Lewandowski, Ronaldo, Koulibaly: Who are the most expensive players over 30?

Kalidou Koulibaly has finally completed a much-anticipated move to the Premier League, signing for Chelsea after years of speculation.

The former Napoli defender had long been linked with a move away from Serie A in favour of the Premier League, but a move never seemed to materialise with Manchester United and Manchester City most commonly named as interested parties in previous years.

But, now older and wiser, Chelsea have made it count and snapped up the Senegalese defender in a deal worth around £33 million, shoring up their defensive ranks following the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.

While many are aware of Koulibaly’s obvious qualities as a defender having been so integral for Napoli and Senegal over the years, there are also plenty of fans concerned that a move to England might just have come too late.

It’s an understandable question to raise, too. Especially when transfer fees are involved and there is a risk that the money spent could immediately look like a poor investment.

However, defenders have long proven that they can come into their peak in their later years, and Thiago Silva’s success at Stamford Bridge since joining the club in 2019 proves that Koulibaly absolutely can be a hit in the Premier League at just 31.

With sports science improving and the longevity of players increasing, it’s becoming more common to see major names earning big moves beyond what people would assume are their peak years, and clubs actually willing to cough up a considerable transfer fee, despite an advancing age.

To highlight the shifting agenda around football’s more senior stars, Bleacher Report have produced a graphic of the most expensive transfers for players over 30, and it’s generated plenty of