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Perhaps unsurprisingly Manchester City have thrown some big transfer fees around in the last 15 years. ..

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Manchester City took transfer spending to a new level after the takeover in 2009. Just hours after the new owners came into place, City smashed the British transfer record to sign Robinho for £32. 5million. It's fair to say City have come a long way since the Brazilian arrived, with their transfer strategy a much more slick operation these days. The former City forward is no longer even in their top ten most expensive buys - that's football for you. But who is their record signing? The title of Manchester City's most expensive signing goes to Jack Grealish who cost £100million when signed from Aston Villa in 2021. That deal also made Grealish the most expensive English player in history, although this was later equalled by Declan Rice, who joined Arsenal from West Ham for a similar amount two years later. Grealish, 29, was not only the first England player to move for the landmark fee, but also the first ever Manchester City buy to cost £100m. City's next most expensive signing after Grealish is Josko Gvardiol. Gvardiol moved for £ 77 million from RB Leipzig, a record transfer fee for a defender in history. The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. But that move took place in 2023, two years after Grealish arrived at the Etihad. The previous record holder was actually Rodri who left Atletico for City for £62. 8m. Kevin De Bruyne broke the record back in 2015, joining for £55million, although most City fans probably agree it has been money well spent, with the Belgian international set to complete a decade of outstanding service next summer. Raheem Sterling was previously the record buy, signing from Liverpool for £49million - but only holding the top spot for six weeks before De Bruyne's signing. Jack has worked as a sports reporter full-time since 2021. He previously worked as the Chief Women’s Football Writer at the Mirror, covering the England Women’s national team and the Women’s Super League. Jack has reported on a number of major sporting events in recent years including the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup on the ground in Australia. When not writing on football, he can often be spotted playing the game somewhere in west London. Who is the most expensive Real Madrid player of all time? ‘Marking Bergkamp and Wright finished me off. I couldn’t walk for three days afterwards. I knew there was no way I could play in the Premier League at 40’: Manchester United legend reveals how Arsenal duo forced him into retirement ‘I came up against Samuel Eto’o on my debut and have still got his shirt that I swapped with him afterwards. Mine? He probably used it to clean his windows’: Newcastle stalwart describes 'loving' baptism of fire on debut Four Four Two is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. ©

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