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Football teams to have spent the most on attackers since 2000

As the scorers of goals, attacking players are inevitably the most valuable commodities on the transfer market.

Capable of match-winning brilliance which more often than not determines the destination of the biggest trophies on offer, attackers typically command the highest transfer fees and most lucrative wages.

We examine the teams in world football who have spent the most on attackers this century.

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Football teams to have spent the most on attackers since 2000

• Chelsea

One of the most free-spending teams in England since the turn of the century, no club in world football has spent more money on attackers since 2000 than Chelsea.

The Blues' significant outlay on attacking players includes the purchases of Romelu Lukaku from Inter in 2021 (£97.5m), Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020 (£71m) and Mykhaylo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023 (£62m).

• Paris Saint-Germain

Second on this list of teams who have spent most heavily on attackers this century is Paris Saint-Germain.

The French giants have made the two most expensive signings in football history, snapping up Neymar for £198m from Barcelona in 2017 before spending £163m on Kylian Mbappe a year later.

• Barcelona

Barcelona are another European heavyweight to have spent big on forwards in recent times.

Expensive captures from the Catalan club on attacking players this century include the signings of Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 (£135.5m), Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid in 2019 (£107m) and Neymar from Santos in 2013 (£64.6m).

• Manchester City

Fourth on this list is Manchester City, with the Premier League side becoming one of the richest clubs in the world when taken over by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008.

City have made a number of expensive signings since their takeover, including forwards Riyad Mahrez from Leicester in 2018 (£60m), Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund in 2022 and Raheem Sterling from Liverpool in 2015 (£49m).

• Real Madrid

The biggest club in world football in the eyes of many, Real Madrid have made many a high-profile attacking signing since 2000.

Real's most expensive attacking signings this century include Eden Hazard from Chelsea in 2019 (£130m), Gareth Bale from Tottenham in 2013 (£85.3m) and Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United in 2009 (£80m).

• Manchester United

Another of world football's most prestigious clubs, Manchester United have naturally spent a lot of money on attacking stars.

The Red Devils' most expensive attacking purchases since 2000 include the captures of Antony from Ajax in 2022 (£85m), Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund in 2021 (£73m) and Romelu Lukaku from Everton in 2017 (£75m).

• Juventus

Arguably Italy's biggest football club, with 36 Serie A titles to their name, Juventus have had a number of famous forwards on their books in recent times.

The most high-profile forward addition was Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid for a fee of £88m in 2018, with Gonzalo Higuain from Napoli in 2016 (£75.6m) and Dusan Vlahovic from Fiorentina in 2021 (£62.8m) other expensive signings up front.

• Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid are the third Spanish side in this top 10 list, with Los Colchoneros winning two La Liga titles this century in 2013 and 2020.

Diego Simeone's side have spent big on a number of forwards in recent times including Joao Felix from Benfica in 2019 (£113m), Julian Alvarez from Manchester City in 2024 (£64.4m) and Diego Costa from Chelsea in 2017 (£57m).

• Liverpool

One of England's most famous clubs, with a total of six UEFA Champions League titles in their trophy cabinet, Liverpool have made a number of notable signings in the forward positions this century.

Some of Liverpool's most expensive forward acquisitions since 2000 include Darwin Nunez from Benfica in 2022 (£85m), Luis Diaz from Porto in 2021 (£42m) and Christian Benteke (£32.5m).

• Tottenham

Number 10 on this list is Tottenham Hotspur, with the North Londoners home to some of English football's most talented forward players this century.

Spurs' top striker since 2000 is undoubtedly Harry Kane, who came through the club's academy, with Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth in 2024 (£65m), Richarlison from Everton in 2022 (£60m) and Brennan Johnson from Nottingham Forest in 2023 (£47.5m) their most expensive recruits in the forward area.

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