In the transfer windows, managers are on the hunt for bargains and for the right type of player to improve their squad. It does not always work out but when it does the results can be great. We look at the 50 best ever signings from 1992 onwards, and how they helped their club and whether they were sold for profit.
50. Christopher Samba (Hertha Berlin to Blackburn Rovers, £400,000, 2007)
The rugged France-born Congo defender was a bargain after impressing on trial, forming an effective partnership with Ryan Nelsen at centre back. Blackburn now want £15m for the Arsenal target.
49. Peter Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow to West Bromwich Albion, £1m, 2010)
Was unknown before last season, but his 15 goals helped West Brom beat off their yo-yo reputation and remain in the top flight.
48. Claude Makelele (Real Madrid to Chelsea, £16.8m, 2003)
Was so good he had a position named after him. Was quite expensive but he helped turn Chelsea into a Premier League winning machine with his experience and guile.
47. Georgi Kinkladze (Dinamo Tbilisi to Manchester City, £2m, 1995)
Played only one season in England’s top flight before relegation but he lit up the Premier League with his sublime skills and dazzling goals. Would not look out of place in the current mega-rich team. Despite being in the old Division Two, he was sold to Ajax for £5m.
46. Zat Knight (Rushall Olympic to Fulham, 30 tracksuits, 1999)
Not the greatest centre-back in the league but the Cottagers made a profit when they sold him on to Aston Villa for £3.5m, which is not a bad mark-up on the 30 tracksuits that he cost Mohamed Al-Fayed, who was feeling generous.
45. Michael Essien (Lyon to Chelsea, £24.4m, 2005)
Injuries may have cut into his prime, but the Ghanaian has been instrumental in leading the Blues to two league titles. He is the engine of the team and is sorely missed when not around.
44. Jaap Stam (PSV to Manchester United, £10.6m, 1998)
Left in controversial circumstances (but with a £5m profit in the United bank) but was a rock at the heart of the Old Trafford defence that won three Premier League titles, one FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League.
43. Gary Cahill (Aston Villa to Bolton Wanderers, £5m, 2008)
Since arriving at the Reebok, Cahill has turned himself into a first-team regular, an England international and a player worth £17m. Villa will be kicking themselves.
42. Joleon Lescott (Wolves to Everton, £5m, 2006)
Was rated so highly at Everton, that Manchester City paid £24million for his services. But he has never quite shown the level of performance he did at Goodison Park, which earned him his first call ups into the England team.
41. Glen Johnson (Chelsea to Portsmouth, £4m, 2007)
His career had stalled at Chelsea and Harry Redknapp offered him the chance of a renaissance, which he took with both hands. Top level performances, quality goals, an Fa Cup winner’s medal and an England call-up later, he moves to Liverpool for £18m.
40. Kevin Davies (Southampton to Bolton Wanderers, free, 2003)
Sam Allardyce gambled when he took Davies to Bolton for nothing. A spiky target man and is the most under-rated of forwards.
39. Javier Hernandez (Guadalajara to Manchester United, £8m, 2010)
‘Chicarito’ blasted his way into the Premier League last season scoring 13 league goals and helping United to the title. Could find his name even further up the list in a few years if he continues his progress.
38. Joe Hart (Shrewsbury Town to Manchester City, £600,000, 2006)
The cheeky-chappie has had an eventful few years. He has established himself in the City goal, displacing Shay Given in the process, and made the England number one shirt his own. All for a smidgen over half a mill.
37. Andy Cole (Newcastle United to Manchester United, £7m, 1995)
His goal to shots ratio may not be up their with the best, but Cole did form a deadly partnership with Dwight Yorke that earned United five titles and a Champions League.
36. Robert Pires (Marseille to Arsenal, £6m, 2000)
The enigmatic Frenchman blew defenders away with pace and even quicker feet. He played a key role in helping Arsenal go the 2003/04 season unbeaten.
35. Chris Sutton (Norwich City to Blackburn Rovers, £5m, 1994)
One half of the SAS partnership (along with Shearer) that delivered the Premier League trophy to Ewood Park. He was sold to Chelsea for £10m five years later.
34. Rio Ferdinand (Leeds to Manchester United, £30m, 2002)
Would be higher on this list but £30m is a lot of money. When United won the Champions League in 2008 he was the best centre-half in the world. Add to that five league title and Ferguson probably got his money worth.
