Haaland became one of the most expensive teens in history in January when he joined the club from Red Bull Salzburg for £17million. But splashing the cash on youngsters doesn’t always guarantee you success.

Below, Mail rated the most expensive teenagers in football history, featuring no fewer than five Manchester United signings.

John Obi Mikel, Lyn to Chelsea, June 2006, £16m – MISS

Mikel will consider his time at Stamford Bridge a success, having won eight major trophies including two Premier League titles and the Champions League. But when Chelsea beat Manchester United to his signature they were sold a potential world beater. That he is not.

Sergio Aguero, Independiente to Atletico Madrid, May 2006, £16.5m – HIT

One of the best strikers in the world for over a decade, Aguero excelled at Atletico for five seasons before earning them a near-£20m profit when he joined Manchester City. Has scored 376 goals in 654 career club apperances, winning the Premier League four times.

Erling Haaland, Salzburg to Dortmund, January 2020, £17m – HIT

The Norwegian striker’s rise has been meteoric. Just six months after joining Salzburg, he was snapped up by Dortmund and has hit the ground running with 11 goals in seven matches, taking his season total to a scarcely believable 39 goals in 29 matches. Looks set to become one of the world’s best strikers.

Phil Jones, Blackburn to Manchester United, July 2011, £17m – MISS

Brilliant at Blackburn, Jones has never lived up to his teenage potential, largely due to injuries and United’s fall from grace. The defender has probably paid off his transfer fee, nine years on, but struggles to get a game now aged 27.

Sergio Ramos, Sevilla to Real Madrid, September 2005, £18.5m – HIT

Probably the best value for money signing on this list, Ramos has become a Real Madrid great, winning four Champions League crowns and four La Liga titles during his 15 years at the club, where he has made over 600 appearances in defence.

Wayne Rooney, Everton to Manchester United, August 2004, £27m – HIT

A bona fide hit. Manchester United’s record goalscorer and a five-time title winner during his 13 years at Old Trafford more than paid back his then-world record transfer fee for a teenager. Also rose to captain England a become their top scorer. Still going aged 34 as a player-coach at Derby.

Marquinhos, Roma to Paris Saint-Germain, July 2013, £27m – HIT

Defensive players tend to pay back their fees over a longer period of time, and that has been the case with the Brazilian, who is the heartbeat of the PSG team now aged 25. A mainstay of the Brazil national team too.

William Saliba, Saint-Etienne to Arsenal, July 2019, £27m – TOO SOON TO JUDGE

It’s a mark of how transfer fees have inflated that the man at No 10 on this list was loaned straight back out to Saint-Etienne. Time will tell if the centre back is a success, but there is definitely room for him in the team next season given the Gunners’ struggles.

Luke Shaw, Southampton to Manchester United, June 2014, £31m – MISS

Shaw’s transfer fee broke Rooney’s 10-year record as Manchester United again put faith in youth. He has overcome an horrific leg break early in his United career and public fallings out with former manager Jose Mourinho to establish himself as a regular at left back this season, but overall has failed to live up to his teenage hype.

Moise Kean, Juventus to Everton, August 2019, £37m – TOO SOON TO JUDGE

The Italian striker has struggled to adapt in his first season in the Premier League, scoring just once in 22 appearances so far. But with compatriot Carlo Ancelotti now at the helm there is still plenty of time for him to start paying back his incentive-based transfer fee.

Lucas Moura, Sao Paulo to Paris Saint-Germain, January 2013, £38m – MISS

It was thought Moura would become one of the world’s best players when PSG pipped Manchester United to his signature, but he has not reached that level. The rapid winger has enjoyed relative success with PSG and then Tottenham, who he joined for £25m in 2018, but doesn’t consistently produce his best form.

Vinicius Junior, Flamengo to Real Madrid, July 2018, £38m – TOO SOON TO JUDGE

A versatile forward earmarked for greatness since making his Flamengo debut aged 16, Real moved quickly to snap him up. Started well but has struggled this season, however at 19 years old it is far too early to judge him yet.

Rodrygo Goes, Santos to Real Madrid, June 2019, £50m – TOO SOON TO JUDGE

A year after signing Vinicius, Real again dipped into the Brazilian market to seal a deal for the winger, who is tipped to become even better than his team-mate. Again, it is too early to judge but he has shown skill confidence in abundance already.

Anthony Martial, Monaco to Manchester United, September 2015, £58m – MISS

United broke their own world teenage transfer record for the second time nearly five years ago for the relatively unknown Martial. The forward is a classy operator at his best but tends to drift through games and, more worryingly, seasons. Sixty-one goals in 203 appearances is an underwhelming return.

Matthijs de Ligt, Ajax to Juventus, July 2019, £68m – TOO SOON TO JUDGE

The Dutchman had Europe’s giants battling for his signature last summer after captaining Ajax to the Champions League semi-finals, but he’s struggled in his first season in Italy, where he is fourth in the central defensive pecking order despite his huge cost. Still only 20 though and will surely come good.

Joao Felix, Benfica to Atletico Madrid, July 2019, £105m – TOO SOON TO JUDGE

It is fair to say that his enormous transfer fee has weighed heavily on Felix since joining Atletico in the summer, but much like De Ligt and several other recent signings on here, it is far too early to judge. What we do know is that the forward possesses outstanding ability on the ball which will surely come to define him.

Kylian Mbappe, Monaco to Paris Saint-Germain, June 2018, £150m – HIT

Obliterated the previous transfer record for a teen when he moved to PSG permanently, having been on loan the season before. With 84 goals in 116 games in Paris, the forward is already one of the world’s best players and a World Cup winner aged 21, and looks set to go on to be an all-time great.