Mohamed Salah's £36.9m Liverpool transfer is the Premier League's best value deal of the past decade

Liverpool's 2017 signing of Mohamed Salah from Roma for £36.9 million has been rated the Premier League's best value transfer of the past decade, according to an analysis of deals completed since summer 2016 that also includes Erling Haaland, Cole Palmer and Andy Robertson.

  • Top value: Mohamed Salah, Roma to Liverpool, £36.9 million (2017)
  • Bargain full-back: Andy Robertson, Hull City to Liverpool, £8 million (2017)
  • Release clause coup: Erling Haaland, Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City, £51.2 million (2022)
  • Young talent: Cole Palmer, Manchester City to Chelsea, £40 million (2023)
  • Midfield value: Ilkay Gündogan, Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City, £20 million (2016)

Deal details

The analysis, which covers transfers from the summer of 2016 onwards, assesses value by weighing longevity, consistency, tactical importance and trophies won alongside the initial fee. A £50 million signing can be excellent value if they become one of the world's best, while a £10 million buy may disappoint if their impact is short-lived.

Mohamed Salah: Roma to Liverpool, £36.9 million

Liverpool's 2017 move for Salah raised eyebrows given his previous spell at Chelsea had yielded only two league goals. He responded with 32 league goals in his first season, setting a record for a 38-match Premier League campaign, and won the first of his multiple Golden Boots. Salah became the most reliable scorer in a Liverpool side that won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup. His movement from the right defined Jürgen Klopp's attack, and his availability allowed Liverpool to build around him year after year. In a market where proven goalscorers command fees approaching or exceeding £100 million, paying less than £40 million was extraordinary business.

Andy Robertson: Hull City to Liverpool, £8 million

Liverpool paid Hull City around £8 million for Robertson in 2017 after the Tigers were relegated. He did not immediately enter the starting line-up but developed into one of the Premier League's most productive full-backs, with his energy, overlapping runs and crossing becoming central to Liverpool's tactical identity. Alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold, Robertson helped change expectations of what full-backs could contribute, allowing Salah and Sadio Mané to move into more central scoring positions. His leadership and durability made the modest fee particularly valuable – Liverpool acquired a key member of a title-winning team for less than many clubs spend on a squad player.

Erling Haaland: Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City, £51.2 million

Manchester City activated the release clause in Haaland's Borussia Dortmund contract in 2022. Although the total cost included significant salary and agent-related commitments, the transfer fee itself was far below what Haaland would probably have commanded on the open market. The striker scored a record 36 Premier League goals in his debut campaign and played a decisive role as City won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble. Haaland solved one of the few obvious gaps in Pep Guardiola's squad, giving City an elite penalty-area presence capable of converting opportunities at a remarkable rate. His age added to the value – City were not paying for the final years of an established goalscorer's career but acquiring one of the world's leading strikers before he had reached his peak.

Cole Palmer: Manchester City to Chelsea, £40 million

Cole Palmer's move from Manchester City to Chelsea in 2023 initially appeared expensive for a player with limited Premier League starting experience. It soon looked like one of the most effective transfers of the decade. Palmer became Chelsea's main creative and scoring threat during his first season, finishing the league campaign with 22 goals and 11 assists and winning the Premier League Young Player of the Season award. The value was not based only on those numbers – Palmer gave Chelsea a player capable of controlling important attacking moments during a period of considerable squad instability. He could create from open play, finish under pressure and take responsibility from the penalty spot. Chelsea reportedly paid an initial £40 million, with the possibility of the fee increasing through add-ons. Even at the higher potential figure, the deal represented excellent business for a young English attacker who quickly developed into the club's defining player. Palmer is also an example of why value must be assessed relative to future potential – Chelsea secured his best years and avoided the premium that would have followed another season of regular first-team football elsewhere.

