{"id":467765,"date":"2026-02-11T09:45:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T09:45:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/467765\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T09:45:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T09:45:08","slug":"what-is-the-most-expensive-combined-substitution-in-football-history-soccer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/467765\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the most expensive combined substitution in football history? | Soccer"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cIn their Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven, Bayern Munich made four substitutions<\/a> in the 62nd minute,\u201d writes Stephan Wijnen. \u201cThe four players entering the pitch together had a combined estimated value of \u20ac265m (Harry Kane, Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry and Alphonso Davies). Is this the most expensive combined substitution ever?\u201d<\/p>\n

Before we go any further \u2013 a player\u2019s estimated value is not an objective measure, but using transfer fees doesn\u2019t necessarily work, with some players moving for no fee (Kylian Mbapp\u00e9, for example). Like Stephan in his question, we are going to use Transfermarkt\u2019s valuations<\/a> in a bid for consistency, and will focus on the value of players coming on.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with Bayern, who matched their Champions League effort in November\u2019s Bundesliga win over Leverkusen as Kane (\u20ac65m), Olise (\u20ac130m) and Luis D\u00edaz (\u20ac70m) came on together in the 59th minute \u2013 with their team already 3-0 up.<\/p>\n

Mykola Kozlenko has three suggestions, and it may not surprise you to learn that two of them come from Real Madrid. \u201cIn January 2025, Real brought on four players after 63 minutes in the Copa del Rey against Minera \u2013 Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior (\u20ac200m), Mbapp\u00e9 (\u20ac160m), Lucas V\u00e1zquez (\u20ac3.5m) and Chema Andr\u00e9s (\u20ac500,000).\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a total of \u20ac370m (\u00a3322.5m) based on market values at the time \u2013 but Madrid can beat that by \u20ac10m (\u00a38.7m) with just two simultaneous substitutes. \u201cIn the 62nd minute of their La Liga game at Alav\u00e9s<\/a> last April, Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior (\u20ac200m) and Jude Bellingham (\u20ac180m) came on for Rodrygo and Arda G\u00fcler,\u201d notes Mykola.<\/p>\n

Jude Bellingham (left) and Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior \u2013 around \u20ac380m of talent in one picture. Photograph: Pablo Morano\/Reuters<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve had a look around for recent examples \u2013 largely Euro megaclubs in Cup competitions \u2013 but can\u2019t top Madrid\u2019s total. In Manchester City\u2019s recent Carabao Cup semi-final, second leg against Newcastle, Pep Guardiola sent on Erling Haaland (\u20ac200m), Rayan Cherki (\u20ac50m) and Rodri (\u20ac75m) together in the 71st minute \u2013 a total of \u20ac325m (\u00a3283.3m).<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, Barcelona brought on Raphinha (\u20ac80m), Pedri (\u20ac140m) and Robert Lewandowski (\u20ac9m) together during last month\u2019s Copa del Rey tie against Racing Santander (total: \u20ac229m), while PSG threw on D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Doue (\u20ac90m), Nuno Mendes (\u20ac75m) and Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 (\u20ac100m) in their Coupe de France clash with Paris FC. A total of \u20ac265m, but it didn\u2019t help much \u2013 Luis Enrique\u2019s side lost the game 1-0<\/a>.<\/p>\n

J\u00fcrgen Klopp\u2019s quadruple Liverpool substitution<\/a> at Aston Villa in May 2024 didn\u2019t pay off either. With his team leading 3-1, Klopp sent on Darwin N\u00fa\u00f1ez (\u20ac70m), Dominik Szoboszlai (\u20ac75m), Ryan Gravenberch (\u20ac35m) and Curtis Jones (\u20ac35m) \u2013 \u20ac215m (\u00a3187.4m) in new blood, but Villa grabbed a draw thanks to two late Jhon Dur\u00e1n goals.<\/p>\n

How about international teams? Well, one example can be found a few miles from Knowledge HQ, at Wembley Stadium. \u201cEngland v Serbia in November 2025<\/a>, 64th minute: ellingham (\u20ac180m), Phil Foden (\u20ac80m), Eberechi Eze (\u20ac65m) and Jordan Henderson (\u20ac2.5m) all came on together \u2013 a total of \u20ac327.5m (\u00a3285.4m),\u201d adds Mykola.<\/p>\n

Perfect hat-trick of assists<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Liverpool\u2019s 6-0 win over Qarabag, Virgil van Dijk achieved a \u2018perfect\u2019 hat trick of assists (one with his right foot, one with his left foot, one with his head),\u201d writes Joe Adamson. \u201cHow common is it for a player to manage this in one game?\u201d<\/p>\n

Another Liverpool player can match Van Dijk\u2019s achievement, with an added twist. \u201cAgainst Arsenal in 1995, Stan Collymore provided a perfect hat-trick of assists<\/a> for Robbie Fowler to score a perfect hat-trick. Collymore provided an assist with right foot, head then left while Fowler scored right, left then head,\u201d points out James Lavelle.<\/p>\n

Stan Collymore salutes the Anfield crowd after scoring against Nottingham Forest in 1996. Photograph: Phil Cole\/AllsportAlmost-one-club players, part two<\/p>\n

Last week, we took a look at footballers who were almost one-club players, but played a tiny fraction of games for another team. We\u2019ve had plenty of other suggestions, although a few readers seem to have missed the word almost in the headline. That said, there are some very worthy additions to the list (based on the rules set out last week<\/a>):<\/p>\n

98.42% Steve Bull \u2013 570 appearances: 561 for Wolves, 9 for West Brom (nominated by Neil Withers, and many others)<\/p>\n

98.50% Lloyd Doyley \u2013 401 appearances: 395 Watford, 3 Rotherham, 3 Colchester (Peter Lee)<\/p>\n