33. David James (Manchester City to Portsmouth, £1.2m, 2006)
Harry Redknapp landed a bargain as Calamity James restored his reputation and won back his England place
32. Jurgen Klinsmann (Monaco to Tottenham Hotspur, £1m, 1995)
Few players have energised a club like Klinsmann did in his first season at Spurs. He also proved Germans do have a sense of humour with his famous self-mocking dive.
31. Brad Friedel (Liverpool to Blackburn Rovers, free, 2000)
Never made the breakthrough at Liverpool but at Blackburn he established himself as one of the Premier League’s best keepers. Was later sold for a tidy £2.5m profit to Aston Villa.
30. Sammi Hyypia (Willem II to Liverpool, £2.6m 1999)
Recommended by a TV cameraman after failing a trial at Newcastle but ended up shoring up Liverpool’s backline for a decade, picking up domestic and European glory as he went.
29. David Ginola (PSG to Newcastle United, £2.5m, 1995)
The housewife’s favourite had more than silky hair, he had dazzling skills to match. He joined the Toon Army when they were in their Kevin Keegan pomp and played a huge role in their attacking, care-free style of play.
28. Robin van Persie (Feyenoord to Arsenal, £2.75m, 2004)
Without his poor injury record, RVP would be regarded as one of the best striker’s in the world. He has a destructive left-foot and is the best dribbler in the Premier League. Is now worth at least 10 times what Wenger paid for him – would be more but for his fitness.
27.Tim Cahill (Millwall to Everton, £1.5m, 2004)
An attacking, goals-scoring midfielder who has few peers in the Premier League for the consistency of his influence and willingness to play anywhere he is required. The bargain of this century on Merseyside
26. Didier Drogba (Marseille to Chelsea, £24m, 2004)
A tall, powerful striker (who likes to go down easily) spearheaded Chelsea to three league titles. No defender likes playing against him – especially at Arsenal.
25. Xabi Alonso (Real Sociedad to Liverpool, £10.7m, 2004)
In his first two seasons, he won the Champions League and FA Cup. Then Rafa wanted to sell him, but could not, so he stayed and Liverpool finished second. He was then sold to Real Madrid for £30m and the Reds have not been in the top four since.
24. Dimitar Berbatov (Bayer Leverkusen to Tottenham Hotspur, £10.9m, 2006)
At over £10m, Berbatov didn’t seem cheap, but two seasons of languid creativity trebled his transfer fee when he went to Manchester United, and his first season would indicate that Spurs (or at least their accountants) got the better of that deal
23. Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona to Arsenal, Free, 2003)
Came for nothing and returned to Barcelona for £35m. His vision and passing should merit a higher standing in this list but his solitary FA Cup medal means he misses out on the top 20.
22. Edwin van der Sar (Fulham to Manchester United, £2m, 2005)
Sir Alex said his biggest mistake was not replacing Peter Schmeichel with the Dutchman when the great Dane retired. But Fergie got his man and he was the worth the wait. Retired last summer but was still the best goalkeeper in the league.
21. Wayne Rooney (Everton to Manchester United, £25.6m, 2004)
At the time the most expensive teenager in the world but has proved he is worth every penny. Has won everything at Old Trafford and established himself as an Old Trafford legend already.
20. Carlos Tevez (Corinthians to West Ham United, undisclosed, 2006)
No-one will really knew how much he cost and who that money went to, but his 7 goals in West Ham’s last 10 games kept them in the gravy train of the Premier League. Did eventually cost West Ham £30m in damages to Sheffield United.
19. Sol Campbell (Tottenham Hotspur to Arsenal, Free, 2001)
Crossed the north London divide and is still not forgiven by the Yid Army. But became Arsenal’s best defender of the century so far and won the trophies he knew he would never get at White Hart Lane.
18. Patrice Evra (Monaco to Manchester United, £5.5m, 2006)
Arsenal and Liverpool were sniffing but United’s secured the Frenchman’s signature. While that fee initially seemed overblown, Evra has become a key figure for the champions.
17. Nemanja Vidic (Spartak Moscow to Manchester United, £7m, 2006)
Sir Alex Ferguson plucked the Serbia centre back from Russia and he soon formed a fine partnership with Rio Ferdinand. An ‘old-fashioned defender’ meaning he is hard as nails.
16. Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid to Liverpool, £20m, 2007)
Was seen as a gamble but only very briefly. The perfect striker. He scored goals of all varieties from anywhere on the pitch. Was a Kop idol before he made a British record £50m switch to Chelsea.