Ilkay Gündogan: Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City, £20 million

Manchester City signed Ilkay Gündogan from Borussia Dortmund for approximately £20 million in 2016. He became Pep Guardiola's first signing at the club and remained an important figure throughout one of the most successful periods in English football. Injuries affected Gündogan's early months, but his intelligence and versatility made him increasingly influential – he could operate as a holding midfielder, play as a number eight or make late runs into the penalty area. His goals proved particularly valuable during title run-ins. Gündogan scored twice against Aston Villa on the final day of the 2021/22 season as City recovered from 2-0 down to win 3-2 and secure the title. He later captained the team during its treble-winning 2022/23 campaign. Gündogan ultimately left for Barcelona on a free transfer, meaning City did not receive a fee when he departed. That did little to reduce the value of the original deal – seven years of elite performances, leadership and major trophies represented an exceptional return on a £20 million investment.

Bruno Fernandes: Sporting CP to Manchester United, initial £47 million

Bruno Fernandes joined Manchester United in January 2020 for an initial fee of approximately £47 million, with additional payments linked to performance. The midfielder made an immediate impact, providing goals and creativity to a side that had struggled for consistency. United went unbeaten in the league following his arrival and secured Champions League qualification. Fernandes quickly became one of the team's most productive players. His willingness to attempt difficult passes can reduce his completion percentage, but it also reflects his responsibility for creating chances. He has consistently contributed goals and assists while rarely being unavailable. Manchester United have spent heavily on numerous positions without always receiving a clear return. Fernandes stands out because he became a central figure immediately and continued carrying much of the team's creative burden through several managerial changes. He was not inexpensive, but replacing his output would likely have cost considerably more.

Ollie Watkins: Brentford to Aston Villa, £28 million

Aston Villa paid a club-record fee of approximately £28 million for Ollie Watkins in 2020. The striker had never previously played in the Premier League.

Why Salah and Robertson define Liverpool's recruitment model

Liverpool's success in the transfer market over the past decade is built on deals like Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson. Both arrived for fees that looked modest at the time and both became pillars of a team that won every major honour. Salah's goals from the right and Robertson's overlapping runs from left-back created a symmetry that opponents struggled to contain. The fact that Liverpool paid under £45 million combined for two players who would go on to define an era is a testament to their scouting and willingness to take calculated risks.

Manchester City's deals for Erling Haaland and Ilkay Gündogan show a different approach: exploiting release clauses and market inefficiencies to sign elite talent below market value. Haaland's £51.2 million fee was far below his true worth, while Gündogan's £20 million price tag delivered seven years of top-level performances and major trophies. City's financial power is undeniable, but these two deals demonstrate that smart recruitment can still yield exceptional value even at the highest level.

Cole Palmer's move to Chelsea is an example of paying for potential. The £40 million initial fee looked steep for a player with limited Premier League experience, but Palmer's 22 goals and 11 assists in his first season quickly justified the outlay. Chelsea secured his best years and avoided the premium that would have followed another season of regular first-team football elsewhere. The deal also highlights how value can be assessed relative to future potential, not just past achievements.

Talking points

  • Is Salah's £36.9 million fee the best value deal in Premier League history, or does Haaland's £51.2 million release clause represent even better business given his record-breaking debut season?
  • Andy Robertson cost just £8 million from Hull City – is he the most underrated signing of the decade, and should Liverpool's scouting get more credit for finding him?
  • Cole Palmer's £40 million move to Chelsea now looks like a bargain, but would Manchester City have kept him if they had known how good he would become?
  • Ilkay Gündogan left Manchester City on a free transfer to Barcelona – does that reduce the value of his £20 million signing, or does it not matter because of what he achieved?

What happens next

As the January transfer window approaches, clubs will be looking to replicate these value signings. Liverpool's ability to identify undervalued talent and Manchester City's use of release clauses will be tested again. Chelsea, having secured Cole Palmer's best years, will hope he continues to develop. The challenge for all clubs is to find the next Salah or Robertson – players who can deliver consistent performances and trophies without breaking the bank.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the best value signing in the Premier League in the past decade?

Mohamed Salah's £36.9 million move from Roma to Liverpool in 2017 is considered the best value signing of the past decade, given his goals, trophies and longevity.

How much did Liverpool pay for Andy Robertson?

Liverpool paid Hull City around £8 million for Andy Robertson in 2017.

Did Manchester City sign Erling Haaland for £51.2 million?

Yes, Manchester City activated Haaland's £51.2 million release clause in his Borussia Dortmund contract in 2022.

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