Members of the English Defence League (EDL) take part in a demonstration through the streets of Leicester on February 4, 2012 in Leicester, England. Up to two thousand members of the EDL gathered in the centre of Leicester as an opposing demonstration by anti-fascists held their protest nearby. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Football transfers are not cheap. To have a player strengthen their ranks, teams are willing to pay big money. The football transfer considered to be the most expensive in the sport's history was that of Gareth Bale leaving Tottenham to play at Real Madrid. The Spanish club paid not less than £86 million (about $133 million at today's exchange rates) to have the player among its own. But recent news suggest that this record might be broken this year. According to reports in the media, UK Premier League team Manchester United is willing to almost double that amount.

Alexis Tauaneai and Keele Browne of the St George Illawarra Dragons tackle Annessa Biddle of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks during a rugby league match at WIN Stadium in New South Wales, Australia on August 25, 2024. (Photo by James Gourley/AAP)

Julia Robinson of the Jillaroos scores a try during the rugby league Pacific Cup Women's Final match between the Australian Jillaroos and the New Zealand Ferns at CommBank Stadium in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 09 November 2025. (Photo by Mark Evans/EPA)

Ana Ivanovic of Serbia plays a backhand return to Maria Sharapova of Russia during their women's singles final match at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, January 10, 2015. (Photo by Jason Reed/Reuters)

This picture taken on September 2, 2023 shows a player scoring a try by jumping into Lake Geneva next to a swan from a floating rugby field during the Water Rugby Lausanne, a three-day tournament organized by the LUC Rugby that gathered more than 240 players in Lausanne, western Switzerland. (Photo by Fabrice Coffrini/AFP Photo)

Magdalena Vasquez, also known as “Bgirl Mags” (R) and Chris Cielo, also known as “Bboy Cielo” (L) perform during a media call for the Red Bull BC One breakdancing competition at the Brisbane Powerhouse in Brisbane, Australia, 01 July 2025. The world's biggest one-on-one breakdancing competition, the Red Bull BC One have announced Brisbane as the host city for the 2025 Red Bull BC One Cypher Australia. (Photo by Darren England/EPA)

Japan's Naomi Osaka visits Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary ahead of the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on December 29, 2023. (Photo by Patrick Hamilton/AFP Photo)