winning five Ligue 1 titles, he was plagued by injuries and he was unable to deliver the Champions League PSG craved.
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Next is Hernan Crespo's £35.5 million transfer from Parma to Lazio in 2000, now valued at £339 million. Crespo was the Serie A's top scorer in his first season, but was sold to Inter at the end of his second campaign.
Manchester United's £28.1 million deal for Juan Sebastian Veron in 2001 comes, adjusted to £313 million. Veron struggled to establish himself in United's midfield and was sold to Chelsea two summers later.
In sixth place is Rui Costa's £26.7 million move from Fiorentina to Milan in 2000, now worth £308 million. He spent five years in Milan and played a key role as they won the Champions League in 2003.
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Next is Gaizka Mendieta's disastrous £28 million from Valencia to Lazio, valued at £298 million. The midfieler did not score in his 20 Serie A appearances.
Ninth on the list is Cristiano Ronaldo's £80 million move from Man United to Real Madrid, now worth £293 million.
Ronaldo became the club's record goalscorer, winning four Champions Leagues and four Ballon d'Ors.
The list is completed by Christian Vieri's £32.1 million transfer from Lazio to Inter in 1999, now valued £284 million. He scored an impressive 103 goals in 143 games, but the team did not replicate his form.