Liverpool FC 10 most expensive transfer sales of all time

 

 

Liverpool have seen four of this summer’s departures go onto the list of the 10 most expensive sales in the club’s history.

 

It has been a relentless few months at Anfield, with high-profile names brought in and other players leaving for pastures new.

 

 

The Reds sold over £228 million of talent in the summer of 2025, with the likes of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Jarell Quansah and Harvey Elliott all to generate big exit fees.

 

All four are among Liverpool’s 10 most expensive sales ever, but where do they rank?

 

Here are the top 10 transfer fees received by Liverpool:

 

 

 

10. Harvey Elliott – £35 million

When: 2026 (loan for 2025/26 season)

To: Aston Villa

Despite being just 22 years old when it was agreed he would leave on loan for Aston Villa, with an obligation to buy the following summer, Elliott spent six years at Liverpool – and he loved nearly every minute.

 

After moving from Fulham to his boyhood club in 2019, Elliott went straight forced his way into the first-team squad and was present for Liverpool’s 2020 Premier League win.

 

Jurgen Klopp became a father-like figure to the youngster as he became more and more important to the team following a successful loan at Blackburn during the 2021/22 season.

 

In total, Liverpool won six major trophies while Elliott was at the club, and it was sad to see him leave full of untapped potential.

 

For Aston Villa to be obliged to buy Elliott, he must make 10 appearances for the club this season, reported the Athletic.

 

9. Jarell Quansah – £35 million

 

When: 2025

To: Bayer Leverkusen

 

With all due respect to Quansah, to get £35m for him from Bayer Leverkusen this summer was excellent business, especially with a buy-back clause included in the deal.

 

That’s not to say that he won’t enjoy an excellent career, but he was still a raw player who hadn’t fully proven himself.

 

It will be interesting to see how Quansah fares in Germany, as he looks to become a regular for one of Germany’s biggest teams.

8. Sadio Mane – £35.1 million

When: 2022

To: Bayern Munich

 

Sadio Mane is a Liverpool legend who was arguably the Reds’ best player in the 2019/20 Premier League-winning season.

 

There was much disappointment when the Senegalese left Anfield for Bayern Munich in 2022, but in hindsight, his peak had passed.

 

It didn’t work out for Mane in Germany before moving to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, so Liverpool getting just over £35m for him was no bad thing.

 

What an incredible footballer he was in his prime, though.

 

 

 

7. Fabinho – £40 million

 

When: 2023

To: Al-Ittihad

 

Like Mane, Fabinho wasn’t the force of old when his time at Liverpool reached its conclusion.

 

The Brazilian became one of Europe’s best defensive midfielders for the Reds, but his pace had left him when Al-Ittihad came calling in 2023.

 

Liverpool’s current midfield is much-loved, but it should never be forgotten what a huge player Fabinho was beforehand.

 

Without him, there may have been no Champions League win in 2019 or title triumph the year after.

 

 

 

6. Darwin Nunez – £46.3 million

 

When: 2025

To: Al-Hilal

 

Nunez is the third-most expensive signing in Liverpool’s history, but he didn’t come close to justifying his £85m price tag.

 

The Uruguayan’s character and desire made him popular with the fans, but he was also capable of being frustrating hugely in front of goal.

 

Nunez left to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal this summer, with the £46.3m fee meaning Liverpool made a loss of nearly £40 million on him.

 

 

 

5. Raheem Sterling – £49 million

 

 

When: 2015

To: Man City

 

Raheem Sterling became an unpopular figure among Liverpool fans the second he traded the Reds for Man City in the summer of 2015.

 

The winger grew from a teenage prospect into an elite player at Anfield, but Liverpool were struggling when he decided he wanted a new challenge.

 

The lure of Man City proved too great to say no to, and he enjoyed an impressive spell there, scoring 131 goals in 339 appearances.

 

His performances were poor every time he returned to Anfield, though!

 

 

 

4. Fernando Torres – £50 million

 

 

When: 2011

To: Chelsea

 

Fernando Torres was an icon to supporters during his three-and-a-half years at Liverpool, so his exit to Chelsea in January 2011 really stung.

 

The Spaniard’s £50m move to Stamford Bridge felt massive at the time, but like Mane after him, his best years proved to be behind him.

 

Torres was never close to the same player in a Chelsea shirt, with 45 goals in 172 matches far from earth-shattering.

 

 

 

3. Luis Suarez – £65 million

 

When: 2014

To: Barcelona

 

It was Luis Suarez who directly replaced Torres in 2011, with the legendary striker producing many moments of genius for the Reds.

 

It was hard to begrudge him his exit for Barcelona in 2014, with his £65m switch there proving to be a bargain for the Spaniards.

 

Suarez arguably reached even greater heights at Barca, winning the Champions League and sitting third behind only Lionel Messi and Cesar Rodriguez in their all-time scoring charts.

 

2. Luis Diaz – £65.5 million

 

When: 2025

To: Bayern Munich

 

Opinion was split over Diaz leaving Liverpool, but to get £65.5m for a 28-year-old felt like shrewd business.

 

That’s not to say that he couldn’t have continued to be a key man for the Reds, having scored 17 times overall last season.

 

Diaz arguably never quite hit a world-class level at Liverpool, but he was a top player who contributed so much both in and out of possession.

 

He will receive a warm welcome if he returns to Anfield with Bayern Munich.

 

 

 

1. Philippe Coutinho – £142 million

 

When: 2018

To: Barcelona

 

Incredibly, the £142m Liverpool received from Barca for Philippe Coutinho is more than double what Bayern paid for second-place Diaz – and his move to the Catalan giants happened in 2018!

 

Many Liverpool fans were sad to see Coutinho leave at the time, with the Brazilian viewed as his side’s attacking talisman, but what happened next remains a sliding doors moment.

 

Coutinho left and has essentially done very little since, whereas Liverpool used the money to sign Alisson and Virgil van Dijk – two genuine legends.

 

Looking back, it was a master stroke of a transfer.