Barcelona's 25 most expensive transfers of all time

Barcelona's 25 most expensive transfers of all time Make us your Google favourite One of - if not the - biggest clubs in world football, Barcelona have it easy when it comes to convincing players to make the move to Spotify Camp Nou. So much so that the Spanish heavyweights have made a number of big-money signings in their 127-year history, dating all the way back to their foundation in 1899. Here, sources runs through Barcelona's 25 most expensive signings, including five World Cup winners and two Ballon d'Or victors. 25-16 25. Arda Turan - €34m (from Atletico Madrid, 2015) Arda Turan's transfer to Barcelona was doomed from the start for a few reasons. Firstly, due to a 'transfer ban', he was unable to be registered as a Barcelona player until January of 2016 so that left him on the sidelines with no playing time for six months. Secondly, he faced an uphill battle to get into the team as the Blaugrana boasted one of the best attacking trios of all time in Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez. The move simply did not work out, failing to play a single minute for the club in 2017-18. First game and first start for @ArdaTuran in a Barça shirt is at Camp Nou! #FCBlive #CopaFCB pic.twitter.com/xeFgBAR2sP — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 6, 2016 24. Cesc Fabregas - €34m (from Arsenal, 2011) After developing into one of the best midfielders in the Premier League with Arsenal, Cesc Fabregas finally returned home to Catalunya in 2011. A La Masia graduate, Fabregas was friends with then-Barcelona stars Messi and Gerard Pique so his return looked like a match made in heaven. He did win La Liga with Barcelona in 2012-13 but, having joined a side that had won two out of the previous three Champions League titles, his tenure was underwhelming. Initially a midfielder, he would eventually find himself playing in the 'False 9' role on occasion and things did not click. He was eventually sold to Chelsea in 2014, where he flourished. 📅 On this day, 15 years ago: Cesc Fabregas signed for FC Barcelona in 2011. 🔵🔴 pic.twitter.com/cf2bOnpGIa — 𝟭𝟴𝟵𝟵 (@Barca_Archive) August 15, 2026 23. Dani Alves - €35.5m (from Sevilla, 2008) Many football fans consider Dani Alves to be the best right-back ever. He is one of the most decorated players of all time thanks to his spell at Barca where he won six La Liga titles and three Champions League crowns. Under Pep Guardiola, Alves redefined the right-back role and his partnership with Messi on the right flank helped the Argentine learn his trade before becoming the GOAT. Alves took in a second spell with Barca in 2021-22, signing a short-term deal until the end of that season after leaving Brazilian outfit Sao Paulo. Dani. Alves. Is. Back. pic.twitter.com/HLtiqcfuaV — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 5, 2022 22. Nelson Semedo - €35.7m (from Benfica, 2017) Alves left Barcelona in 2016 and - although he returned on a free transfer as a 38-year-old - it is questionable whether they have ever managed to find a true heir. Aleix Vidal was poor, Sergi Roberto was a converted midfielder, and then there is the story of Nelson Semedo, who joined from Benfica in 2017. The Portugal international simply never got to grips with Barca’s possession-heavy playing style, while defending has never been the strongest part of his game. The final nail in his Barcelona coffin came in the latter stages of the Champions League in 2019-20, when he was torn apart by Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies in an 8-2 loss. Barcelona somehow somehow recouped their money, however, when Wolverhampton Wanderers signed Semedo in the summer of 2020. All the details about the presentation of new @FCBarcelona player Nélson Semedo 🔵🔴 #BeBarça pic.twitter.com/tbtHTB7qXZ — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 14, 2017 21. Javier Saviola - €35.9m (from River, 2001) There is a footballing graveyard of players who were once dubbed 'the next Diego Maradona' and Javier Saviola, unfortunately for him, has a tombstone there. Barca paid huge money to sign him from River Plate back in 2001 and although his goalscoring record was admirable (49 goals in 123 La Liga matches), comparisons with Maradona meant he failed to live up to unfair expectations in many a fan's mind. After two loans to La Liga counterparts Sevilla and Ligue 1 outfit Monaco, Saviola would, controversially, sign for Real Madrid on a free transfer in 2007. 20. Clement Lenglet - €35.9m (from Sevilla, 2018) Clement Lenglet i