Manchester United's Billion-Dollar Gamble: Ranking the Most Expensive Signings and Biggest Flops!
- ASUMUP
- Sports / Soccer
- September 20, 2025
Manchester United, a titan of world football, has never been shy about splashing the cash in the transfer market, especially in the turbulent post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. The quest to reclaim Premier League and European glory has led to a procession of big-name, big-money signings arriving at Old Trafford. Each one carried the immense weight of their price tag and the feverish expectations of a global fanbase. This constant churn of talent has produced spectacular successes, high-profile flops, and everything in between.
Analyzing the club's all-time most expensive transfers reveals a fascinating story about shifting strategies, managerial influences, and the ever-inflating nature of the modern football market. From world-record-breaking homecomings to speculative punts on future stars, this list is a veritable who's who of United's recent history. As we look ahead to the 2025/26 season, we see that the trend of heavy investment is set to continue, but will the club finally get its recruitment right? Let's dive into the top 10 most expensive signings in Manchester United's history and deliver our verdict on each.
United's Most Expensive Buys!
- 1st Paul Pogba - 105M
- 2nd Antony - 95M
- 3rd Harry Maguire - 87M
- 4th Jadon Sancho - 85M
- 5th Romelu Lukaku - 84.7M
- 6th Rasmus Højlund - 77.8M
- 7th Benjamin Sesko - 76.5M
- 8th Ángel Di María - 75M
- 9th Bryan Mbeumo - 75M
- 10th Matheus Cunha - 74.2M
10th Matheus Cunha - 74.2M
Rounding out the top ten and completing a trio of future signings for the 2025/26 season is Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha from Wolves. Cunha is a creative and technically gifted player who thrives in the space between midfield and attack. His flair, dribbling ability, and eye for a decisive pass have made him a standout performer at Wolves, capable of creating something out of nothing.
His acquisition points to United's desire to add more creativity and unpredictability to their final-third play. Cunha is not an out-and-out striker but rather a versatile attacker who can play as a false nine, a number ten, or out wide, offering a different skill set to the other forwards at the club. The hope is that his Brazilian creativity will help unlock stubborn defenses and provide a vital link between the midfield and the main strikers.
9th Bryan Mbeumo - 75M
In another major move for the 2025/26 season, Manchester United have secured the services of Brentford's dynamic forward, Bryan Mbeumo. A proven and versatile attacker in the Premier League, Mbeumo is known for his blistering pace, relentless work rate, and ability to both score and create goals. His experience and consistency in the English top flight make him a valuable addition to a United squad looking for reliable performers.
Mbeumo offers tactical flexibility, as he is comfortable playing on either wing or through the middle, providing the manager with multiple attacking options. This signing suggests a strategy of blending high-potential European talents with players who are already well-acquainted with the rigors of the Premier League. He is expected to add directness, energy, and a proven end product to United's attacking rotations.
8th Ángel Di María - 75M
Ángel Di María's arrival from Real Madrid in 2014 was a statement signing, a genuine world-class talent brought in to inject creativity and star power into Louis van Gaal's side. He was handed the iconic number 7 shirt and started his United career brightly, winning the club's Player of the Month award in his first month. His sublime chipped goal against Leicester City remains a highlight reel moment and a glimpse of the magic he possessed.
However, the dream quickly turned into a nightmare. A traumatic burglary at his home unsettled his family, and he struggled to adapt to Van Gaal's rigid tactical system and the physicality of the Premier League. His form and confidence plummeted, and he was sold to Paris Saint-Germain at a significant loss after just one ill-fated season. He stands as one of the most high-profile and disappointing flops in the club's recent history.
7th Benjamin Sesko - 76.5M
Looking ahead to the 2025/26 season, Manchester United have signaled their intent to build a formidable forward line by securing the future signing of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. The Slovenian striker is one of Europe's most coveted young forwards, renowned for his towering physical presence, impressive speed, and clinical finishing ability. His profile is that of a complete modern striker, capable of playing as a target man, running the channels, and linking up play effectively.
This transfer represents a major investment in United's attacking future, pairing Sesko's powerful attributes with the existing pace of the team's other forwards. The club is betting that he will develop into a world-class number nine who can dominate Premier League defenses for years to come. The expectation will be for him to hit the ground running and provide the consistent goal threat that has sometimes been missing at Old Trafford.
