The five most expensive defenders before David Luiz

 
David Luiz’s impending move to PSG could be worth up to £50m and would make him the world’s most expensive defender. But a big price tag does not guarantee success, just ask Fábio Coentrão. Let's takes a look at the five most expensive defenders in history.
1) Thiago Silva: Milan to PSG, £35.5m, 2012 The centre-back enjoyed three successful seasons with Milan before a big-money move beckoned to the French giants who took Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the same move. Silva has since become captain for PSG and the Brazil national side, claiming two Ligue 1 titles and the French League Cup to become widely thought of as one of the world’s best defenders, not just the most expensive.
2) Rio Ferdinand: Leeds United to Manchester United, £33.1m, 2002 A string of impressive performances at the World Cup with England in 2002 prompted United to make Ferdinand the most expensive British player in history. Ferdinand went straight into United’s defence and remained a lynchpin at the back throughout his time at Old Trafford, forming a formidable partnership with Nemanja Vidic after the Serbian joined in 2006. Ferdinand made over 400 appearances for the Red Devils and departs the club this summer after 12 years of service.
3) Marquinhos: Roma to PSG, £27m, 2013 Marquinhos joined Roma in the summer of 2012 for just £3.2m from Corinthians but a promising debut season in Serie A saw PSG pay £27m for the then 19-year-old who had just 26 senior appearances with Roma to his name. The defender has not been a permanent fixture at his new club this season however, and has often found himself making appearances from the bench. The Brazilian has only one international cap and failed to make Luiz Felipe Scolari’s World Cup squad.
4) Fábio Coentrão: Benfica to Real Madrid, £27m, 2011 José Mourinho met Coentrão’s buy-out clause and brought the left-back to Real Madrid off the back of his strong performances for Benfica. The defender signed a six-year contract with the Spanish outfit but has been a bit-part player during his three seasons in La Liga, often played out of his favoured position. Marcelo has remained Real’s first-choice left-back and Coentrão looked set for a deadline-day move to Manchester United last summer, only for the move to collapse at the eleventh hour. He continues to be linked with a move away.
5) Pepe: Porto to Real Madrid, £25m, 2007 After establishing himself as one of the top defenders in the Portuguese league, Pepe signed for Real Madrid in 2007 on a five-year contract. Barring an injury-stricken campaign in his second season in Spain, Pepe has been an ever-present for club and country since the move and has formed notable defensive partnerships over the years with Ricardo Carvalho and Sergio Ramos. The Portuguese player’s fiery temperament on the pitch has seen him involved in numerous controversial incidents, mostly involving Barcelona, and he has often felt the wrath of Real’s fans as a result.