Transfer Window: Manchester United’s five most expensive signings

Lisandro Martinez is expected to be announced as Manchester United’s third summer signing by the weekend, following fellow new arrivals Tyrell Malacia and Christian Eriksen through the door at Old Trafford. 

The Argentine will join up with new United boss Erik ten Hag, who he worked under at current club Ajax.

The deal, which will reportedly cost around £50 million including potential add-ons, will be United’s most expensive of the summer so far.

It won’t make him the club’s record signing though; he will in fact be ninth on the club’s list of most expensive arrivals.

Here, we take a look at the Red Devils’ five most expensive signings of all time.

5. Angel Di Maria – £67.5 million

Back in the summer of 2014, United shelled out almost £70 million on Argentina forward Di Maria from Real Madrid. The winger scored three goals in his first five Premier League matches, and then failed to score in the league for the remainder of that particular season. He then left Manchester after just one year, but will always be remembered for his superb lobbed finish against Leicester City.

4. Romelu Lukaku – £76.23 million

Lukaku arrived at Old Trafford in 2017 having been prolific for both West Brom and Everton, despite failing to score for Chelsea. The Belgian scored a more than respectable 27 goals across all competitions during his first campaign with the club, including 16 Premier League goals. He failed to carry that form into his second season, though, scoring just 15 times in 45 games, and was sold to Inter Milan in 2019.

Lukaku has played for four English clubs

3. Jadon Sancho – £76.5 million

One of the most expensive British players of all time, Sancho became a member of an exclusive club of players to have played for both Manchester City and United when he returned to England in 2021. The winger had scored 50 goals and provided 64 assists for previous club Borussia Dortmund, but has so far failed to recreate that form for United. To date, he has five goals and three assists in 37 games for the club.

Sancho is yet to find his best form for United

2. Harry Maguire – £78.3 million

Maguire was the most expensive of several summer arrivals in 2019, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka also among those signed by United. The England international has endured a tough time as a Red Devil though, and was most recently booed by United supporters during their pre-season game against Crystal Palace in Melbourne. With Martinez on his way to United, Maguire will have more competition for his starting spot at the back.

1. Paul Pogba  – £94.5 million

Pogba has had a rather remarkable career, having had two spells each with United and Juventus. The Frenchman left Old Trafford for free initially, but his form in Italy prompted the English side to fork out almost £100 million for him back in 2016. He spent six years with United the second time around, scoring 39 goals and providing 51 assists, before once again departing for Turin on a free transfer.

Pogba was reportedly unhappy for large parts of his second spell in Manchester

With Martinez set to arrive in the coming days, United will soon have spent more than £40 million on a player 13 times. The likes of Bruno Fernandes and Rio Ferdinand justified their price tags quickly, others less so.