6th Rasmus Højlund - 77.8M
In a departure from signing established stars, Manchester United invested heavily in potential with the 2023 acquisition of young Danish striker Rasmus Højlund from Atalanta. Viewed as a raw but incredibly promising talent with blistering pace and a powerful left foot, he was brought in to be the long-term solution to the club's number nine position. The transfer fee was substantial for a player of his age and experience, placing immediate pressure on his young shoulders.
His debut season was a mixed bag; he showed his immense potential with a brilliant goalscoring run in the Champions League but found goals harder to come by in the Premier League. As the team's primary striker, he often looked isolated but never let his work rate drop, quickly endearing himself to the Old Trafford faithful. The hope is that with better service and more experience, Højlund will develop into the elite goalscorer his talent suggests he can be.
5th Romelu Lukaku - 84.7M
Romelu Lukaku was signed from Everton in 2017 as a proven, powerhouse Premier League striker, seemingly guaranteed to bring goals to José Mourinho's team. His goalscoring record was indeed impressive, and he started his United career in prolific fashion, bullying defenders and finishing chances effectively. In his first season, he netted 27 goals in all competitions, proving to be a reliable focal point for the team's attack.
Despite the respectable goal tally, question marks always lingered over Lukaku's first touch, hold-up play, and overall fit within the team's style, especially under new manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær. He was eventually sold to Inter Milan after just two seasons, where he immediately thrived and showed the world-class form United fans had only seen in flashes. Ultimately, Lukaku's time at United is remembered as a case of the right player at the wrong time, in a system that didn't fully play to his strengths.
4th Jadon Sancho - 85M
The signing of Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund in 2021 was the culmination of a transfer saga that had stretched over several years. United fans were ecstatic to finally land one of Europe's most exciting young wingers, a player who had racked up astonishing numbers of goals and assists in the Bundesliga. He was seen as the solution to the club's long-standing problem on the right wing, bringing creativity, pace, and trickery.
However, Sancho's transition to the Premier League proved far more difficult than anyone anticipated. He struggled to replicate his dazzling Dortmund form, looking short of confidence and failing to make a significant impact in his first 18 months. After a public falling out with manager Erik ten Hag, he was loaned back to Dortmund, where he rediscovered some of his old spark. His future at Old Trafford remains uncertain, representing another hugely expensive transfer that has so far failed to pay off.
3rd Harry Maguire - 87M
In 2019, Manchester United made Harry Maguire the most expensive defender in football history, bringing him in from Leicester City to be the commanding leader of their backline. He was handed the captain's armband within six months, a clear sign of the faith the club placed in him to organize and strengthen a defense that had long been a point of weakness. In his early seasons, he was a near-constant presence, known for his aerial dominance and ability to carry the ball out from the back.
Unfortunately, the massive transfer fee created immense pressure, and Maguire's performances came under intense scrutiny from fans and media alike, particularly as a series of high-profile errors crept into his game. The weight of the captaincy seemed to become a burden, and he eventually lost his starting place under Erik ten Hag. Despite his professionalism and resilience, his time at United is often cited as a cautionary tale of a club overpaying in the market.
2nd Antony - 95M
Signed from Ajax in the summer of 2022, Antony was a player specifically requested by new manager Erik ten Hag, who had coached him in Amsterdam. The Brazilian winger arrived with a reputation for his dazzling skills, signature spin, and a wand of a left foot, with the club paying a premium to secure him late in the transfer window. His United career started with a bang, scoring in his first three Premier League games and showing glimpses of the X-factor he was bought to provide.
Despite the promising start, Antony has since struggled to justify his colossal price tag, facing heavy criticism for a perceived lack of end product and over-reliance on cutting inside onto his left foot. While his work rate and defensive contributions are often noted, the goals and assists have not flowed as expected for a player costing nearly €100 million. He remains a work in progress, with the jury still out on whether he can develop into the elite attacker United desperately needs.
1st Paul Pogba - 105M
Paul Pogba's return to Manchester United in 2016 for a then-world record fee was a seismic event, marketed under the hashtag #POGBACK. The French midfielder, who had left the club for free to join Juventus, was brought back as the superstar cornerstone for José Mourinho's new-look side. On his day, Pogba was unplayable, a force of nature in midfield capable of producing moments of sublime skill, incredible passes, and stunning long-range goals that few others could even dream of.
However, his second spell at Old Trafford was ultimately a story of unfulfilled potential, marred by frustrating inconsistency, persistent injuries, and endless debate about his best position and commitment to the cause. While he delivered flashes of the world-class talent United paid for, he never managed to sustain that level or lead the team to the major titles they craved. He departed once again as a free agent in 2022, leaving fans to wonder what could have been if everything had just clicked.
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