5 days ago
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14 €50m+ players
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In a market where potential is sometimes priced as highly as pedigree, some clubs are willing to bet big - even on players yet to represent their country at senior level. Whether drawn in by raw talent, scouting data, or breakout domestic performances, top teams have, at times, sanctioned multi-million Euro deals for footballers with no international first-team experience on their CVs. No caps? No problem - at least for the clubs willing to pay premium fees for tomorrow’s stars today.
From teenage sensations plucked straight out of youth setups to late bloomers who soared under the radar, these transfers represent a fascinating intersection of risk, belief, and bold recruitment. While some would go on to justify the price tag - and earn their first international call-ups shortly after - others serve as cautionary tales of talent that never quite live up to expectation. Transfermarkt takes a look at the most expensive players in history who, at the time of their big move, had never played a single senior international minute. Perhaps unsurprisingly, eight of the top 10 were purchased by Premier League clubs.
Most expensive uncapped players of all-time
Leading the way is Liverpool's latest recruit Hugo Ekitiké. The Reds forked out €95m for the Frenchman, making him the most expensive striker in the club's history, as well as the all-time most costly player without a single cap. It does seem a matter of time before Ekitiké gets the nod to make his international debut, but it speaks volumes about Liverpool's faith in him to pay such a fee for a player without any senior international experience. In second is centre-back Wesley Fofana - Chelsea paid Leicester €80.4m for the defender in 2022 when he was uncapped, before he made his debut against Gibraltar a year later - still his only France cap to date. Third goes to Aymeric Laporte, who could have represented either Spain or France, but hadn't made a cap for either at the time of his €65m move to Man City - he has since played internationally for Spain on many occasions.
In fourth is another recruit from this summer in Jamie Gittens - Chelsea paid €64.3m for his services, but he is yet to make a senior cap for England. Man United defender Leny Yoro is fifth after the Red Devils spent €62m on the French teenager last summer. Sixth goes to Spanish midfielder Nico González, after Man City spent €60m on him last January. Anthony Martial takes seventh after signing for Man United as an uncapped teenager for €60m - he has since played 30 times for France. Englishman Aaron Wan-Bissaka is eighth after signing for Man United for €55m. Michael Olise's €53m move to Bayern Munich last summer puts the Frenchman ninth, whilst Spaniard, Álvaro Carreras, who has just signed for Real Madrid for €50m, completes the top 10.
