- Bryan Mbeumo’s €82 million move to Manchester United has definitively broken the record for the most expensive African transfer in history, surpassing Nicolas Pépé’s fee
- The deal reflects Mbeumo’s significant attacking output, including 20 goals and 7 assists last season, and his strategic importance to United’s plans
- The transfer confirms the escalating market value and increasing influence of African talent in top-tier European football
Bryan Mbeumo’s transfer to Manchester United for a reported €82 million (£71 million including add-ons) establishes him as the most expensive African player in football history.
This fee significantly eclipses the previous record of €80 million set by Nicolas Pépé’s move to Arsenal in 2019.
This blockbuster acquisition signals Manchester United’s intent to bolster their frontline with a proven Premier League performer.
The negotiation for Mbeumo’s signature involved protracted discussions. Manchester United initiated bids at £45 million, escalating through £55 million and £62.5 million, all initially rebuffed by Brentford, who were keen to retain their key attacker. However, Mbeumo’s clear preference for a move to Old Trafford, despite strong interest from Premier League rivals like Tottenham, Arsenal, and Newcastle United, ultimately swayed the outcome. Brentford eventually conceded, accepting a package valued up to £71 million, marking their most lucrative outgoing transfer to date.
Mbeumo, at 25, has matured into one of the Premier League’s most effective wide forwards. In the 2024-2025 season, his performance metrics underscore his offensive impact: he registered 38 appearances, netting 20 goals and providing 7 assists across 3,414 minutes in the Premier League. His goal-per-90-minutes ratio stood at 0.55, with 0.3 assists per 90 minutes. Beyond raw output, Mbeumo’s tactical intelligence is evident in his sharp off-the-ball runs, relentless pressing, and clinical finishing.
Mbeumo’s landmark transfer underscores a significant paradigm shift in the valuation of African talent within the global transfer market. It signifies clubs’ increasing willingness to invest heavily in versatile, goal-involved attackers who combine physical robustness with technical flair.
As Mbeumo integrates into Manchester United’s squad ahead of their preseason tour, all eyes will be on the Cameroonian winger to justify his hefty price tag and contribute decisively to United’s attacking reinvention under Amorim.
The following list details the top 10 most expensive African football transfers in history:
* Bryan Mbeumo: Brentford to Manchester United (€82m / £71m, 2025)
* Nicolas Pépé: Lille to Arsenal (€80m / £72m, 2019)
* Victor Osimhen: Lille to Napoli (€78.9m, 2020)
* Omar Marmoush: Eintracht Frankfurt to Manchester City (~€75m, 2025)
* Achraf Hakimi: Inter Milan to Paris Saint-Germain (€68m / £58m, 2021)
* Riyad Mahrez: Leicester City to Manchester City (€68m / £60m, 2018)
* Mohammed Kudus: West Ham to Tottenham Hotspur (~£63.8m, 2025)
* Cedric Bakambu: Villarreal to Beijing Guoan (~€65m / £33.5m, 2018)
* Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Borussia Dortmund to Arsenal (€63.75m / £56m, 2018)
* Naby Keita: RB Leipzig to Liverpool (€52.75m / £49m, 2018)
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