Top 10 Free Transfers Of All Time: Arsenal And Liverpool Signings Included

Man United, Man City, Tottenham, Newcastle and Chelsea also feature.

There have been a number of big money moves completed already this summer.

Liverpool and Manchester United have spent around £60m each, while Arsenal splashed out more than £30m to bring Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona.

However, it could be argued that the best signings this summer have been the ones that did not involve a transfer fee.

Manchester City added former Arsenal right-back Bacary Sagna to their title-winning squad on a free transfer.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich snapped up Bundesliga topscorer Robert Lewandowski for nothing, after his contract with Borussia Dortmund had expired.

Over the years, there have been many players who have cost nothing and gone on to have a big impact.

We have listed 10 of them…

10. Steve McManaman – Liverpool to Real Madrid (1999)

Real signed McManaman at the peak of his career and the curly-haired winger helped the Madrid giants win two La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues during a four seasons at the Bernabeu.

9. Miroslav Klose – Bayern Munich to Lazio (2011)

Klose, who became the World Cup’s all-time record goalscorer earlier this summer, has netted 34 times for Lazio in Serie A. The 36-year-old helped the Rome club win last year’s Coppa Italia.

8. Demba Ba – West Ham United to Newcastle United (2011)

Ba scored 29 goals in 54 Premier League games for Newcastle, who made a £7m profit when they sold him to Chelsea in January 2013.

7. Henrik Larsson – Celtic to Barcelona (2004)

The super Swede spent just two seasons at Barcelona, but he was a massive success, winning two La Liga titles and one Champions League.

6. Markus Babbel – Bayern Munich to Liverpool (2000)

Right-back Babbel formed part of a formidable backline at Liverpool, along with Stephane Henchoz and Sami Hyypia. The German international was a member of the Reds team that won five trophies in 2001 – the FA Cup, the League Cup, the Community Shield, the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.

5. Michael Ballack – Bayern Munich to Chelsea (2006)

The midfield boss had offers from Real Madrid and Manchester United, but he opted to join Chelsea. In four seasons at Stamford Bridge, he won one Premier League, three FA Cups and one League Cup.

4. Esteban Cambiasso – Real Madrid to Inter Milan (2004)

The Argentina international midfielder made over 400 appearances with Inter. Under Jose Mourinho, he helped the club win an incredible treble in 2010. In total, he lifted the Serie A trophy five times with the San Siro giants.

3. Denis Law – Manchester United to Manchester City (1973)

Law moved to City on a free, but United paid a huge price for the deal, as he scored the goal that relegated the Red Devils in 1974.

2. Andrea Pirlo – AC Milan to Juventus (2011)

Many people thought that Pirlo was over the hill when he was released by AC Milan after 10 seasons with the club. However, at the age of 35, he is still among the best midfielders in the world.

1. Sol Campbell – Tottenham Hotspur to Arsenal (2001)

Spurs fans have still not forgiven Campbell for moving to Arsenal and many never will, because they loved him so much. He was their captain, their star, and he left to join their biggest rivals for free. Campbell won two Premier Leagues and three FA Cups with the Gunners.