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Barcelona most expensive signings - How Catalans splashed over €2 billion on incoming transfers

It's probably fair to say Barcelona's behaviour in the transfer market has led to some frowned eyebrows across the world.

Financial problems made it hard for the Catalans to register new players recently, yet at the same time they were spending large amounts on new, high-profile players.

Just in the summer of 2022 alone they brought in the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde and Raphinha for significant sums.

Their willingness to spend big is not necessarily new, though, even if it's not always been the most successful approach.

Just think Philippe Coutinho. Expensive star signing not too long ago, Aston Villa player now. Or Antoine Griezmann. Another expensive star signings. Another player now plying his trade elsewhere again.

In short, Barcelona's transfer activity has been hit and miss.

Barcelona most expensive transfers by season

Season

Most expensive signing

Fee

Total spending

2022/23

Raphinha

€58M/£52.20M

€153M/£137.70M

2021/22

Ferran Torres

€55M/£49.50M

€69.50M/£62.55M

2020/21

Miralem Pjanic

€60M/£54M

€112M/£100.80M

2019/20

Antoine Griezmann

€120M/£108M

€298.50M/£268.65M

2018/19

Malcom

€41M/£36.90M

€141.10M/£126.99M

2017/18

Philippe Coutinho

€135M/£121.50M

€365.10M/£328.59M

2016/17

Andre Gomes

€37M/£33.30M

€124.75M/£112.28M

2015/16

Arda Turan

€34M/£30.60M

€51M/£45.90M

2014/15

Luis Suarez

€81.72M/£73.55M

€166.72M/£150.05M

2013/14

Neymar

€88M/£79.20M

€101M/£90.90M

2012/13

Alex Song

€19M/£17.10M

€33M/£29.70M

2011/12

Cesc Fabregas

€34M/£30.60M

€60M/£54M

2010/11

David Villa

€40M/£36M

€72.50M/£65.25M

2009/10

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

€69.50M/£62.55M

€113.50M/£102.15M

2008/09

Dani Alves

€35.50M/£31.95M

€96M/£86.40M

2007/08

Thierry Henry

€24M/£21.60M

€68.50M/£61.65M

2006/07

Gianluca Zambrotta

€14M/£12.60M

€31M/£27.90M

2005/06

None

Nil

Nil

2004/05

Samuel Eto'o

€27M/£24.30M

€78.50M/£70.65M

2003/04

Ronaldinho

€32.25M/£29.03M

€43.85M/£39.47M

2002/03

Juan Roman Riquelme

€10M/£9M

€19M/£17.10M

2001/02

Javier Saviola

€35.90M/£32.31M

€95M/£85.50M

2000/01

Marc Overmars

€29.30M/£26.37M

€82.40M/£74.16M

TOTAL

€2.38B/£2.14B

*All figures are taken from Transfermarkt unless stated otherwise.

Barcelona's top 10 most expensive player signings

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