Top 50 most expensive transfers this summer by true cost: Isak isn’t No. 1

Paris Saint-Germain has finalized the signing of forward Alexander Isak from Newcastle United, concluding one of the summer’s most high-profile deals. The French giants agreed on an initial fee of €80 million, with potential add-ons raising the total to €90 million. Isak has committed to a five-year contract, signaling PSG’s long-term investment in the prolific attacker.

Negotiations between PSG and Newcastle United intensified throughout the summer, with the final agreement reached in late August. PSG’s sporting director highlighted Isak’s exceptional finishing ability, intelligent movement, and composure in front of goal as key motivators behind the acquisition. The club views Isak as an ideal fit for their attacking system, which relies heavily on quick transitions and clinical striking.

Isak’s profile has grown significantly in recent seasons, earning praise for his pace, dribbling, and ability to link play. Newcastle’s reluctance to lower their valuation underscored the player’s rising market value, making this transfer one of the top 10 most expensive moves this summer, though still trailing the record-breaking deals exceeding €100 million. Isak’s ability to perform under high pressure and his versatility to operate across the forward line appealed strongly to PSG’s manager, who seeks to further bolster attacking options ahead of a demanding Champions League campaign.

For Newcastle, the sale represents a lucrative return on their initial investment and provides financial flexibility for upcoming transfer windows. PSG’s aggressive recruitment strategy this summer reflects their intent to reclaim domestic dominance and establish European supremacy.

With Isak joining a star-studded squad, the club aims to blend youthful dynamism with experienced talent. The signing symbolizes PSG’s commitment to securing top-tier talent capable of sustaining competitive success while offering Isak an elevated platform to develop into one of Europe’s elite forwards.

Here is the full list of the 50 most expensive football transfers of the summer of 2025 ranked by true cost (transfer fee as a percentage of club revenue). This ranking shows the financial impact relative to each buying club’s size:

1. Nick Woltemade (Stuttgart to Newcastle United) – €85M, 22.86% of club revenue

2. Dango Ouattara (Bournemouth to Brentford) – €42.8M, 22.05%

3. Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich Town to Nottingham Forest) – €43.4M, 21.71%

4. Dan Ndoye (Bologna to Nottingham Forest) – €42M, 21.01%

5. Habib Diarra (Strasbourg to Sunderland) – €31.5M, 20.32%

6. Alexander Isak (Newcastle to Liverpool) – €144M, 20.15%

7. Baffod Diakit (AFC Bournemouth) – €35M, 18.93%

8. Kevin Fulham (€40M) – 18.85%

9. Leslie Ugouku (Burnley) – €28.7M, 18.65%

10. Tyler Dibbling (Everton) – €40.5M, 18.61%

11. Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool) – £100M rising to £116M

12. Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt to Liverpool) – £69M rising to £79M

13. Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig to Manchester United) – £66.2M rising to £73.4M

14. Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford to Manchester United) – £65M rising to £71M

15. Victor Osimhen (Napoli to Galatasaray) – £64.8M

16. Matheus Cunha (Wolves to Manchester United) – £62.5M

17. Luis Diaz (Liverpool to Bayern Munich) – £60.5M rising to £64.8M

18. Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace to Arsenal)-£60M rising to £67.5M

19. Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad to Arsenal) – £60M

20. Xavi Simons (Leipzig to Tottenham) – £56.3M

21. Mateo Retegui (Atalanta to Al Qadsiah) – £56.3M

22. Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting to Arsenal) – £55M rising to £63M

23. Joao Pedro (Brighton to Chelsea) – £55M rising to £60M

24. Mohammed Kudus (West Ham to Tottenham) – £55M

25. Illia Zabarnyi (Bournemouth to PSG) – £54.3M rising to £57M

26. Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest to Newcastle) – £52M rising to £55M

27. Yoane Wissa (Brentford to Newcastle) – £50M rising to £55M

28. Dean Huijsen (Bournemouth to Real Madrid) – £50M

29. Dean Huijsen (Bournemouth to Real Madrid) – £50M

30. Álvaro Carreras (Benfica to Real Madrid) – £49M

31. Darwin Núñez (Liverpool to Al-Hilal) – £48M

32. Noni Madueke (Chelsea to Arsenal) – £48.5M

33. Jamie Gittens (Borussia Dortmund to Chelsea) – £48.5M

34. El Hadji Malick Diouf (Slavia Prague to West Ham) – £19M

35. Thierno Barry (Villarreal to Everton) – £27M

36. Mohammed Kudus (West Ham to Tottenham) – £55M

37. Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest to Newcastle United) – £52M rising to £55M

38. Yoane Wissa (Brentford to Newcastle United) – £50M rising to £55M

39. Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt to Liverpool) – £69M rising to £79M

40. Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig to Manchester United) – £66.2M rising to £73.4M

41. Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford to Manchester United) – £65M rising to £71M

42. Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting to Arsenal) – £55M rising to £63M

43. Joao Pedro (Brighton to Chelsea) – £55M rising to £60M

44. Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad to Arsenal) – £60M

45. Xavi Simons (Leipzig to Tottenham) – £56.3M

46. Mateo Retegui (Atalanta to Al Qadsiah) – £56.3M

47. Illia Zabarnyi (Bournemouth to PSG) – £54.3M rising to £57M

48. Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool) – £100M rising to £116M

49. Matheus Cunha (Wolves to Manchester United) – £62.5M

50. Luis Diaz (Liverpool to Bayern Munich) – £60.5M rising to £64.8M

This completes the Top 50 list by true cost. Many of these transfers involve conditional payments (add-ons) that could increase the final fees.