Florian Wirtz 2nd, Rodri 4th – New Premier League players with highest market value at the time

Seven of top 10 from Bundesliga 

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The Premier League has long been a magnet for elite talent, with clubs across England’s top flight unafraid to spend big money in pursuit of success. Over the years, some of world football’s most valuable stars have made the move to England with sky-high expectations – and even higher market values. From a select group of global superstars arriving at their peak, to prodigious youngsters carrying the weight of future promise, Transfermarkt takes a look back at the players who held the highest market value at the moment they first set foot in English football to play in the Premier League.

These are the signings that turned heads before they’d even kicked a ball on English soil. Included are only players who had never played in England before their transfer to the Premier League. So for example, players such as Paul Pogba, who came through the youth ranks and made Premier League appearances at Manchester United before his big-money return from Juventus in 2016, would not be included. Interestingly, stars arriving from the Bundesliga dominate the list.

New Premier League players with highest market value at the time

Leading the way is goalscoring machine Erling Haaland. No player has ever joined the Premier League with the same level of superstar status that the Norwegian had when he signed for Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022 – every top team in the world would have had him. At the time of the transfer, Haaland had a market value of €150 million, which puts him in first place. In second is an acquisition from this summer – German playmaker Florian Wirtz boasts a market value of €140m and made the move from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool in June. The Bundesliga’s dominance continues in third with Kai Havertz worth €81m at the time of his move from Leverkusen to Chelsea in 2019.

Fourth place to goes to Spanish midfielder Rodri, who had a market value of €80m when he joined Man City from Atlético Madrid in 2019. Forward Christopher Nkunku takes fifth – also worth €80m at the time of his move to Chelsea in 2023. In sixth is defender Josko Gvardiol, with a market value of €75m when he made the move to Man City. Raphaël Varane is seventh worth €70m when he arrived at Old Trafford, whilst striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang takes eighth, having been worth €65m when signed for Arsenal. Midfielder Naby Keïta (Market value: €65m) is ninth, with Arsenal winger Nicolas Pépé (MV: €65m) completing the top 10.