99.02% Jaime Magalh\u00e3es \u2013 413 appearances: 409 Porto, 4 Le\u00e7a (Alan Gomes)<\/p>\n

99.28% Alex McLeish \u2013 694 appearances: 689 Aberdeen, 5 Motherwell (Adam Harcus)<\/p>\n

99.40% Jimmy Lawrence \u2013 499 appearances: 496 Newcastle, 3 Hibernian (trinder19<\/a>)<\/p>\n

99.47% Oliver Glasner \u2013 574 appearances: 571 SV Ried, 3 Lask (Ian Bendelow)<\/p>\n

Oliver Glasner in action for SV Ried against the only other club he played for \u2013 Lask Linz. Photograph: PA Images\/Alamy<\/p>\n

99.69% Trevor Brooking \u2013 649 appearances: 647 West Ham, 2 Cork City (Hammer63<\/a>)<\/p>\n

After leaving West Ham in 1984, Brooking played for amateur sides in New Zealand (Manuwera) and Western Australia (Kelmscott), plus one appearance for English non-leaguers Newcastle Blue Star \u2013 none of which count by our criteria.<\/p>\n

Brooking then went on to make two League of Ireland appearances for Cork City in December 1985. \u201cI don\u2019t think I did too well there. We lost both games so it\u2019s just as well as it wasn\u2019t a long-term contract! It was just a bit of fun,\u201d he said back in 2013.<\/p>\n

Finally, some honourable mentions who don\u2019t quite make the shortlist \u2026<\/p>\n

Pierce Sweeney (97.00%) \u2013 388 of 400 career games for Exeter
Alvin Martin (97.22%) \u2013 596 of 613 career games for West Ham
Callum McGregor (93.17%) \u2013 559 of 600 career games for Celtic
Steve Perryman (92.42%) \u2013 854 of 924 career games for Spurs
Billy Bonds (89.37%) \u2013 799 of 894 career games for West Ham
Terry Paine (87.07%) \u2013 815 of 936 career games for Southampton<\/p>\n

Knowledge archive<\/p>\n

David Noble, an exasperated Oxford United fan, has written in with a potential update \u2013 but first, here\u2019s the original question<\/a> from September 2018.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeeds haven\u2019t had a penalty awarded in their favour in 44 league games, back to their home game v Reading last season \u2013 is that a record?\u201d tweeted @smw30.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy team, Sheffield United, beat it in 1992,\u201d wrote Darren White. \u201cUnited were awarded a penalty on 23 March 1991 at Wimbledon and didn\u2019t get another one until the first ever Premier League game \u2013 at home to Manchester United \u2013 on Aug 1992. That\u2019s 50 games without a penalty. Incidentally, Brian Deane scored both.\u201d<\/p>\n

At Italia 90, England ended a remarkable 53-game, four-and-a-half year run without being awarded a penalty. Bryan Robson scored one in Israel on 26 February 1986, and that was it until the quarter-final against Cameroon on 1 July 1990. It was Gary Lineker\u2019s first penalty for England in his 56th game; he scored it to equalise with seven minutes remaining, then netted another penalty in extra-time.<\/p>\n

Chris Rawson wrote in to say that Burnley are currently on a run of 47 games without a penalty (the Clarets ended up with five spot-kicks that season), while Sean DeLoughry had an even better example. \u201cGalway United can push the record up to an impressive <\/a>72 games<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, as David points out, the U\u2019s have surpassed that. \u201cI think the total is now 84 games after the 0-0 draw at Coventry \u2013 none since the second leg of our League One playoff semi-final.\u201d Cameron Brannagan (who once scored four penalties in one game) scored his spot-kick against Peterborough 635 days ago, and one Oxford fan is vowing not to shave<\/a> until his side get another penalty.<\/p>\n

Oxford\u2019s Cameron Brannagan has been waiting a while to get another go from the penalty spot. Photograph: Andrew Matthews\/PA<\/p>\n

Oxford\u2019s run is now at 85 games after Tuesday\u2019s home defeat by Norwich \u2013 level with Mansfield Town, who endured what is thought to be a Football League record penalty drought between 30 November 2013 and 22 August 2015. When the Stags finally got a spot-kick, they missed it in a League Two game against \u2026 Oxford United.<\/p>\n

Knowledge interactive<\/a>Can you help?<\/p>\n

\u201cWolves now have four players with the surname Gomes, in their first-team squad,\u201d notes Paul Vickers. \u201cIs this a record, at least in a British league?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith Sheffield Wednesday on the brink of relegation in February, what is the earliest a team has been demoted to another division?\u201d asks Kevin Bartholomew.<\/p>\n

On a similar theme, Gabriel Berry asks: \u201cWith the Owls still on -7 points after 31 games, which teams have ended the season with a negative points total?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFC Magdeburg won 5-4 at Greuther F\u00fcrth last week, avenging a 5-4 home defeat to the same team in August,\u201d writes Jason Smith. \u201cHave there been more than 18 goals in two teams\u2019 league meetings in a season, and are there other examples of unusual repeated scores?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAssuming Arsenal win the league and Wolves remain bottom, are there any other instances of a league\u2019s top and bottom teams also being first and last alphabetically?\u201d asks Martin Villau.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll eight of this year\u2019s FA Trophy fifth-round ties ended in away wins<\/a> (two on penalties),\u201d writes Stephen James. \u201cHas this happened before in a cup competition?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHas a footballer ever been sent off but still won player of the match?\u201d asks Jimmy Clark.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cIn their Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven, Bayern Munich made four substitutions in the 62nd minute,\u201d writes…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":467766,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[440],"tags":[49,48,561,82],"class_list":["post-467765","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-soccer","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-soccer","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/467765","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=467765"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/467765\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/467766"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=467765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=467765"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=467765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}