Former Chelsea ace Michael Essien among 15 most expensive signings in the last fifteen years

Former Ghana international Michael Essien's name has popped up in the most expensive signings of each of the last 15 years.

The signing of the Ghanaian midfielder from Lyon to Chelsea for 38 million euros was the most important transfer of 2005/06.

15. 2004/2005 - Didier Drogba

The most expensive pass of 15 years ago was that of the Ivorian, who came from Olympique de Marseille to Chelsea in exchange for 38.5 million euros.

In second place was Wayne Rooney with his arrival at Manchester United (37 million).

14. 2005/2006 - Michel Essien

As in the previous season, Chelsea had the most expensive signing of the year. The arrival of Michael Essien from Lyon for 38 million euros was the most important transfer of 2005/06.

The second place was for Wright-Phillips, from Manchester City to Chelsea (31.5 million).

13. 2006/2007 - Andriy Shevchenko

For the third consecutive year, Chelsea was the club that made the most important transfer of the season. This time it was the Ukrainian, who from Milan put on the blue shirt for 43,88 million euros.

The second place went to Michael Carrick, from Tottenham to Manchester United (27.2 million).

12. 2007/2008 - Fernando Torres

Liverpool cost 38 million euros to take the services of Niño Torres, who came from Atlético de Madrid as one of the best strikers in Europe.

He overcame Robben's pass from Chelsea to Real Madrid (35 million).

11. 2008/2009 - Robinho

The Brazilian's stay at Real Madrid was not what neither the player nor the club expected, so it was not surprising that soon after he started looking for a new destination.

His move to Manchester City for 43 million euros was the most expensive of the 2008/09 season.

10. 2009/2010 - Cristiano Ronaldo

The most expensive transfer of 2009/10 was also the most important until that moment in the history of football. Real Madrid paid 94 million euros for the Portuguese, who would become the top scorer in club history.

9. 2010/2011 - Fernando Torres

Again Fernando Torres appears as the protagonist of the most expensive transfer of a season. Al Niño did so well in Liverpool that the Anfield club, after buying it for 38 million euros, sold it to Chelsea for 58.5 million , just 3 years later.

8. 2011/2012 - Javier Pastore

The most important signing of the 2011/12 season has the Cordovan as the protagonist. After standing out in Palermo, Paris Saint Germain laid eyes on the ex-hurricane and took it to France in exchange for 42 million euros.

7. 2012/2013 - Thiago Silva

Continuing an aggressive purchase policy that had begun a long time ago with the arrival of Arab investors to the club, PSG returned to bet strong in 2012/13 taking the Brazilian central from Milan for 42 million euros.

6. 2013/2014 - Gareth Bale

While Barcelona closed the incorporation of Neymar from Santos, Real Madrid gave the blow of the passing market turning the Welshman of Tottenham into the most expensive player in all history until that moment. The merengue set paid him 101 million euros.

5. 2014/2015 - Luis Suárez

The MSN was missing a component and it would come in the 2014/15 season from Liverpool. The most expensive signing of that cycle would be the Uruguayan to Barcelona , in exchange for about 81.72 million euros.

4. 2015/2016 - Kevin De Bruyne

The most expensive purchase of the 2015/16 season corresponds to Manchester City with the addition of the young Belgian from Wolfsburg for the shocking sum of 76 million euros.

He beat Sterling from Liverpool for which he paid just over 63 million.

3. 2016/2017 - Paul Pogba

The record signing in the history of football would change ownership in the 2016/17 season. The Frenchman left Bale behind when passing from Juventus to Manchester United for 105 million euros.

He left in second place Gonzalo Higuaín, who became a player of the Vecchia Signora for 90 million.

2. 2017/2018 - Neymar

A year after Pogba became the most expensive signing in history, Neymar would come to dethrone him. The Brazilian left Barcelona in search of the crown of world football and went to PSG for 222 million euros.

1. 2018/2019 - Kylian Mbappé

Although the French world champion arrived at PSG in August 2017, he did it on loan with a purchase option that was completed in the current season. In total, the Parisian set paid 180 million euros for the crack of 19 years.