15. Carlos Tevez (West Ham to Manchester United, loan, 2007)
The only player to be on this list twice and be part of a loan move. All United had to do was pay his (rather substantial) wages and watch him win the Premier and Champions League, and form a deadly partnership with Rooney and Ronaldo.
14. Ashley Cole (Arsenal to Chelsea, £5m plus William Gallas, 2006)
Hated everywhere outside of Stamford Bridge, but is the best left-back in the world. He cemented this reputation at Chelsea winning everything several times, except the Champions League.
13. Nicolas Anelka (Paris St-Germain to Arsenal, £500,000, 1996)
The moody adolescent arrived and outpaced all-comers on the route to goal for a couple of seasons before sulking his way to Real Madrid for a £22.5m profit. Never reached the same levels again.
12. Patrick Vieira (AC Milan to Arsenal, £3.5m, 1996)
The complete midfielder. Never-ending energy, fierce in the tackle, great feet, vision, speed and cool finisher. Was also a great leader and an inspiration. Did not get on too well with Roy Keane though.
11. Marc Overmars (Ajax to Arsenal, £7m, 1997)
He bought Overmars for £7m, squeezed his best years out of him, sold him to Barcelona for £25m and watched him fade slowly from view.
10. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Molde to Manchester United, £1.5m, 1996)
The baby-faced assassin is the finest wonder-sub in the history of the game. His debut set the tone in 1996. On as replacement (against Blackburn), he scored within six minutes. Whether it be four goals in 12 minutes against Nottingham Forest or a certain last minute winner in 1999.
9. Paolo Di Canio (Sheffield Wednesday to West Ham United, £1.75m, 1999)
Footballing mavericks rarely come cheaper but Di Canio was pure box office, whether scoring great goals, pushing referees over or outing himself as a fascist (but ‘not a racist’), the man made headlines and a hero of himself at West Ham.
8. Alan Shearer (Southampton to Blackburn Rovers, £3.6m, 1992)
It seemed like quite a lot of money at the time, but Shearer scored 112 Premier League goals for Blackburn in 138 appearances, and helped Rovers win the title in 1995. Added to that, Blackburn made a profit of more than £11m when he was sold on to Newcastle United a year later.
7. Gianfranco Zola (Parma to Chelsea, £4.5m, 1996)
The most popular Italian to hit British football. The clever little player inspired a pre-Abramovich Chelsea to win trophies. Always played with an infectious smile on his face and scored some brilliant goals too.
6. Roy Keane (Nottingham Forest to Manchester United, £3.75m, 1993)
Keane came within a whisker of signing for Blackburn Rovers, but instead joined United and became the heartbeat of what, at its peak in 1999, was Europe’s best midfield, and possibly the best all-British midfield ever (alongside Scholes, Giggs and Beckham).
5. Frank Lampard (West Ham to Chelsea, £11m, 2001)
Moving across London was the making of a player who turned into one of Europe’s most deadliest midfielders. He has won three Premier Leagues, three FA Cups, Chelsea’s highest scoring midfielder and third in the all-time list.
4. Dennis Bergkamp (Inter Milan to Arsenal, £7.5m, 1995)
Bruce Rioch signed him but Arsene Wenger got the benefit by turning round the career of a man going nowhere in Milan. As a deep-lying forward creating space with inspired passes in dangerous areas, he had few peers and was instrumental in the birth of Arsenal’s glory years.
3. Cristiano Ronaldo (Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United, £12m, 2003)
Not the most popular of players but worth his place for six seasons of growing brilliance (one more season than Eric Cantona managed) before setting off for Madrid for a profit to United of £68m, which is good business in anyone’s book. He won the Champions League and three Premier Leagues.
2. Thierry Henry (Juventus to Arsenal, £10.5m, 1999)
Another of Wenger’s gems, under-achieveing in Italy, reinvented at Arsenal as wide-lying forward who cut in to devastating effect. Was sold eight years later for £16m, with his best years spent in north London. The best player Arsenal, and arguably the Premier League, has ever had.
1. Eric Cantona (Leeds United to Manchester United, £1.2m, 1992)
The catalyst to an empire. United had not won the league in 26 years until Cantona turned his collar up and inspired his team to a trophy rush that is still not finished. His arrival at Old Trafford was prompted by a Leeds bidding for a United full-back, which in-turn led Ferguson to counter-offer for Cantona. What followed makes this the bargain of the Premier League era.