Gareth Bale's transfer to Tottenham for a fee which could eventually reach £10m sees him join an elite list of ultra-expensive teenagers.

Here, Echo Sport looks at some other costly teens: WAYNE ROONEY Became the world's most expensive teenager when he moved from Everton to Manchester United for £27m as a 19-year-old.

SERGIO RAMOS Real Madrid paid £18.5m for the Sevilla defender in 2005, making the Spanish international the second most expensive teenager behind Rooney.

MIKEL JOHN OBI Chelsea agreed to pay £4m to Norwegian club Lyn Oslo and £12m to Manchester United, the latter to waive any rights to the 19-year-old after a protracted transfer row. And the towering midfielder has so far shown signs of being a sound investment.

THEO WALCOTT Arsenal paid Southampton £5m in March last year on his 17th birthday, in a deal which could eventually be worth £12m. After his unfortunate World Cup, when he was an unused substitute, Walcott broke into the Gunners team last season.

LIONEL MESSI The 18-year-old Argentina forward joined Barcelona aged just 13 and has made a name for himself in the last two years to establish himself as one of the world's finest talents. Has an incredible £100m buy-out clause in his nine-year contract.

SERGIO AGUERO Atletico Madrid last summer splashed out a fee reported to be in the region of £15.7m for the 17-year-old Argentinian from Independiente. Dubbed the new Messi, he has endured mixed fortunes this season.

CRISTIANO RONALDO Cost Manchester United £12.3m when he swapped Sporting Lisbon for Old Trafford in 2003 as an 18-year-old.