16 Clubs Yet to Break Their Transfer Record Since 2020
While transfer spending continues to soar, not every club has joined the race. This summer, seven Premier League teams have already set new transfer records, including Manchester City, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Brighton, Tottenham, Coventry and Ipswich.
However, several well-known clubs across Europe are still waiting to surpass their biggest-ever transfer fees.
Ranger- remain tied to the £12 million signing of Tore Andre Flo in 2000 as their record purchase. Despite scoring 38 goals in two seasons, the Norwegian failed to help the club reclaim the league title.
Roma haven’t broken the record they set in 2017 when they signed Patrik Schick. The Czech striker struggled to justify his price tag, and although Roma have come close with deals for Tammy Abraham and a failed move for Crysencio Summerville, their record still stands.
Lazio continue to hold Hernan Crespo as their most expensive signing. The Argentine joined in 2000 when Lazio briefly challenged Europe’s elite financially, and with the club now operating under stricter spending limits, that record looks safe.
Borussia Dortmund have not exceeded the €35 million they paid for Ousmane Dembele in 2016. Even after selling him to Barcelona for a huge profit, Dortmund chose to spread the money across multiple signings rather than invest in one record-breaking player.
Monaco are another club whose biggest spending days are behind them. James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao remain their most expensive arrivals from 2013, while Folarin Balogun is their biggest signing of the current decade.
Real Betis still haven’t surpassed the historic signing of Denilson in 1998, which was once a world-record transfer. Antony’s arrival last summer is their biggest move since 2020 but still falls well short of that landmark fee.
Valencia’s financial struggles are reflected in their transfer history. Marcos Andre’s €8.5 million move in 2022 is their biggest signing of the decade, nowhere near the €40 million they paid for Goncalo Guedes in 2018.
Athletic Bilbao continue to rely on their Basque-only recruitment policy. Their record signing remains Inigo Martinez, who arrived from Real Sociedad in 2018 after the club activated his €32 million release clause.
Sevilla have also gone several years without breaking their transfer record. Jules Kounde’s arrival from Bordeaux in 2019 remains their biggest purchase before his profitable move to Barcelona.
These clubs highlight that while transfer fees continue to climb across Europe, not every team is willing—or able—to keep pace with football’s ever-growing spending power.
