Top 10 Expensive French Footballers of All Time - Ranked

Be it Michel Platini, Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, or Kylian Mbappe, France consistently produces one or two talents who make the Top 10 footballers on the planet. They have elegant midfielders, rampaging defenders, and pacy wingers who capture the imagination of fans worldwide. Hence, in this list, we explore the expensive French footballers of all time who made big money moves in their careers.

Various players, such as Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Paul Pogba, are some of the most expensive French players in the world. They have the quality to make a difference, and the clubs didn't shy away from bringing in some of the most expensive French football player. Thus, we look at the Top 10 French football transfers that changed the course of teams and leagues worldwide.

List of Most Expensive French Players

There have been eye-opening moves in recent times regarding the most expensive French football transfers. Most moves in the last decade didn't work out well, but some did, changing the landscapes of most clubs. Hence, we look at the most expensive French footballers of all time. Below is a table where we rank the Top 10 most expensive French players in descending order of their transfer fees in Euros.

Who Are Most Expensive French Football Transfers?

Some players became massive hits at their clubs in the Top 10 French football transfers of all time. But some failed to shine, maybe because they were pressured to repay their gigantic transfer fee through performances. Hence, let's dive deeper into these footballers' careers after transferring to their respective clubs.

10. Zinedine Zidane (Juventus to Real Madrid)

Arguably one of Spanish giants Real Madrid's most significant signings, Zinedine Zidane is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to have ever graced a football pitch. He was one of the most expensive French football transfers back in the day, arriving for €77.5 million. After arriving at Real Madrid, Zidane became a part of the Galacticos era, when Madrid got legends like Luis Figo, David Beckham, Ronaldo, and Roberto Carlos, all donning the famous whites. It certainly captured the hearts and minds of the fans.

In 227 appearances for Madrid, Zidane scored 49 goals and created 67 assists. More than the goals and assists, it was his approach to the game - a melodic symphony in which he played his notes, which became eye-catching. Zidane epitomised class, be it caressing the ball with a mesmerising first touch or dribbling past players like a gazelle. Moreover, he also became a club manager and won the Champions League with Madrid.

09. Lucas Hernández (Atlético Madrid to Bayern Munich)

Although he didn't reach the levels of his brother Theo Hernandez, Lucas Hernandez certainly stood on his own by becoming one of the crucial defenders for France. His versatility helped the teams he represented, and he became a reliable defender at Atletico Madrid. Hernandez came through the Atletico Madrid youth setup and became one of the best players on the team. Later on, he caught the attention of Bavarian Giants Bayern Munich, who purchased him for €80 million in 2019.

He became one of the most expensive French football transfers in recent times and won accolades at Munich. The French international won 11 major trophies with the club and became a mainstay in the backline with his covering duties at the heart of the defence. Later, after some productive years with the club, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain.

08. Aurélien Tchouaméni (AS Monaco to Real Madrid)

Another star player from AS Monaco, Aurélien Tchouaméni, moved to Real Madrid and became one of the most expensive French footballers of all time. The defensive midfielder became the link between the defence and the attack, breaking down opposition play at the edge of his box. He could tackle vigorously, play progressive passes, and even score a long-range banger in certain matches. With Madrid wanting to replace Casemiro, Tchouaméni took up the mantle, which was crucial for the Spanish giants for around €80 million.

He forms a great partnership with Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde, as the irresistible trio controls games for Real Madrid. Although it's the early days of the new regime, Tchouaméni will be an essential player for the club moving forward. With a duels won percentage of 65.4%, Tchouaméni is Madrid's undisputed holding midfielder, who occasionally fills in at centre back.

07. Wesley Fofana (Leicester City to Chelsea)

With bags of potential, Wesley Fofana is still waiting for his breakout season with Premier League stalwarts Chelsea. He has talent, but injuries keep him down most of the time, which certainly takes his development a step back. The centre back arrived at Chelsea in 2022 with mesmerising displays, showcasing aggression and solid tackling ability. However, a broken fibula and an ACL injury made him miss almost two seasons with the club. After arriving at Chelsea for €80.4 million, there's potential in the French centre back.

At Leicester City, he made a name for himself with his no-nonsense approach to defence. He marshalled his defence even though he was young and came off as a player with a lot of bite. Never shy to put his foot when it matters the most, Fofana has all it takes to become a Chelsea; the only issue holding him back is his fitness.

06. Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt to Liverpool)

The transfer of Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt to one of the most successful Premier League clubs, Liverpool, raised a few doubts regarding the latter's recruitment strategy. Although he's not a well-established striker, Ekitike had a fine season with Frankfurt to earn the move. But Liverpool paid him for his potential, and the 22-year-old has what it takes to be the best in the business. With a transfer mounting up to €95 million with add-ons, Ekitike's attacking prowess will be helpful for the club.

