Huge increases in TV revenues have had an inflationary effect on the European transfer market. Here are the 15 highest transfer fees, based on estimations from club and media reports, during the summer transfer market that ended Aug. 31.
PLAYER (NATIONALITY) TRANFSER FEE
1. Fernando Torres (Spain) $49.5 million
(F) Atletico Madrid to Liverpool
2. Arjen Robben (Netherlands) $48 million
(W) Chelsea to Madrid
3. Pepe (Brazil) $41 million
(D) FC Porto to Real Madrid
4. Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands) $37 million
(M) Ajax to Real Madrid
5. Nani (Portugal) $35 million
(M) Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United
6. Owen Hargreaves (England) $34 million
(M) Bayern Munich to Manchester United
7. Darren Bent (England) $33 million
(F) Charlton to Tottenham
8. Franck Ribery (France) $32.5 million
(M) Marseille to Bayern Munich
9. Thierry Henry (France) $32 million
(F) Arsenal to Barcelona
10. Diego Forlan (Uruguay) $27 million
(F) Villarreal to Atletico Madrid
10. Florent Malouda (France) $27 million
(W) Lyon to Chelsea
12. Nikola Zigic (Serbia) $26.0 million
(D) Racing Santander to Valencia
13. Ryan Babel (Netherlands) $23 million
(F) Ajax to Liverpool
14. Ayegbeni Yakubu (Nigeria) $22.5 million
(F) Middlesbrough to Everton
15. Gabriel Milito (Argentina) $22 million
(D) Real Zaragoza to Barcelona
15. Simao Sabrosa (Portugal) $22 million
(M) Benfica to Atletico Madrid