GettyVan Dijk, Mendy and the most expensive defenders of all time
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Protect 14 devices with the top ExpressVPN plan
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The VPN can be applied across 14 different devices simultaneously, and offers Advanced Protection that blocks ads, trackers and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is included with the Express Pro plan.
Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers an unlimited private email relay plus an unlimited number of shared aliases and 20 custom domains, ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator, and ExpressAI, an AI assistant that offers 500 credits a day, six AI models, a web search facility plus 2GB storage.
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save around 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 67%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for five days in 150+ destinations.
Over 28 monthsSave 67%
Protect 10 devices with high-speed VPN
Basic
Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's entry-level Basic plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.
The VPN can be applied across 10 different devices simultaneously, and offers Lite Protection that blocks ads and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.
Additionally, ExpressVPN's Basic plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 10MB/month private email relay plus 10 shared aliases.
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 80%.
Over 28 monthsSave 80%
Advanced protection across 11 devices with high-speed VPN
Advanced
Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's most popular plan, the Advance plan, gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.
The VPN can be applied across 12 different devices simultaneously, and offers Advanced Protection that blocks ads, trackers and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.
Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 100MB/month private email relay plus 50 shared aliases and a custom domain, and ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator.
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 73%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for three days in 150+ destinations.
Over 28 monthsSave 73%
Getty1Danilo
The defender nearly made this list twice. He moved from Porto to Real Madrid after the 2014-15 season for €31.5 million, and after a less than stellar tenure there, he moved to Manchester City prior to 2017-18 for €30m.
Getty Images2David Luiz
As impressive as appearing on this list twice is, Luiz could have made it three times. His €35 million transfer from PSG back to Chelsea in 2016 actually counted as a substantial drop in his value from just a few years before.
Getty Images3Mats Hummels
Another returnee to his old team, Hummels became yet another player to join Bayern Munich directly from Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund when he made a €35 million move prior to the 2016-17 campaign.
Getty Images4Victor Lindelof
Jose Mourinho may like to claim Manchester City spend striker money on defenders, but he's prone to big splashes on the back line as well, evidenced by his acquisition of Lindelof from Benfica prior to the 2017-18 season for €35 million.
Getty Images5Antonio Rudiger
The former Roma defender arrived in Italy's capital for a mere €9.5 million prior to the 2016-17 season. Two seasons later, the Germany international was off to London, swapping Roma for Chelsea in an impressive €35m transfer.
Getty6Eric Bailly
Another player with a rapid rise, Bailly joined Villarreal for around €5.7 million at the end of the January window in 2015. Fast forward to June 2016, and he was on his way to Manchester United, joining the club for €38m.
Getty Images7Luke Shaw
Not all big moves away from Southampton are to Liverpool. Shaw left the club for a €39.5 million move to Manchester United prior to the 2014-15 season. His promising career was derailed by a broken leg in September 2015, and he has never quite regained the same magic he displayed prior.
ProShots8Davinson Sanchez
How much can one man improve in one season? Sanchez joined Ajax from Colombian side Atletico Nacional for €5 million prior to the 2016-17 season. Tottenham came calling one year later, and ponied up €40 million for the Colombia international.
Getty9Shkodran Mustafi
The German international came up through Hamburg and Everton, while getting his first real chance for minutes in Serie A with Sampdoria. But he broke through with Valencia, and after a successful three-year run the Gunners moved in to pry him away for a €41 million fee.
Getty10Dani Alves
Arguably the most successful move on this list, Alves swapped Sevilla for Barcelona prior to the 2008-09 season for a whopping €41.5 million. While Sevilla probably enjoyed their return on investment — Alves joined them for under €1 million in 2002 — Barca reaped the rewards as Alves proved a core member of teams that earned six La Liga titles, four Copa del Rey triumphs and three Champions League crowns.
Getty Images11Lillian Thuram
It was an impressive figure given the era — in fact, it was a record for a defender at the time — as Thuram left Parma to join rivals Juventus for a whopping €41.3 million. A World Cup winner with France in 1998, Thuram went on to claim two Serie A titles for the Old Lady.
Getty Images12Thiago Silva
An early big-ticket signing for PSG under the Qatar Sports Investments, Silva made the switch from A.C. Milan to PSG prior to the 2012-13 season for €42 million and has gone on to win four Ligue 1 titles.
Getty13Leonardo Bonucci
Part of AC Milan’s overhaul prior to the 2016-17 season, the veteran Italy international Bonucci made the switch from Juventus for €42 million.
Getty Images14Rio Ferdinand
Ferdinand has the impressive distinction of twice being the most expensive defender in the world — first when he went from West Ham to Leeds United for €26 million, and then from Leeds to Manchester United for €46m prior to the 2002-03 season. If you factor in the drastic increase in transfer fees, no sum may quite be Ferdinand’s equal.
Matthew Lewis15Nicolas Otamendi
While Manchester City made plenty of waves with big-money signings on defense prior to the 2017-18 season, it isn’t a new thing for the club. Otamendi came over from Valencia prior to the 2014-15 season for a whopping €48 million.
Getty Images16David Luiz
The second time Luiz makes this list, the Brazilian made a €50 million exit from Chelsea to the Paris Saint-Germain prior to the 2014-15 season. He would spend two years with PSG before returning to the Blues for a smaller fee.
Getty17Kyle Walker
Manchester City wanted full-backs prior to the 2017-18 season, so Pep Guardiola opened the checkbook to bring in Walker from Tottenham for €51 million. For a brief moment, Walker was the most expensive full-back in history — until his future team-mate Benjamin Mendy swiped the title a few weeks later.
Getty Images18John Stones
For a year, Stones could claim the top spot as the most expensive defender of all time. Moving from Everton in August 2016 to Manchester City for €55.6 million, Stones would hold that distinction until Benjamin Mendy joined last season. And he was the most expensive centre-back until Virgil van Dijk’s move to Liverpool.
Getty19Benjamin Mendy
One year after making a €13 million move from Marseille to Monaco, Mendy made history by becoming the most expensive defender of all time with a €57m move to Manchester City. Though he lost the top spot to Virgil van Dijk, he remains the most expensive full-back in history.
Getty Images20Virgil van Dijk
Blowing away the previous transfer record for a defender by over €20 million, Van Dijk moved to Liverpool from Southampton for a whopping €84.5m after a chase that extended past the summer and to the eve of the January window. That fee is sure to produce raised expectations for what the Dutch centre-back can deliver.
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