2011: Fernando Torres – Liverpool to Chelsea (£50m)
Liverpool fans may still have a bitter taste in their mouths following the £50 million transfer of Torres to Chelsea. The move was on the cards for a long period of time but in hindsight the Reds probably got a brilliant deal.
Whilst Torres lost form and has now been shipped out to AC Milan, the Spaniard’s transfer fee enabled Liverpool to make smart purchases like that of Luis Suarez and redevelop to become Premier League contenders once again.
2012: Papiss Cissé – Freiburg to Newcastle United (£10m)
Cisse’s transfer from Germany came without much fanfare and celebration as the St James’ Park faithful were unsure just what kind of player they were getting.
However, the Senegalese international scored some spectacular goals in his first few months on Tyneside – marching Newcastle to some unexpected wins against Liverpool and Chelsea.
2013: Christopher Samba – Anzhi Makhachkala to QPR (£12.5m)
Reportedly on £100,000 a week, Samba’s stay with the Hoops was definitely a quick one with the Congo international leaving the West London side just seven months after his arrival.
Despite his purchase meant to sure up the QPR defence, his time at Loftus Road was hardly brilliant and he was immediately shipped to Anzhi once QPR were doomed to relegation once again.
2014: Juan Mata – Chelsea to Manchester United (£37.1m)
Sidelined at Chelsea with the return of Jose Mourinho, Mata was looking for the quickest exit possible after six months on the bench – this despite being the Blues’ player of the season in the two years prior.
His signing was particularly desperate on David Moyes and United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward’s part who were seem as attempting to show they could still purchase top talent despite poor results.
It hasn’t been a horror show for Mata in the North-West by any stretch of the imagination, but he’ll want to improve on an ordinary first 12 months at United to ensure his place in the squad following rumours of another January and Summer transfer window splurge by Louis van Gaal.