10. Sergio Ramos
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Year: 2007
Position: Centre Back, Right Back
From: Sevilla FC
To: Real Madrid
Fee: €27 million
Sergio Ramos came at a hefty price for Real Madrid to become Hierro's successor.
They signed French youngster Raphael Varane from RC Lens for €10 million to accomplish that same task, so I think it's fair to say "The New Hierro" hasn't been found yet.
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Year: 2009
Position: Centre Back, Left Back
From: Everton FC
To: Manchester City
Fee: €27.5 million
Really? €27.5 million for Joleon Lescott?
If there's one name that doesn't belong on this list, it's this one.
Joleon has progressed to become the Citizens' best bench-warmer ever.
If that's what City wanted, then it's certainly money well spent.
Year: 2011
Position: Left Back
From: SL Benfica
To: Real Madrid
Fee: €30 million
Madrid's new signing, and eighth most expensive transfer ever (actually, he's tied for fifth with four other players worth €30 million), is expected by many to fight it out with Marcelo for Real's left-back position.
7. David LuizEuroFootball/Getty Images
Year: 2010
Position: Centre Back, Left Back, Right Back
From: SL Benfica
To: Chelsea FC
Fee: €30 million
This is the second season in a row that Benfica sells one of their defenders for €30 million, then.
David Luiz is a fantastic defender—at least in potential and raw talent.
He'll have to mature mentally to prove he was worth what Chelsea paid for him, though.
To do that, it's a good thing he can start in any position on the back line.
Year: 2007
Clive Mason/Getty Images
Position: Centre Back, Defensive Midfielder
From: FC Porto
To: Real Madrid
Fee: €30 million
The Real mad-man has been a hot-and-cold affair at the Santiago Bernabeu.
One day he's the best defender in the world and a dominating presence wherever he plays.
But the very next day, he might get injured for a long spell or get red-carded for his (almost criminal) aggressive style of playing football.
Still, I believe he has been worth every penny.
Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Year: 2004
Position: Centre Back
From: FC Porto
To: Chelsea FC
Fee: €30 million
The former Porto man was worth every penny for his time at Chelsea.
Ricardo Carvalho has been a consistent feature as a top defender for the last seven years.
If you're paying €30 million for someone, you have to expect to get someone like Carvalho.
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Year: 2002
Position: Centre Back
From: SS Lazio
To: AC Milan
Fee: €30.5 million
Alessandro Nesta was the man who bench-marked the €30 million price for top defenders.
He's one of the all-time greats already, and while his price was considered exorbitant in 2002, it could be considered cheap by today's standards for someone with Nesta's quality.
Claudio Villa/ Grazia Neri/Getty Images
Year: 2001
Position: Right Back, Centre Back
From: FC Parma
To: Juventus
Fee: €36.5 million
The World Cup winning Frenchman (and the oldest transfer on this list) was the most expensive defender ever in 2001 for €36.5 million.
He was mainly a right back then, and was the position's most costly player.
Until a certain Brazilian came along, that is...
2. Dani Alves
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Year: 2008
Position: Right Back
From: Sevilla FC
To: FC Barcelona
Fee: €41.5 million
Dani Alves cost Barcelona a whopping €41.5 million.
It's actually impressive that nobody talks about how expensive he was—proving that he's worth exactly what Laporta paid for him in the first place.
Right now he's the undisputed best right back in the world, and you'd have to pay a lot more than €40 million to get his services.
1. Rio Ferdinand
Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Year: 2002
Position: Centre Back
From: Leeds United
Fee: €46 million
Rio Ferdinand should always be advertised like a fine brand: "The world's most expensive defender since 2002."
Manchester United spent €46 million for the Leeds defender; some could argue he's been worth every penny.
I don't think we'll see this record broken any time soon and Rio could keep him for a very long time—unless an unexpected transfer comes from completely out of nowhere and breaks it.
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