Who Holds the Record for the Most Expensive French Player Ever?
Diving into the annals of French football history unveils a treasure trove of iconic line-ups, each etched into the fabric of the sport and often featuring some of the most pricy players ever seen across the globe. The staggering surge in transfer fees we witness today might seem contemporary, but France has long been a dominant force in the transfer market, churning out top-tier talent that commands astronomical prices year after year.
But who reigns supreme among the French football elite? Let’s embark on this riveting exploration…
Who is the most expensive French player of all time?
Unsurprisingly, it’s Kylian Mbappe who claims this illustrious title. A sensational talent ranked 45th in eScored’s list of the greatest footballers of all time, he didn’t earn this accolade from his recent flirtation with Real Madrid, wherein he departed after his contract lapsed.
Instead, it was his landmark transfer from Monaco to PSG, a staggering deal that shattered previous records with a colossal £163 million in 2018, mere months after PSG had splurged a staggering £200 million to bring in Neymar.
In a recent heart-wrenching revelation, Mbappe lamented what he described as a sad end to his PSG saga, as administrative blunders over contract negotiations left many at the Parc des Princes in tears, mourning the loss of their prized asset for nothing.
Who held the all-time record transfer for a French player before Mbappe?
The staggering sums required to procure Mbappe’s services symbolize a legacy of costly French talent that has delighted audiences for years.
A year prior, Ousmane Dembele had laid claim to the record with his astonishing £97 million move from Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona. Sadly, his tenure at the Catalan giants saw him find the score sheets just 40 times—one can only hope the club retained the receipt.
Dembele’s record dethroned another tremendous transfer—Paul Pogba’s switch to Manchester United—which had previously set the Red Devils back a profound £89 million, a figure made all the more poignant by the fact they had nurtured the midfielder through their own academy just a few seasons earlier.
