Most expensive transfer deals (2009 summer)

• by Soccer America , Jul 21, 2009

[TRANSFER WATCH] Despite a worldwide recession, European clubs are spending huge sums on the 2009 summer transfer market. Real Madrid has spent almost $300 million, while Manchester City has already spent over $100 million and its spending could reach $200 million by the end of August. Bayern Munich, Juventus, Lyon and Chelsea also have made deals that rank in the 2009 summer's top 10 most expensive transfer deals. Here's the list ...

TRANSFER FEE PLAYER ... NEW TEAM ... OLD TEAM
$132 million Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) ... Real Madrid ... Man. United
$91 million Kaka (Brazil) ... Real Madrid ... AC Milan
$49 million Karim Benzema (France) ...  Real Madrid ... Lyon
$42 million Mario Gomez (Germany) ... Bayern Munich ...  Stuttgart
$41 million Carlos Tevez (Argentina) ... Man. City ... Man. United 
$41 million Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo) ...  Man. City ...   Arsenal
$35 million Diego (Brazil) ... Juventus ... Werder Bremen
$34 million Lisandro Lopez (Argentina) ... Lyon ... Porto
$30 million Roque Santa Cruz (Paraguay) ...  Man. City ...  Blackburn
$30 million Yuri Zhirkov (Russia) ...  Chelsea ... CSKA Moscow