Neymar has been at the top of football for nine years: why?

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Neymar has been at the top of football for nine years: why?

August 3, 2017.

Paris Saint-Germain shocked the football world by paying the €222 million release clause to take Neymar from Barcelona.

The Brazilian, then 25, became the most expensive signing in football history.

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Aurelien Meunier - 2017 Getty Images

And he still holds that spot nine years later.

Neymar would play for the French club for six seasons.

He racked up goals (118), domestic titles (13), the 2019/20 Champions League runner-up finish, and a few injuries before being transferred to Al-Hilal for 90 million.

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Did the market go 'crazy'?​

Barcelona suddenly had plenty of cash in hand after selling Neymar.

And they paid €148 million to Dortmund for Dembélé to replace the Brazilian later that same August.

The Frenchman was valued at €33 million at the time.

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JOSEP LAGO - AFP or licensors AFP or licensors

Then came the January window — usually one with few "extravagant" signings — and another €135 million to take Coutinho from Liverpool.

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Clive Rose - 2018 Getty Images

The duo ultimately did not have the expected success.

Dembélé was transferred to PSG for 50 million, but Barça only received half of that.

Coutinho, meanwhile, brought in 8.5 million from his loan to Bayern and then 20 million from his sale to Aston Villa.

PSG already had Mbappé when Neymar was announced, but on loan.

The fee to keep the then-young French star had been agreed with Monaco: 180 million.

Mbappé remains right behind Neymar in the ranking of the most expensive signings. And Dembélé completes the Top 3.

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Top- most expensive in history​

Every signing on this list has been made since August 2017.

Only Dortmund appears more than once among the selling clubs.

PSG, Barça and Liverpool stand out among the biggest buyers.

And there are now three English players among the most expensive in history after the additions of Morgan Rogers and Elliot in the current window.

Check them out below:

10 - Wirtz - Leverkusen Liverpool - €125 million

9 - Jude Bellingham - Dortmund Real Madrid - €127 million

8 - João Félix - Benfica Atlético de Madrid - €127.2 million

7 - Elliot Anderson - Nottingham Forest Manchester City - €135 million

6 - Philippe Coutinho Liverpool - Barcelona - €135 million

5 - Morgan Rogers - Aston Villa Chelsea - €138 million

4 - Alexander Isak - Newcastle Liverpool - €145 million

3 - Dembélé - Dortmund Barcelona - €148 million

2 - Mbappé - Monaco PSG - €180 million

1 - Neymar - Barcelona PSG - €222 million

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in here.

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