Given the state of the economy now, the star that the Whites sold would be valued at an enormous sum.
Leeds United played three years in the top division of English football before being demoted from the Premier League at the conclusion of the 2022–2023 season.
One year after selling star midfielder Kalvin Phillips to Manchester City for £45 million and Brazil international Rapinha to Barcelona for £55 million—the latter amount setting a club record for the Yorkshire-based team—the Whites were unable to avoid relegation.
But since football fees have fluctuated over time due to inflation, comparing such costs to historical sales does not give the whole picture.
Rio Ferdinand’s 2002 summer sale to Manchester United is arguably the club’s most valuable exit when accounting for inflation in the football world with the Totally Money index.
The price at which Leeds sold Rio Ferdinand
Manchester United was enticed to snap up the English titan in the summer of 2002 for a then-record amount of £41.4 million, according to Totally Money, because of his performances in the division.
But when inflation over time is factored in, that fee comes out to an astounding £158.7 million in 2024 money, rounded up to £159 million. This indicates that Leeds struck gold when they signed Ferdinand from West Ham two years earlier.
They signed a young, excellent defender, albeit he cost them a lot of money at the time, and the Red Devils paid them a huge amount for his services in addition to a season deserving of Team of the Year.
| Most expensive Leeds sales (inflation adjusted) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sale | Original fee | Today’s money |
| Rio Ferdinand to Manchester United | £41.4m | £158.7m |
| Raphinha to Barcelona | £55m | £55m |
| Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to Atletico Madrid | £15m | £51.8m |
| Kalvin Phillips to Manchester City | £45m | £45m |
| Harry Kewell to Liverpool | £9m | £37.8m |
| Fees via Totally Money and Sky Sports | ||
According to Totally Money’s assessment, Ferdinand is by far the most expensive sale in Leeds history when football inflation is taken into account, as the table above illustrates.
Given that they then received an enormous amount from their Premier League rivals just two years later, it appears that the Whites made a grave mistake when they decided to sign him from the Hammers and make him the most expensive defender in world football.
Leeds, therefore, struck gold with the England international, who went on to play 455 times for the Red Devils. Should Leeds ever make a comeback to the top division and have the opportunity to spend big again, they may try to pull off the same feat.
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