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How Riyad Mahrez's transfer fee compares to past Premier League PFA winners

Leicester City's midfielder Riyad Mahrez celebrates

Given he was playing in French football's Ligue 2 just over two years ago, it is perhaps not surprising that Riyad Mahrez is the cheapest PFA Player of the Year for almost a quarter of a century.

Paul McGrath won the award in 1993 after Aston Villa paid £400,000 for him and Leicester are believed to have paid a similar amount for Mahrez, but no winner in between cost so little. 

Back then, of course, there was a different climate in English football prior to a dramatic increase in television money and McGrath's fee was proportionately more substantial than it would be today.

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Speaking on Sky Sports News HQ, Chris Powell and Alan Smith compliment Riyad Mahrez on his performances for Leicester this season

There have been three home-grown winners of the award during the Premier League era, with John Terry, Steven Gerrard and Ryan Giggs all claiming it between 2005 and 2009.

It could be argued, however, that developing each of them over several years was more expensive for Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United before each player made their mark.

Paul McGrath was the last player to cost as little as Riyad Mahrez then win the PFA Player of the Year prize
Image: Aston Villa defender Paul McGrath in 1993 was the last player to cost as little as Riyad Mahrez then win the PFA Player of the Year prize

At a time when the first £100m player transfer is feasible in the not-too-distant future, seeing someone being recruited for a fraction of that and being so successful is refreshing.

Even the winner of the PFA prize 20 years ago - Les Ferdinand, following a 25-goal season in 1995-96 - cost 15 times more than Mahrez at £6m when he switched to St James' Park from QPR.

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A player who performed in the eight tier of the French pyramid as in 18-year-old, Mahrez's rise was relatively slow until last season, but it has been remarkable since.

Alan Shearer (left) and Les Ferdinand (right) both won the prize with Newcastle but cost the club a combined £21m
Image: Alan Shearer (left) and Les Ferdinand (right) both won the prize with Newcastle but cost the club a combined £21m

Eden Hazard, last year's PFA winner, also arrived in England from French football when he joined Chelsea from Lille for a considerably higher fee of £32m.

If Mahrez is to move on from Leicester at some point, he will undoubtedly cost something nearer to that mark than the princely sum he moved from Normandy for in January 2014.

PFA Players of the Year since 1992-93

Season Player Club Transfer Fee
1992-93 Paul McGrath Aston Villa £400k
1993-94 Eric Cantona Manchester United £1.2m
1994-95 Alan Shearer Blackburn Rovers £3.6m
1995-96 Les Ferdinand Newcastle United £6m
1996-97 Alan Shearer Newcastle United £15m
1997-98 Dennis Bergkamp Arsenal £7.5m
1998-99 David Ginola Tottenham Hotspur £2m
1999-2000 Roy Keane Manchester United £3.75m
2000-01 Teddy Sheringham Manchester United £3.5m
2001-02 Ruud van Nistelrooy Manchester United £19m
2002-03 Thierry Henry Arsenal £10.5m
2003-04 Thierry Henry Arsenal £10.5m
2004-05 John Terry Chelsea Free
2005-06 Steven Gerrard Liverpool Free
2006-07 Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United £12.2m
2007-08 Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United £12.2m
2008-09 Ryan Giggs Manchester United Free
2009-10 Wayne Rooney Manchester United £25.6m
2010-11 Gareth Bale Tottenham Hotspur £7m
2011-12 Robin van Persie Arsenal £2.75m
2012-13 Gareth Bale Tottenham Hotspur £7m
2013-14 Luis Suarez Liverpool £22.7m
2014-15 Eden Hazard Chelsea £32m
2015-16 Riyad Mahrez Leicester City £400k