United-bound Di María joins record-breakers

Manchester United FC have smashed the English transfer record with the €75m acquisition of winger Ángel Di María from Real Madrid CF.

Di María, who arrives at Old Trafford on a five-year deal, said of the move: "I am absolutely delighted to be joining Manchester United. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Spain and there were a lot of clubs interested in me, but United is the only club that I would have left Real Madrid for.

"Louis van Gaal is a fantastic coach with a proven track record of success and I am impressed by the vision and determination everyone has to get this club back to the top – where it belongs. I now just cannot wait to get started," added the former CA Rosario Central and SL Benfica player.

UEFA.com marks the Argentina forward's big-money signing by looking at the other record-breaking domestic transfer fees paid in Europe's biggest leagues.

The top ten leagues have been chosen using the official UEFA coefficients.

Spain – Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United FC to Real Madrid CF)
June 2009, €94m
Ronaldo has registered an astounding 257 goals in five years with the Merengues, making him the fourth-highest scorer in the club's history. Seventeen of those strikes, a UEFA Champions League record, came last season in the Whites' European-Cup winning campaign.

Torres helped Chelsea to European glory©AFP/Getty Images

England – Fernando Torres (Liverpool FC to Chelsea FC)
January 2011, €63m
Prior to Di María's switch, Torres was the most expensive player in British football. He set Anfield alight during four seasons at Liverpool and was duly snapped up by the Blues. Though he is yet to hit his former heights, Torres remains an attacker capable of striking fear into defences.

Germany – Javi Martínez (Athletic Club to FC Bayern München)
August 2012, €40m
Martínez soon became a regular and formed a fine central midfield partnership with Bastian Schweinsteiger in Bayern's treble-winning campaign of 2012/13. Hel has been beset by injuries since then, suffering a torn cruciate ligament earlier in August which is set to rule him out for six months.

Portugal – Hulk (CA Rentistas to FC Porto)
July 2008, €19m
After excelling in Japan, the forward won the 2011 UEFA Europa League with the Dragões and was instrumental as the club clinched three Portuguese titles and three Portuguese Cups during his four full seasons. Left for a Russian-record fee to FC Zenit after notching 54 goals in 99 Liga outings.

Crespo was a world-record signing©Getty Images

Italy – Hernán Crespo (from Parma FC to SS Lazio)
July 2000, €55m
Moved to the then Serie A champions for a world-record fee and hit the ground running, ending his first term as the division's 26-goal top marksman though the Biancocelesti failed to retain the Scudetto. Injury hindered his second season in the Italian capital, yet he continued to plunder defences to finish his two-year stint with 39 goals in 54 league games before a transfer to FC Internazionale Milano.

France – Edinson Cavani (SSC Napoli to Paris Saint-Germain)
July 2013, €84m
Cavani landed in France with a lofty reputation following a number of scintillating seasons in Serie A with US Città di Palermo and Napoli. He claimed 25 goals in 44 matches during his first term in Paris – showing regular flashes of brilliance – but continues to play in the shadow of Paris talisman Zlatan Ibrahimović.

Hulk is Portugal and Russia's most expensive©Getty Images

Russia – Hulk (FC Porto to FC Zenit)
September 2012, €60m
Zenit raised eyebrows when they shelled out for the Brazil striker after three rounds of the 2012/13 Portuguese Liga campaign. Hulk has settled well in St Petersburg, scoring 29 goals in 47 Premier-Liga games and six in 18 UEFA Champions League outings, yet has still to win any silverware.

Ukraine – Taison (FC Metalist Kharkiv to FC Shakhtar Donetsk)
January 2013, €16.8m
The former SC Internacional player quickly established himself as a Shakhtar regular after two and a half exciting seasons in Kharkiv, during which he netted a spectacular volley against Rosenborg BK. A key performer for the Pitmen, he is one of the most eye-catching players to watch in the Ukrainian Premier League.

Netherlands – Miralem Sulejmani (sc Heerenveen to AFC Ajax)
July 2008, €16.25m
Initially failed to show his best form under Marco van Basten and Martin Jol but the Serbian excelled under Frank de Boer, producing his best campaign for Ajax in 2011/12 with 11 goals in 22 Eredivisie matches. A knee injury affected his progress, leading to a loss of his place and a move to SL Benfica in June 2013.

Belgium – Steven Defour (FC Porto to RSC Anderlecht)
August 2014, €6.5m
Injured for the start of term after a summer switch, the Belgium midfielder made his debut on 24 August against Waasland-Beveren, playing 81 minutes of the 1-0 First League victory. Left the field to applause from home fans, having won over those sceptical about his links to R. Standard de Liège, Defour having made his name with Anderlecht's rivals.

All transfer fees are as widely reported.