Serie A’s most expensive transfers ever

In Italy, the most expensive transfers have often mirrored Serie A’s ambition to remain among Europe’s elite. From Cristiano Ronaldo’s blockbuster arrival to the headline-grabbing pursuit of Dusan Vlahovic, the league has never shied away from bold incoming signings.

In August 2025, fresh negotiations stir a familiar excitement. The numbers are staggering, but they carry echoes of tradition: clubs with a history of lifting the most Serie A titles continue to chase new heroes, blending legacy with high-stakes modern finance.

These deals are not just about price tags—they’re woven into the narrative of Italian soccer itself. From champions’ dynasties to iconic scorers like Piola and Immobile, the league’s past frames its present, where every signing hints at the future of Calcio.

Paulo Dybala – Juventus

Juventus’ choice to invest €41 million in Paulo Dybala in 2015 was as much about artistry as numbers. The Argentine’s low center of gravity and lethal curling shots brought moments of ballet amid defensive solidity. In time, he became the heartbeat of Juve’s attack—magical when fit, quietly devastating when needed most.

Tammy Abraham – AS Roma

Tammy Abraham’s €41 million move to AS Roma in 2023 marked a bold stroke. Arriving from the Premier League, he carried goals, poise, and a hunger to prove himself in Italian soccer. Despite adaptation hurdles and form fluctuations, he showed flashes of the predatory instincts that made him one of England’s most talked-about forwards.

Rui Costa – AC Milan

When AC Milan secured Rui Costa from Fiorentina in 2001 for €42 million, they weren’t just buying a playmaker—they were recruiting elegance. The Portuguese maestro lit up San Siro with vision and passing precision, culminating in the Champions League title in 2003. His transfer typified the romance of Serie A’s early-2000s golden age.

Patrik Schick – AS Roma

Patrik Schick’s move into Serie A in 2019 for €42 million promised a new focal point up front. At Roma—and later Juventus—his elegance and aerial prowess were clear. Yet, inconsistency and injuries held him back from becoming a consistent match-winner. Even so, the Czech striker’s technical class remains clear in flicks, volleys, and brief game-altering moments.

Leonardo Bonucci – AC Milan

In 2017, AC Milan shelled out €42 million for Leonardo Bonucci, a deal that underlined the value of leadership at the back. Returning to Milan after a Juve stint, he brought calm authority and refined distribution. Though inconsistencies followed, Milan’s defence rarely lacked voice with Bonucci marshaling from the back.

Achraf Hakimi – Inter

Achraf Hakimi’s €43 million move to Inter in 2020 turned the right-back role on its head. Reinventing wing-backing with breathtaking speed and precise crosses, he became the epitome of Conte’s counter-attacking vision. From defensive solidity to explosive forward thrusts, Hakimi’s signing shifted tactical paradigms across the league.

Federico Chiesa – Juventus

When Federico Chiesa arrived at Juventus in 2022 for €44.60 million, the air hummed with expectation. The Italian winger, born from Fiorentina’s academy, embodied pace, flair, and tactical smarts. Though injury setbacks disrupted his rhythm, every time he stepped onto the pitch, he reminded supporters why he was viewed as the heir to Serie A’s tradition of electrifying, homegrown wingers.

Joao Mario – Inter

Juventus’ signing of Joao Mario in 2016 for €44.78 million came with high hopes —the Portugal international had dazzled in midfield versatility. Yet, upon reaching Turin, adaptation proved tougher than anticipated. His creativity flickered in brief glimpses, but consistency eluded him, leaving fans to remember him as a talented enigma rather than a long-serving maestro.

Pavel Nedved – Juventus

In 2001, when Juventus paid €45 million for Pavel Nedved, it was more than a transfer—it was a seismic shift. The Czech’s relentless engine and trademark long-range drives quickly elevated Juve’s midfield. Over time, he became synonymous with Vecchia Signora’s heart and grit, even as injuries tempered the brilliance that once dazzled both Turin and the national stage.

Christian Vieri – Inter

Christian Vieri’s jump to Internazionale in 1999 didn’t just turn heads—it shattered records. At €46.48 million, his transfer became emblematic of Serie A’s peak-spending era. Though plagued by injuries, “Bobo” etched his legacy in Nerazzurri folklore, forming a fierce duo with Ronaldo.

His sheer physical presence and instinct in the box left fans breathless, and even decades later his headers, racquets of determination and hairstyle included, remain nostalgic highlights.

