Real Madrid's 10 most expensive transfers of all time

Cameron Smith

• 18 Sept 2025 11:59 BST
• 7 min read

TRANSFERS

Real Madrid's status as a footballing superpower is indisputable, something they underscored in the summer of 2024 by winning a record-extending 15th Champions League.

As one of the biggest clubs in world football, Los Blancos have completed some extraordinary transfers over the years and they have broken several major records along the way.

Below, FootballTransfers runs through the 10 most expensive Real Madrid signings in history.

10. Dean Huijsen - €62.5m (from Bournemouth, 2025)

Juventus made the surprising decision to sell Dean Huijsen to Bournemouth in 2024 and after a stellar debut campaign with the Cherries, he completed a €62.5m move to Real Madrid.

The Spain defender solidified his reputation as one of the best young centre-backs in the world during his short spell at Bournemouth and he became one of the marquee signings of Xabi Alonso’s first transfer window in charge of Real Madrid.

Huijsen overtook Luis Figo to become Los Blancos’ 10th-most expensive signing ever.

Current ETV

Dean Huijsen

D (C)

Real Madrid

Dean Huijsen

D (C)

Real Madrid

€64.5M

ETV Range

€58.1M - €71M

View full profile

9. Luka Jovic - €63m (from Eintracht Frankfurt, 2019)

When Luka Jovic registered 17 goals and five assists in 25 Bundesliga starts for Eintracht Frankfurt at the age of just 20, the Serbian striker looked set to achieve great things on a global stage.

However, a €63m move to Real Madrid didn't go to plan. After just two goals across his first 18 months at the Santiago Bernabeu, Jovic was sent on loan back to Frankfurt, before joining Fiorentina on a free transfer in 2022.

One of the worst signings in Real's history in terms of return on investment, the notion that Jovic could have been the long-term successor to Karim Benzema now looks very silly indeed.

8. Kaka - €67m (from AC Milan, 2009)

Kaka came with such lofty expectations that, in some ways, he was an anticlimactic signing for Real.

He arrived the same summer as Cristiano Ronaldo, but a series of injuries restricted the Brazil star to just 85 La Liga starts in four years, with 23 goals signalling a decline from his near 'one in two' record at AC Milan.

That said, contributions to La Liga and Copa Del Rey titles mean he was far from a failure at the Santiago Bernabeu, despite his injury troubles and his immense global reputation.

7. James Rodriguez - €75m (from Monaco, 2014)

After a stellar World Cup showing for Colombia, James Rodriguez signed for Real Madrid during Carlo Ancelotti's first stint at the club and he immediately proved his worth with 24 goal contributions in 29 league games during his first campaign.

However, the playmaker's production steadily decreased until 2017, when he was shipped to Bayern Munich on a two-year loan deal.

After returning to Real Madrid, James was largely made to watch on from the sidelines before he reunited with Ancelotti at Everton in 2020.

6. Zinedine Zidane - €77.5m (from Juventus, 2001)

A World Cup and European Championship winner with France, Zinedine Zidane made the move to Real Madrid for a then-world record fee of €77.5m in 2001.

While the team's success in his era was slightly underwhelming given the talent on show, Zidane earned himself legendary status during his five years in Madrid.

An unbelievable transfer, for an unbelievable athlete, who many would argue ranks as one of the greatest players ever to lace up a pair of boots. And he scored one of the most iconic goals in Champions League history with the winner against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 final.

5. Aurelien Tchouameni - €80m (from Monaco, 2022)

Aurelien Tchouameni could join the €100m club if add-on clauses are met, although his move from Monaco to Real Madrid cost an initial €80m in the summer of 2022.

It was a deal that raised eyebrows, largely due to Tchouameni's lack of top-level experience. After all, when he joined the club, he had not played a minute of Champions League football and had only a handful of appearances for the France national team.

However, Real Madrid beat Chelsea and Liverpool to his signature, and he has established himself as a capable long-term replacement for Casemiro.

4. Cristiano Ronaldo - €94m (from Manchester United, 2010)

A supreme talent that emerged at Manchester United and was given the platform to make football history for Real Madrid. Cristiano Ronaldo won it all in the Spanish capital.

Upon his departure in 2018, Ronaldo had notched a cool 450 goals in just 438 Real Madrid appearances, becoming the club's all-time record goal-scorer in the process, and won a whopping 16 trophies for the club.

And, had it not been for rival Lionel Messi, Ronaldo would have been out on his own as the best of his generation, and perhaps of all time.

3. Gareth Bale - €101m (from Tottenham, 2014)

Gareth Bale's final few seasons at Real Madrid were admittedly poor, but he should be regarded as a Los Blancos legend no matter what.

The Welshman was a vital part of an all-time great front three, alongside Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, and he deserves the appreciation of the Real Madrid fanbase.

Bale left the club in 2022, with 258 appearances, 106 goals, 67 assists and 18 trophies across a brilliant nine-year career at the Santiago Bernabeu. He is also, perhaps, the scorer of the Champions League final's most incredible goal ever.

2. Jude Bellingham - €113m (from Dortmund, 2023)

Jude Bellingham moved to Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2023 for an initial €103m, although that fee has now risen to €113m due to add-ons.

Los Blancos saw off competition from Liverpool and Manchester City to sign the best young midfielder in the world, with Bellingham winning the Kopa Trophy just months after joining Real Madrid.

Bellingham enjoyed a sensational first season at Madrid, scoring 23 goals and providing 13 assists across all competitions, and he established himself as the club’s latest Galactico in the process.

Current ETV

Jude Bellingham 

AM (C), M (CL)

Real Madrid

Jude Bellingham 

AM (C), M (CL)

Real Madrid

€143.7M

ETV Range

€129.3M - €158M

View full profile

1. Eden Hazard - €115m (from Chelsea, 2019)

Unfortunately, Eden Hazard must go down as the worst Real Madrid transfer in history after four shocking years in Spain following his €115m move from Chelsea.

An icon at Stamford Bridge, it was always a matter of when rather than if Hazard would leave England to fulfil his lifelong ambition of playing for Real. But, maybe the date of the transfer was more important than first imagined.

Hazard was plagued by injuries and bad form at Madrid, making just three starts and scoring only one goal in his final campaign at the club, before being released on a free transfer. He retired from football in 2023 at just 32 years old, having left Real Madrid with just seven goals in 76 appearances.

The 10 most expensive Real Madrid signings of all time

Football transfer news headlines today

Man Utd’s 10 most expensive transfers of all time

Liverpool's 10 most expensive transfers of all time

Arsenal's 10 most expensive transfers of all time

Chelsea's 10 most expensive transfers of all time

The FootballTransfers app

Check out FootballTransfers' new app for all of football's big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.

The FootballTransfers app is available on Google Play and in the Apple App Store.

Download here:

•Google Play

•App Store