Tottenham’s 10 most expensive transfers of all time
Martin Macdonald
- Updated: 5 Sep 2023 05:38 CDT
- 5 min read
Over the past 15 years or so the fabled 'Top Four' in the Premier League has extended to being a 'Top Six' and part of the reason for that is Tottenham's emergence as a force.
As well as reaching the Champions League final, Spurs have been able to establish themselves as a team to be feared domestically.
They have one of the most impressive stadiums in the world now as well as an expensively assembled squad.
TRENDING
All of Tottenham's most expensive signings in their entire history have come within the past decade.
10. Giovani Lo Celso - £29m (from Betis, 2020)
Giovani Lo Celso was excellent for Betis in La Liga which is why the Spanish side bought him outright from PSG.
However, this would only enable Tottenham to buy him for an even bigger fee in the same summer.
The Argentine is a very tidy player with an eye for a pass, but his performances did not light up North London.
When Antonio Conte took over at Spurs, the writing was on the wall for Lo Celso, who went to Villarreal on loan in 2022.
9. Moussa Sissoko - £31m (from Newcastle, 2016)
Moussa Sissoko is, after all, a World Cup winner.
Fans of Newcastle and Tottenham will both tell you that the Frenchman is very hot and cold in his performances.
But when he is on form, he can be a truly formidable force in midfield, utilising his power and athleticism.
Unfortunately, it never quite worked out like that at Spurs. He stayed at Tottenham for five years before leaving to move to Watford for a nominal fee.
8. Micky van de Ven - £34m (from Wolfsburg, 2023)
Tottenham endured a disastrous defensive record during the 2022-23 season and moved to shore up the backline in the summer of 2023.
This led to them moving for young Netherlands centre back Micky van de Ven.
The Dutch star had emerged as one of the most promising defenders in the Bundesliga during two years at Wolfsburg and he will be hoping to shore up Spurs' back four.
7. Davinson Sanchez - £38m (from Ajax, 2017)
Colombia international Davinson Sanchez was one of the most promising young defenders in the world when Tottenham paid Ajax a huge fee for his services in 2017.
Spurs were banking that Sanchez would make good on his early promise to become one of the best outright defenders in the world, but it didn't work out that way.
He had a tendency to lose concentration in games and, unfortunately for him, that never went away with age.
He was sold to Galatasaray in the summer of 2023.
6. Pedro Porro - £40m (from Sporting, 2023)
Tottenham signed former Manchester City right-back Pedro Porro from Sporting on January 2023 deadline day.
Porro joined Spurs on an initial loan deal, but the north London club made the deal permanent for £40m at the end of the 2022-23 season.
The Spaniard, known for his ability to get forward, is now first-choice on the right-side under Postecoglou.
5. James Maddison- £40m (from Leicester, 2023)
Tottenham's marquee signing of the 2023 transfer window was James Maddison from Leicester City.
Maddison had developed into one of the most creative attacking midfielders in the Premier League during his time with the Foxes.
He made a bright start to life under Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou and big things are expected of the England man.
4. Christian Romero - £45m (from Atalanta, 2022)
Romero joined on loan from Serie side Atalanta and started in 21 Premier League games as Tottenham finished above Arsenal to qualify for the Champions League in his first season.
An Argentina international centre-back, Romero impressed on the right of Antonio Conte's back three and the club exercised the option to make his deal permanent for £45 million in the summer of 2022.
He performed decently in a miserable 2022-23 season for Tottenham as they failed to qualify for Europe.
3. Brennan Johnson - £47m (from Nottingham Forest, 2023)
Tottenham did the unthinkable in the summer of 2023 as they sold their record scorer and club legend Harry Kane to Bayern Munich.
Needing a replacement, Spurs moved for exciting young Nottingham Forest attacker Brennan Johnson in the closing hours of the transfer window.
Johnson impressed in his first season in the Premier League with Forest, helping to keep them up.
2. Tanguy Ndombele - £54m (from Lyon, 2019)
It was actually seen as a bit of a coup when Spurs snatched Tanguy Ndombele away from Lyon for a cool £54m in the summer of 2019.
The Frenchman had been superb for the French side in the previous season and proved himself to be a truly unique prospect - a player with marvelous close control who looked like he belonged on a Futsal pitch instead of football.
Unfortunately for him, he fell out with manager Jose Mourinho and didn't play for a period, while he has also faced accusations over his weight.
He was unable to find decent form with Nuno Espirito Santo or Antonio Conte, either, and was sent on a series of loan moves.
A disaster of a deal, really.
1. Richarlison - £60m (from Everton, 2022)
Richarlison had been keen to leave Everton after four years at the club, during which he scored 53 goals in 152 games.
He had also been capped 36 times by Brazil and scored 14 goals at the time of his arrival at Tottenham.
Richarlison became Tottenham's record signing in the summer of 2022 but he endured a disastrous first season at the club.
Read more about: Premier League, Tottenham, Davinson Sanchez, Giovani Lo Celso, Heung-min Son, Tanguy Ndombélé
