Cost per Goal or Assist
With only a few weeks remaining in the transfer window, clubs are racing to finalize their squads as the new season for top five league teams approaches. Over the past decade, total spending in the summer transfer period has soared into billions, with owners feeling the heat from supporters demanding ambitious signings. It’s essential, however, to identify the right players. Clubs invest heavily in attacking players, who are often seen as key difference makers in critical moments.
The five most expensive players in history are all attacking talents, while the highest transfer fee for a defender, Harry Maguire’s €87 million move to Manchester United, ranks only 27th. There’s immense pressure on high-priced signings to deliver, especially for attackers whose goal and assist tallies are closely scrutinized. By using data from Transfermarkt, we’ve analyzed which attackers have incurred the highest cost per goal contribution in the history of the top five leagues, excluding those with fewer than 50 appearances to ensure fairness.
Which Attackers Cost the Most per Goal Contribution in History?
The top ten most expensive players per goal contribution reveal dismal news for several Premier League clubs, as eight entries appear in the top ten. Both Manchester United and Chelsea have three players each on this list, with Antony sitting in the unwanted top spot. The Brazilian is often regarded as one of the poor value signings in Premier League history, and the stats back this claim, as United paid €95 million to bring him to Old Trafford, resulting in only 17 goal contributions—costing €5.6 million for each goal or assist.
The graphic above shows that Randal Kolo Muani ranks second, with a grim €95 million move to PSG costing €5.3 million per goal or assist. Jadon Sancho follows at third, with a €4.7 million cost per contribution based on his €85 million transfer fee. Notably, both Antony and Sancho are finding it challenging to attract potential buyers this summer, while Rasmus Højlund also appears in the top ten. Chelsea’s three representatives include Pedro Neto, Mykhaylo Mudryk, and Christopher Nkunku. While Mudryk and Nkunku have yet to leave a mark at Stamford Bridge, Neto has shown flashes of talent and is anticipated to play a significant role this season. The most expensive player in the list is Jack Grealish, whose €117.5 million transfer has resulted in a cost of €2.9 million for each of his 40 goal contributions.
