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Alexander Isak has dropped out of the list of the 20 most expensive strikers of all time, even though two former Manchester United stars make up half of the top ten.

The Swedish forward, Isak, broke the British transfer record after finally sealing his high-profile move to Liverpool.

However, despite the record-breaking transfer, he did not claim the crown of the most expensive striker in world football, though he did surpass a Premier League icon.

It’s remarkable that Paris Saint-Germain once signed their all-time leading goal scorer on loan eight years ago. Even more surprising is how he grew to wield influence greater than almost anyone at the club, including the French president himself. Ironically, PSG lifted the Champions League trophy only after he left to become a standout performer for Real Madrid, a move he had long been linked with.

That lengthy transfer saga finally ended on the last day of the 2025 summer window when Liverpool paid a British record fee to sign Isak from Newcastle United. Journalist Luke Edwards summed it up perfectly.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy did everything possible to complicate matters, but Bayern Munich were determined to make the England captain their most expensive signing ever. They eventually paid up, with the total potentially reaching £120 million if the add-ons are triggered — which seems likely, as Harry Kane looks set to dominate the Bundesliga and finally put his trophy drought to rest.

Tired of repeatedly being knocked out of the Champions League by Cristiano Ronaldo, Juventus opted for the simple solution — if you can’t beat him, sign him. Although the Portuguese superstar helped them to a couple of Serie A titles, he never managed to take “The Old Lady” beyond the quarter-finals in Europe.

Romelu Lukaku’s second spell at Chelsea was far removed from the raw teenager who first arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2011. More mature and well-rounded, the Belgian still found himself out of sync with the club’s system, leaving business unfinished once again.

Few transfers have proven as shrewd as Real Madrid’s signing of Ronaldo, especially given that they eventually made a profit after nine extraordinary years that brought 15 trophies and countless goals.

In France, one striker forced a move to his hometown club by going on strike during the final days of the transfer window. Eintracht Frankfurt eventually agreed to sell him on deadline day, though it came at a cost to PSG. The French champions paid £64.2 million upfront, with another £12.2 million in possible add-ons that are unlikely to be met as the player has since fallen out of favour.

When Real Madrid activated their buy-back clause to bring Alvaro Morata back in 2016, Juventus responded by signing Gonzalo Higuain — then Serie A’s top scorer. The move also weakened their title rivals Napoli, though Higuain’s arrival ultimately didn’t change their European fortunes much despite his consistent goal return.

As a reward for his hat-trick in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final match, Lukaku earned another major opportunity after excelling with Everton. However, despite scoring 42 goals in 96 appearances, neither he nor Manchester United look back fondly on that two-year stint.

Known as the most expensive footballer ever across cumulative transfer fees, Lukaku’s career has been a mixed bag. Yet his spell at Inter Milan — 64 goals in 95 games and a Serie A title — restored his reputation and cemented his place among Italy’s great modern strikers.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed a massive €70 million outlay plus €10 million in bonuses during the height of the pandemic. That investment paid off handsomely as 76 goals in 133 appearances, along with a Capocannoniere title and a league double, ensured every add-on was triggered before Napoli decided to move on.

There remains the possibility of another £10 million being added to one particular deal — a huge increase for a player who transferred for less than £27 million the previous summer, following a 22-goal season in Germany.

Manchester United hope Benjamin Sesko can prove a success outside the Red Bull system and earn a further £7.36 million in bonuses as part of their ongoing rebuild. With Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee having set high standards, expectations are significant.

Newcastle United persisted through numerous rejections before finally turning abroad, securing their target with a fee that even Bayern Munich hesitated to match. Their diligence paid off, and the player’s mix of physical power and agility makes him a fan favourite in waiting.

After an unforgettable 2013/14 campaign for Liverpool, Luis Suarez famously bit Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup — a bizarre episode that didn’t deter Barcelona from signing him. The Uruguayan justified their faith by winning 13 major trophies and becoming the club’s third-highest scorer ever.

A loan spell that yielded 37 goals and eight assists in 41 games inspired Galatasaray to a domestic double and convinced them that Victor Osimhen was worth shattering the Turkish transfer record, previously around €20 million.

Following an explosive half-season at Aston Villa, Jhon Duran made the move to Saudi Arabia for a lucrative spell. However, many expect the young striker to return to Europe soon after gaining experience alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.

Liverpool’s £85 million deal delivered two trophies, 40 goals, and 26 assists in 143 appearances. Even after recouping nearly half the fee from Al-Hilal, the Reds can consider the investment largely justified.

Manchester United’s £85 million gamble on a 22-year-old has yet to pay off, with just 26 goals in 95 matches. The fee could rise another £8 million with performance clauses, but his form has suffered badly. A loan move to Real Madrid now seems all but certain.

Juventus once again swooped for a striker excelling elsewhere in Serie A, signing Dusan Vlahovic as Ronaldo’s successor. Yet their ongoing attempts to offload him suggest the plan hasn’t unfolded as intended.