In the article “Russian Premier League transfer records” we will tell you about those who made the most expensive transfers in the history of Russian soccer. Bon voyage!
In the recent history of Russia’s top soccer division there have been many class players, and the sign of class in the modern era of soccer is the “transfer price tag”.
In this article we will talk about the eleven most “expensive” transfers in the history of the Russian Premier League. All transfer amounts are taken from an authoritative source – the Transfermarkt portal, which is usually referred to when talking about the value of soccer stars.
- 1 place. Malcom – for 60 million euros from Zenit to Al-Hilal
Last summer, Zenit St. Petersburg made a record deal for Russian soccer, selling Brazilian Malcom to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal. Representatives of the Saudi Arabian championship generously threw money on transfers last summer campaign, and the management of Zenit decided to be tempted by a very generous offer from one of the richest clubs.
Undoubtedly, they paid a lot for Malcom, as he was the top scorer in the RPL last campaign. And at the start of the new season, Zenit had serious difficulties with their attacking play after the departure of their main star. However, at the moment, Sergei Semak’s charges have already established both fresh playing connections and the dynamics of scoring points.
The team is again by a large margin the main favorite in the battle for the championship, and the loss of his Brazilian “fighter” St. Petersburg soccer “squad” noticed and learned to play without Malcom. And 60 million on the road is not lying around.
- 2nd place. Hulk – for 56 million euros from Zenit to Shanghai SIPG
Before Malcom’s move to Al-Hilal, the record sale in RPL history also belonged to Zenit. In the 2016/17 season, the St. Petersburg club sold another Brazilian – Hulk, and also to the championship of the country that did not spare money on soccer stars. Seven years ago, that championship was China.
- 3rd place. Malcom – for 41.5 million euros from Barcelona to Zenit
Piters not only earned a lot on transfers, but also periodically paid generously for newcomers themselves. “Record-breaker” of the RPL Malcom was initially bought in the Catalan “Barcelona” for a very considerable amount of money in August 2019. But, as we can see, the expenses have more than paid off.
- 4-6 places. Leandro Paredes – for 40 million euros from Zenit to Paris Saint-Germain
Another example of competent work of a Russian club on the soccer market. Zenit bought Argentine forward Paredes from Italian Roma for 23 million euros in July 2017, and a season and a half later sold him to French PSG for almost twice as much.
- 4-6 places. Hulk – for 40 million euros from Porto to Zenit
In this case we are also talking about a transfer to Zenit for a very big money, but as we already know – the player was later sold for an even bigger sum. And it was necessary to pay a lot for Hulk in September 2012. After all, at that time the powerful attacking midfielder was shining in Portuguese Porto, there were many other contenders from the Top 5 European championships, and to lure him to Russia, you had to try hard. Zhivanildo Vieira de Souza (Hulk’s full name) has become one of the biggest stars in the history of Russian soccer in the RPL.
- 4-6 places. Axel Witsel – for 40 million euros from Benfica to Zenit
Another high-profile move made by Zenit in the early 10s of the new century. However, unlike Hulk, this player, who also moved from the Portuguese championship, did not pay off in the end. He was also sold to a club from China, but for the sum of 20 million euros. Which, however, does not lie on the road.
- 7-8th place. Willian – for 35.5 million euros from Anzhi to Chelsea
Even Anzhi Makhachkala, whose star in the sky of world soccer was lit up for a short time, managed to make a little money on a top-class player. Brazilian Willian was bought from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2013 for 35 million euros, and six months later he was sold to Chelsea for 500 thousand more. A small thing, but a pleasant one.
- 9-11 places. Nikola Vlasic – for 30 million euros from CSKA to West Ham
And this is already a successful work of CSKA Moscow selection and management. “The Army Men once persuaded the talented Serbian Nikola Vlasic to join them from English Everton for 23 million euros, where the Balkan failed to fulfill his potential. A couple of seasons later, the club sold the player to another English club – West Ham, for 7 million more expensive. Vlasic, by the way, did not do well at the Hammers either, but that was not CSKA’s problem.
- 9-11 places. Aleksandr Golovin – for 30 million euros from CSKA to Monaco
And another undoubted success of the management of the Army Men. Midfielder Aleksandr Golovin was a “product” of CSKA’s club academy, and in July 2018 he went to Monaco for a tidy sum of 30 million, which clearly paid off everything invested in the talented player. However, given the way Golovin is now “firing away” in the French championship, the Army Men probably could have asked for more money for their talent at that time.
- 9-11 places. Danny – for 30 million euros from Dynamo to Zenit
This transfer is the last on our list, but definitely not the last in terms of importance. After all, Danny’s move to Zenit from Dinamo Moscow is the only one in the ranking of the most expensive transfers that happened by agreement between the two Russian clubs. And if we take into account that it was made back in 2008, the admiration becomes even stronger. After all, at that time 30 million was some simply incredible money for Russian soccer. And, by the way, Danny fully paid off his transfer. The Portuguese has become one of the legends in Zenit’s recent history, having played over one and a half hundred matches for the Blue and White Blues.