Bremer – Juventus

Bremer’s €46.9m move across the Turin divide in 2022 was a statement signing for Juventus. The Brazilian defender had just been named Serie A’s best defender with Torino, and his arrival added muscle and composure to Juve’s backline. Seen as a cornerstone for the future, Bremer embodied the club’s push to rebuild around solidity after years of transition.

Gaizka Mendieta – Lazio

In 2001, Lazio splashed €48m on Gaizka Mendieta, one of Spain’s finest midfielders at the time. The move, however, became a symbol of Serie A’s excesses. He struggled to adapt to Italian soccer, and his stint in Rome was short-lived. Still, his transfer highlighted an era when Serie A was the unrivaled epicenter of big-money moves, drawing stars from across Europe.

Rafael Leão – AC Milan

When AC Milan paid €49.5m for Rafael Leão in 2019, many wondered if the Portuguese forward could live up to the hype. It took time, but he blossomed into the club’s brightest star. His dazzling runs, creativity, and decisive goals powered Milan’s 2022 Scudetto triumph, their first in over a decade. Today, his name is synonymous with the Rossoneri’s renaissance, making his transfer one of the most inspired in recent club history.

Hirving Lozano – Napoli

Napoli broke their transfer record in 2019 by signing Hirving “Chucky” Lozano for €50m, making him the most expensive Mexican player in history. His speed and direct dribbling added excitement to Napoli’s wings, but inconsistency and injuries often clouded his impact. While he became a fan favorite for his energy and charisma, his legacy in Serie A is one of flashes of brilliance rather than lasting dominance.

Douglas Luiz – Juventus

Douglas Luiz’s €51.5m move in 2024 reflected Juventus’ urgent need to refresh their midfield with energy and dynamism. Coming from the Premier League, the Brazilian brought balance, defensive grit, and the ability to dictate tempo.

For Juve, his signing was part of a broader strategy to modernize their style of play and close the gap with Europe’s elite. Expectations were immediate, with fans viewing him as the heartbeat of a new era.

Gianluigi Buffon – Juventus

In 2001, Juventus spent €52.88m on Gianluigi Buffon, a fee that stunned the soccer world for a goalkeeper. Two decades later, it is remembered as one of the wisest investments ever made.

He became more than just a shot-stopper; he embodied loyalty, leadership, and excellence. His longevity and legendary status turned that record-breaking deal into the benchmark for valuing greatness between the posts.

Hernan Crespo – Lazio

At the dawn of the millennium, Hernan Crespo’s €56.81m transfer from Parma to Lazio set a new world record. Serie A was the center of soccer’s financial power, and Lazio’s bold move epitomized the extravagance of the era.

The Argentine striker, already a proven scorer, carried immense expectations as he joined a squad packed with international stars. Though his time at Lazio was marked by brilliance, it also symbolized the unsustainable spending spree that would eventually reshape Italian soccer.

Teun Koopmeiners – Juventus

In August 2025, Juventus’ €58.4m capture of Teun Koopmeiners was seen as a pivotal piece in their rebuilding project. After excelling at Atalanta with his leadership, versatility, and knack for goals from midfield, the Dutchman became one of Europe’s most coveted players.

For Juve, his arrival promised stability and creativity in the center of the park—qualities that had been missing in recent years. His signing symbolized the club’s ambition to return to the summit of Italian soccer through calculated, strategic investments.

Romelu Lukaku – Inter

Inter Milan’s €74m signing of Romelu Lukaku in 2019 changed the club’s trajectory. Criticized at Manchester United, the Belgian striker reinvented himself in Serie A under Antonio Conte.

With his sheer physicality and sharp finishing, he became the driving force behind Inter’s attack, forming the feared “Lu-La” partnership with Lautaro Martínez. His goals ended Juventus’ nine-year Scudetto streak and restored Inter to the top of Italian soccer. Few transfers in the past decade have been as transformational.

Victor Osimhen – Napoli

Napoli’s €78.9m acquisition of Victor Osimhen in 2020 was a record-shattering gamble on youth and potential. The Nigerian forward had raw pace, power, and instinct, but his first season was plagued by injuries.

Still, he grew into the symbol of Napoli’s resurgence, spearheading their historic 2023 Scudetto triumph—the first in over three decades. His evolution from promising talent to unstoppable force made him one of the most important transfers in modern Serie A history.