Likewise, he scored a sensational goal in the FA Community Shield against Crystal Palace, introducing himself to the Merseyside faithful. Therefore, Ekitike's transfer value could come into the picture if he doesn't perform to Liverpool's standards. But judging by his hot start, he could become a crucial buy for the Reds.

05. Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt to Paris Saint-Germain)

If only Randal Kolo Muani scored the goal that would give France their second successive World Cup, he would be celebrated on the streets of Paris. Sadly, that was not the case. Everyone would remember him for being on the wrong end of Emiliano Martinez's “save of the century”, which kept Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final. Yet, the French forward remains important at the club level. He moved from Frankfurt to PSG for €95 million but hasn't gotten it going to date.

Yes, there are games where he comes on and scores, but PSG fans haven't witnessed the Kolo Muani of Frankfurt, who scored 26 goals in 50 games. After arriving at PSG, he scored 11 goals in 54 matches and was loaned out to Juventus. But at Juventus, Kolo Muani scored 10 goals and two assists in 22 games, which is a decent return, and he is expected to play a critical role for PSG in the upcoming season. Hopefully, he got something to offer, but the jury is out for the talented player for now.

04. Paul Pogba (Juventus to Manchester United)

Paul Pogba is back to playing football as he signed for Monaco and is getting ready to play after getting an 18-month ban. For a talented footballer like him, it became a punch in the face, and he certainly couldn't live up to the hype. However, he's just 32 and there's a lot of time in his career to produce a fairytale comeback. But revisiting 2016, Pogba left for a big-money move of €105 million from Juventus to Manchester United to help the club win titles.

For starters, it was one of the most expensive French football transfers of all time, and Pogba certainly raised a few eyebrows by returning to the club he left for free. But he didn't win much apart from the Europa League and Carabao Cup, and the transfer left a bitter taste in Manchester. But during his time with the club, he certainly won the World Cup with France, but couldn't replicate his national team form at Old Trafford.

03. Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid to Barcelona)

Every football fan loved Antoine Griezmann at Atlético Madrid. In 257 games, he scored 133 goals and created 44 assists. He became the team's heartbeat. But at the time, once you went to Barcelona, you're not the leading man anymore because of a certain Lionel Messi. The French footballer needed attention, and at Barcelona, he became a sidekick despite his €120 million fee, one that made him one of the most expensive French footballers of all time.

Griezmann made 102 appearances for the club and only scored 35 goals. Compared to his impressive numbers at Atlético Madrid, the fans didn't show him the love. He couldn't get it going at Barcelona and often failed to make a mark on the proceedings. Therefore, he won just one trophy and later returned to Atletico Madrid on loan.

02. Ousmane Dembélé (Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona)

Another player who followed the Griezmann suit was Ousmane Dembele. Although Griezmann became a star at Atletico Madrid, Dembele was a talent for the ages at Borussia Dortmund. His tricky dribbling and ability to shoot with both feet and dribble with both feet made him a talent for the ages. Seeing the potential, Barcelona stepped on the gas and bought him for €135 million in 2017.

Unlike Griezmann, Dembele had some success in Barcelona. He won multiple trophies, but injuries kept him on the sidelines, as he couldn't get minutes under his belt. He had a good second season at Barcelona, scoring 14 goals and creating eight assists in 43 games. Although those are not mesmerising numbers, Dembele helped the club win the La Liga in 2019. But again, the jury is out for one of the most expensive French footballers of all time for his time with Barcelona. But during his time with Barcelona, he had another purple feather on his cap by winning the World Cup in 2018.

01. Kylian Mbappe (AS Monaco to Paris Saint-Germain)

Perhaps the most expensive French footballer of all time, Kylian Mbappe, moved from AS Monaco to competitive rivals PSG in a blockbuster €180 million deal in 2018. Was he a success at the club? Absolutely. He first went on loan to PSG during the 2017-18 season, and later PSG signed the player up for a massive fee. When he arrived at the club, he became the star player, forming an impressive trio with Lionel Messi and Neymar. Although they couldn't win the Champions League at the time, PSG entertained the football masses for a long time.

One of the top talents of the French national team, probably after Thierry Henry and Zinedine Zidane, Mbappe is the poster boy of France. He then moved to Real Madrid in 2024 and ended his stint with PSG. But his devastating pace and composed finishing made him a superstar for the ages. Therefore, Mbappe certainly helped put PSG on the map, and many fans started to watch Ligue 1 because of his presence. Plus, he won the World Cup during his stint at PSG.

Please note that Mbappe's goal-scoring stats include the season he spent on loan at PSG during the 2017-18 season.