3 PL sides in top 10 

©TM/IMAGO

Manchester United have made a very active start to the 2024/25 summer transfer window – the first with the new Ineos ownership group in place. The Red Devils have confirmed the €42.5 million signing of striker Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna. They are also reportedly trying to complete the signings of centre-halves Leny Yoro and Jarrad Branthwaite from Lille and Everton respectively. Man United fans will be hoping that recruitment improves with the new structure, as it’s an area that’s not gone particularly well in the last decade. 

In the past ten seasons they have the highest net spend from any club in world football of €1.27b. There have been many high profile signings that haven’t really worked out, with many other clubs severely profiting from Man United splashing out big money for their stars. But which clubs have Man United paid the most money to in transfer fees in the last 20 years since the 2004/05 season? Here at Transfermarkt, we have you covered. Three Premier League clubs make the top 10, whilst first place goes to a side playing outside of Europe’s top five leagues.

The clubs Man United have paid the most money to in transfer fees

Coming in at first place is Dutch side Ajax, whom Man United have paid €208.9m in transfer fees to in the last 20 seasons. That is the accumulated fee of four separate deals – Antony in 2022 for €95m, Lisandro Martínez in 2022 for €57.37m, Donny van De Beek in 2020 for €39m, and Daley Blind in 2014 for €17.5m. The deal for winger Antony remains the club’s second most expensive signing of all time. In second place is Real Madrid, who have made €185.7m from selling three players to Man United. The biggest deal was the €75m signing of Ángel Di María, which just edges the €70.65m acquisition of Casemiro.

In third place is the first English side on the list in Everton, who have made €154.1m from selling three players to the Red Devils. They are followed in fourth by Chelsea, who have also sold three players to United in the last two decades but for a combined fee of €153.6m. Then it’s Borussia Dortmund with a total of €143m from selling three players. In sixth place are Juventus with a total of €122m from just two sales – most of which was from the sale of Paul Pogba in 2016 for €105m. That remains Man United’s record signing.

In seventh are Atalanta with €95.2m made from selling two players to Man united, including Rasmus Højlund for €73.9m last summer. Leicester take ninth place on the list, after selling two players for a combined €87m since 2004. Completing the top 10 are French side Monaco, who have made €75.6m from sales to last season’s FA Cup winners.