The finest players to have moved on a temporary basis.
Although there is much made of the extortionate fees paid for footballers, occasionally a shrewd piece of loan business can be done that is equally as effective as flashing the cash.
With Thibaut Courtois having just returned to Chelsea following three years on-loan with Atletico Madrid, CaughtOffside decided to pick out the 10 best loan deals in history.
10 Edgar Davids – Juventus to FC Barcelona
Just before the Catalans enjoyed a period of dominance in European football the Dutchman arrived at a time when Barca needed a boost.
Davids’ short spell at the Nou Camp helped propel the club from mid-table obscurity to second behind Valencia in 2004.
9. Robbie Keane – Tottenham Hotspur to Celtic
Out of favour at White Hart Lane in 2010, the Republic of Ireland international was sent away to Scotland where the forward was a revelation.
Despite only joining the Bhoys in January, Keane was named the club’s Player of the Year after scoring 16 goals in just 19 matches.
8. Kevin Campbell – Trabzonspor to Everton
Towards the end of the 1998/99 season the Toffees were staring relegation straight in the face and needed something to save them from the drop.
Step forward Campbell, who netted nine times in eight matches to steer the Merseysiders clear, earn the Premier League Player of the Month award and a permanent deal at Goodison Park to boot.
7. Christophe Dugarry – Bordeaux to Birmingham City
Having won the 1998 World Cup with France it was something of a surprise four years later when Dugarry arrived at lowly Birmingham.
The Blues were looking at being relegated, but the Frenchman scored five times and helped keep them up with his performances during his spell at St Andrew’s.
6. Ivan Campo – Real Madrid to Bolton Wanderers
Deals don’t come much stranger that leaving the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu for the Reebok Stadium, but that is exactly what happened to Campo in 2002.
During a time when manager Sam Allardyce was securing many experienced players this Spaniard enjoyed such a good year with Bolton he signed permanently in 2003 and stayed for five more years.
5. Romelu Lukaku – Chelsea to Everton/West Bromwich Albion
After signing at Stamford Bridge from Anderlecht, the young striker spent one year warming the bench before being sent out on-loan to the Baggies.
With 17 league goals in that campaign many thought Lukaku would be given a chance by Jose Mourinho, but a fallout saw him head to Merseyside where he scored 15 more league goals and has now signed permanently for a club record £28m.
4. Jurgen Klinsmann – Sampdoria to Tottenham Hotspur
Having essentially become a club legend in just one season during 1994/95, there was delight around North London when the German returned for a loan spell in 1997.
Klinsmann scored nine goals in 15 games for Spurs to help them avoid relegation and cement his place in the fans’ affection.
3. Fernando Morientes – Real Madrid to AS Monaco
After being deemed surplus to requirements by Madrid the striker went onto score 28 goals in 42 appearances for Monaco in a brilliant year for the club in 2003/04.
Morientes was also top-scorer in the Champions League with nine as Les Rouges et Blancs reached the final, which included scoring in both legs of the semi-final against his parent club.
2. Carlos Tevez – West Ham United to Manchester United
Having helped the Hammers avoid relegation in 2007 the Argentine then signed on for a two-year loan spell at Old Trafford, winning the league title and Champions League in his first season.
In 2009 the Red Devils then amazingly refused to meet the £25m asking price for Tevez and rivals Manchester City swooped in and the forward then enjoyed four years of success at the Etihad Stadium.
1. Thibaut Courtois – Chelsea to Atletico Madrid
Top of the pile is another Belgian loanee from West London who has just returned to the club following three years with Atletico.
During that time the goalkeeper won La Liga, the Europa League, Copa del Rey and European Super Cup, beating his parent side twice as well during that time.
SEE ALSO: Top 100 players in the world.