Crystal Palace break transfer record – The 10 biggest deals outside of Premier League Big Six

€55.4m fee 

Crystal Palace have not only smashed their own transfer record with the capture of Jørgen Strand Larsen, as the Eagles enter the top 10 most expensive deals in Premier League history outside of the ‘Big Six’. The 25-year-old has scored just one goal in 22 appearances this season for rock-bottom Wolves but have decided to spend around €55.4 million (after add-ons) to secure his signature.

Oliver Glasner has been keen to sign a striker once it became clear that Jean-Philippe Mateta wanted to leave the club. But even aside from doubts over his future, Palace have turned to Norway international Strand Larsen as the new man to lead their frontline.

While some may be surprised with the figures involved, it is only the third-biggest deal between two clubs outside of the traditional Big Six of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham.

Many have argued that Aston Villa and Newcastle United are making a case to stretch it to the eight teams, but for now, they have to wait on the outside. Certainly, both Villa and Newcastle have been involved in some expensive transfers of late. Anthony Elanga’s €61.4 million switch from Nottingham Forest to St James’ Park in July 2025 remains the most expensive deal in that category of clubs, with Amadou Onana’s high-profile €59.3 million move from Everton to Villa Park second on the list. Strand Larsen will slot in at number three on the list ahead of Gylfi Sigurdsson, which is the only deal inside the top 10 to go through before the turn of the decade.

The distribution of TV money over the past decade means that the Premier League is now much more than just the ‘Big Six’ when it comes to transfers. Teams in the lower half of the table know that surviving relegation is tougher than ever, with a large transfer kitty needed just to compete with the other 19 teams in the top-flight. Sunderland spent over €195 million following their promotion from the Championship, while Leeds United splashed out €113.7 million. Scott Parker’s Burnley were somewhat more modest with their spending and may have paid the price for that, as the Clarets are down in 19th position.

It tells the story that English clubs have the power to spend big, especially when it comes to signing players from their rivals. Additionally, the introduction of the profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) in the Premier League have seen clubs resort to more deal-making between themselves to avoid being hit with financial penalties.

Still, the impact can be huge – both Mateus Fernandes and Harvey Barnes left their respective clubs following their relegation to the Championship and neither Leicester nor Southampton have returned since. Strand Larsen’s departure from Wolves looks set to follow a similar trend, and Palace will be hoping their record signing gets firing quickly after a disappointing season at Molineux.