Summer transfer window: the most expensive transfer deadline day deals in football history

The summer transfer window is drawing to a close after nearly three months of negotiating, haggling and bargaining has taken place, culminating in some of the biggest moves across Europe.

Manchester City kick started the summer with the illustrious signing of the Norwegian superstar Erling Haaland for £55million.

Haaland has since gone on to score two hat-tricks already this season, netting a total of nine goals in just five matches.

Some of this transfer window’s other highlights have included Haaland’s predecessor Gabriel Jesus moving to Arsenal, resulting in the Gunners winning five out of their first five fixtures, with the Brazilian scoring three goals and providing as many assists to boot.

Liverpool signed Darwin Nunez from Benfica for around £65million and most recently Chelsea signed the Leicester City defender Wesley Fofana for £70million.

As the final hours of deadline day approach, there are still set to be several big transfers coming in, but will they reach the famous price heights we have seen before?

Here are the top 10 biggest transfers to have gone through on deadline day...

Gareth Bale: £83.5m

In 2013, Bale achieved an at the time world record fee when he moved from Tottenham to Real Madrid.

During his time in the Spanish capital, Bale scored one of the most spectacular overhead kicks of all time in the Champions League final against Liverpool back in 2018.

He scored over 100 goals for Los Blancos, winning 16 trophies with them before he moved on to Los Angeles earlier this summer.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: £55m

Arsenal signed the Gabon international back in 2018 from Borussia Dortmund, for one of the biggest transfer day prices. His start for the Gunners in the early stages was so phenomenal that he was soon awarded the captaincy when Granit Xhaka was relieved of his duties.

However, things began to go sour towards the end of his stay and Gabon’s all-time top goalscorer was soon pushed out by Mikel Arteta to Barcelona in January 2022.

Fernando Torres: £50m

Back in 2011, Chelsea broke the record for the amount spent by an English club when they signed Fernando Torres from Liverpool.

The Spanish international had been a huge success for the Reds but was unable to replicate his form when he made the move to West London.

He was then sent on loan to AC Milan in 2014, and never played for the Blues again.

Thomas Partey: £45m

Atletico Madrid had no choice but to sell to Arsenal back in 2020, when Partey’s release clause was triggered right at the end of the window and the La Liga side were forced to sell the Ghanian.

The 29-year-old took time adjusting to English football but soon became a firm fixture in midfield for the Gunners.

Mesut Ozil: £42.5m

Back in 2013, Arsenal once again splashed the cash when they signed the German international Mesut Ozil for a whopping £42.5m on deadline day.

Despite being handed a huge £350,000-per-week contract, all did not go well for the midfielder and Arsenal eventually bought him out of his contract, letting him leave for free.

Ronaldo: £40.5m

One of the most talented players in the world - not Cristiano, the Brazilian one! - joined Real Madrid from Inter Milan back in 2002 for £40.5m.

This came five years after leaving Real’s biggest rivals Barcelona and the Brazilian international went on to score 104 goals in 177 games for the Champions League giants.

However, only two major honours were awarded in this time, La Liga in 2003 and 2007, as the Galacticos experienced a rare drought.

Anthony Martial: £36m

This Frenchman broke the record fee for a teenager back in 2015 when Manchester United signed Martial from Monaco for £36m and a further £22m in potential add-ons.

Despite making an immediate impact with the Red Devils, Martial has since struggled and recently enjoyed a loan spell in Sevilla before returning to Old Trafford this summer.

He will hope to rectify his career in Manchester under the new manager Erik ten Hag.

Andy Carroll: £35m

For a few hours on deadline day, Andy Carroll became the most expensive footballer in British transfer history after Liverpool signed the striker for £35m from Newcastle back in 2011.

Later that day, Torres then overshadowed this deal by signing with Chelsea.

The move turned out to be a near waste of time for the Reds as he managed 11 goals from 58 matches before injury struck.

The former West Ham forward joined at the same time as Luis Suarez who proved a much greater success for the Reds.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: £35m

Arsene Wenger used Oxlade-Chamberlain out wide, even at wing-back, and in 201 the England international felt the time at come to be used as a central midfielder when he made the move to Liverpool.

However, despite Premier League, League Cup, FA Cup, Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup winner’s medals, the midfielder’s time at Anfield has not been a personal best as he found himself consistently plagued by injuries.

Danny Drinkwater: £35m

Back in 2017, Leicester and Chelsea went right down to the final minutes of deadline day for £35m, however the Blues may have hoped the deal did not go through at all.

Drinkwater was released this summer having only made 12 Premier League appearances as well as being sent out on four loans: Huddersfield, Cardiff, Watford and Barnsley.