Arthur Melo – Juventus

Arthur Melo’s €80.6m transfer to Juventus in 2020 was as much about accounting as it was about soccer. Part of a high-profile swap with Miralem Pjanić, the deal raised questions from the start.

On the pitch, the Brazilian midfielder struggled to adapt to Serie A’s tempo, offering glimpses of technical skill without truly dictating games. His signing reflected Juve’s turbulent recruitment strategy in the late 2010s, when financial maneuvering often outweighed tactical necessity.

Dusan Vlahovic – Juventus

The €83.5m move of Dusan Vlahovic from Fiorentina to Juventus was one of the most dramatic transfers in recent Serie A memory. Fiorentina fans felt betrayed as their rising star crossed enemy lines to wear black and white.

For Juve, the Serbian striker represented not just goals but also the hope of rebuilding after Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit. He carried the burden of expectation as the next great number nine in Italy, with every performance scrutinized as if it were a referendum on Juventus’ future.

Matthijs de Ligt – Juventus

At just 19 years old, Matthijs de Ligt arrived in Turin carrying a reputation beyond his years. Signed for €85.5m after captaining Ajax to a fairytale Champions League semifinal, he was billed as the future of Juventus’ defense.

His first seasons were marked by adaptation—brilliant flashes of leadership tempered by inconsistency and injuries. While he never fully became the heir to legends like Chiellini and Bonucci, his time in Serie A added maturity and resilience. His transfer remains a reminder of Juventus’ gamble on youth during a transitional era.

Gonzalo Higuain – Juventus

Gonzalo Higuain’s €90m switch from Napoli to Juventus in 2016 was as dramatic as it was divisive. Coming off a record-breaking 36-goal Serie A season, the Argentine striker was the most lethal forward in Italy. But his decision to join Juve, Napoli’s fiercest rival, ignited fury in Naples, where fans saw it as an unforgivable betrayal.

In Turin, he delivered crucial goals and extended Juve’s domestic dominance, yet his European performances left some critics unconvinced. His transfer encapsulated the emotional volatility of Italian soccer—talent, money, and loyalty colliding in spectacular fashion.

Cristiano Ronaldo – Juventus

When Juventus announced the €117m signing of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018, it wasn’t just the biggest deal in Serie A history—it was a cultural earthquake. The Portuguese legend arrived as the face of modern soccer, a global brand who had conquered everything with Real Madrid.

His move was Juve’s statement of intent: to dominate domestically while chasing the elusive Champions League. He brought goals, headlines, and unprecedented commercial growth, yet the European trophy remained out of reach. Even so, his transfer marked a turning point, proving Serie A could still lure the world’s biggest superstar.

Rank	Player	Club	Season	Fee
1	Cristiano Ronaldo	Juventus	18/19	€117.00m
2	Gonzalo Higuaín	Juventus	16/17	€90.00m
3	Matthijs de Ligt	Juventus	19/20	€85.50m
4	Dušan Vlahović	Juventus	21/22	€83.50m
5	Arthur Melo	Juventus	20/21	€80.60m
6	Victor Osimhen	Napoli	20/21	€78.90m
7	Romelu Lukaku	Inter	19/20	€74.00m
8	Teun Koopmeiners	Juventus	24/25	€58.40m
9	Hernán Crespo	Lazio	00/01	€56.81m
10	Gianluigi Buffon	Juventus	01/02	€52.88m
11	Douglas Luiz	Juventus	24/25	€51.50m
12	Hirving Lozano	Napoli	19/20	€50.00m
13	Rafael Leão	AC Milan	19/20	€49.50m
14	Gaizka Mendieta	Lazio	01/02	€48.00m
15	Bremer	Juventus	22/23	€46.90m
16	Christian Vieri	Inter	99/00	€46.48m
17	Pavel Nedved	Juventus	01/02	€45.00m
18	João Mário	Inter	16/17	€44.78m
19	Federico Chiesa	Juventus	22/23	€44.60m
20	Achraf Hakimi	Inter	20/21	€43.00m
21	Leonardo Bonucci	AC Milan	17/18	€42.00m
22	Patrik Schick	AS Roma	18/19	€42.00m
23	Rui Costa	AC Milan	01/02	€41.32m
24	Tammy Abraham	AS Roma	21/22	€41.00m
25	Paulo Dybala	Juventus	15/16	€41.00m

The figures reflect the most expensive transfers in Serie A history, focusing solely on incoming signings. All data were sourced from Transfermarkt as of August 2025, providing a snapshot of the league’s high-profile moves and market trends.