Sunday 30 August 2015 22:00, UK
Kevin De Bruyne is now the second-most expensive player in Premier League transfer history. Here's the top 10...
1. Angel Di Maria – £59.7m, Real Madrid to Manchester United
Manchester United looked to have pulled off a stunning signing when they broke the British transfer record to bring Real Madrid's Di Maria to Old Trafford. However, despite the 2014 Champions League final man of the match shining in his early games for United – scoring three times in a four-game spell at the start of the 2014/15 season – Di Maria's form quickly deserted him and, unsettled in Manchester, he was sold to PSG for £44.3m this summer.
2. Kevin De Bruyne – £54.5m, Wolfsburg to Manchester City
Few would have predicted De Bruyne would return to the Premier League as the second-most expensive transfer in British history when he left Chelsea for Wolfsburg in January 2014. However, a stellar 2014/15 campaign, which saw the Belgium international register more assists than any other player in the top five leagues in Europe sparked interest from Man City.
3. Fernando Torres – £50m, Liverpool to Chelsea
Chelsea's capture of Liverpool's star striker in January 2011 looked like a guaranteed success but Fernando Torres' drop-off in performance following his move to Stamford Bridge was remarkable. After netting 65 league goals in three and a half seasons with Liverpool, the Spain international managed just 20 in his next three and a half with Chelsea. A semi-final strike against Barcelona in the Champions League final was a rare highlight.
4. Raheem Sterling – £49m, Liverpool to Manchester City
Sterling was rarely out of the headlines this summer as his move to Manchester City from Liverpool eventually materialised. While the England international's drawn-out departure from Anfield sparked criticism, Sterling has hit the ground running with City, with a goal and an assist in his first four appearances to help his new club to the top of the Premier League.
5. Mesut Ozil – £42.5m, Real Madrid to Arsenal
Arsene Wenger splashed the cash to bring Ozil to Arsenal in September 2013, making the former Real Madrid playmaker the most expensive German footballer of all time. Two seasons and two FA Cup wins later, Ozil is established as a key player for the Gunners – but is often criticised for failing to consistently hit the top levels in big games.
6. Sergio Aguero – £38m, Atletico Madrid to Manchester City
Manchester City signed Aguero from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2011 and ever since the Argentina striker has been a hit in the Premier League. Despite numerous injury problems, Aguero has racked up 79 goals in 124 Premier League games and helped the club to two league titles.
7. Juan Mata – £37.1m, Chelsea to Manchester United
Chelsea's two-time player of the year was sold to Manchester United in January 2013, when the Spain international appeared to be surplus to Jose Mourinho's plans. While Mata took time to re-find the form that made him a hit at Stamford Bridge, the 27-year-old enjoyed an encouraging 2014/15 campaign which included a memorable scissor-kick goal against Liverpool.
8. Andy Carroll – £35m, Newcastle to Liverpool
One of the most remarkable deadline day signings was Carroll's switch to Liverpool in January 2011. After firing boyhood club Newcastle back into the Premier League and netting 11 goals in the first half of the following Premier League season, Carroll was signed by Kenny Dalglish. However, a mixture of injuries and style brought Carroll's Liverpool career to a close in May 2013, when he joined West Ham, where he'd spent the previous season on loan.
9. Alexis Sanchez – £35m, Barcelona to Arsenal
Twelve months after buying Ozil, Arsene Wenger got the cheque book out again to bring Barcelona's Sanchez to the Emirates in July 2014. The Chile international was an immediate hit with the Arsenal fans, scoring 25 goals in all competitions in his first season in north London. Sanchez remains the key man in Arsenal's attack.
10. Fernandinho – £34m, Shakhtar Donetsk to Manchester City
Among all the attacking talent in this list sits Brazilian central midfielder Fernandinho. Manchester City paid Shakhtar Donetsk £34m for his services in 2013 and the 30-year-old has since been an integral part of Manuel Pellegrini's team, registering 66 league appearances in his first two seasons with the club, including the 2013/14 title-winning campaign.
