The Football Association may be pushing to get more English talent breaking through into the Premier League, however, there have been plenty of instances when those deemed the cream of the country’s crop have flopped after making a big money move during their career.
READ MORE:
Liverpool Transfer Rumours
Chelsea v Manchester United live streaming
Wayne Rooney claims he never writes Man United dressing room speeches
Here are ten players who were signed for seemingly astronomical fees that left their previous clubs laughing all the way to the bank.
10. Francis Jeffers (Everton to Arsenal £8m)
After making a fairly promising start to his career at Everton, Arsene Wenger decided to fork out £8m on the striker. However, Jeffers endured a pretty torrid time with the Gunners – making 22 appearances and scoring just four league goals during his three years at Highbury. To put his fee into some context, Thierry Henry – who had already won the World Cup by the time he arrived in London – was brought for just £3m more.
9. Michael Owen (Real Madrid to Newcastle £16.8m)
Michael Owen may have literally burst onto the scene, but by the time Newcastle snapped him up, he was a shell of his former self. He arguably never reached his full potential after a hamstring injury six years previously whilst playing for Liverpool, and a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid never really worked out. Nevertheless, the Magpies decided to break their transfer record to bring him back. Unsurprisingly, he failed to capture the magic of his early years, scoring just 26 goals in 71 games, and being part of the side that was relegated to the Championship in his final season with the club.
8. Stewart Downing (Aston Villa to Liverpool £20m)
The long-standing conundrum surrounding the left-midfield position in the England side meant that Stewart Downing was welcomed into the Premier League without hesitation. And his early progression from hometown club Middlesbrough to an Aston Villa that was exciting under Martin O’Neill suggested that he was a potential rising star. However, his next move to Liverpool proved to be something of a nightmare all round. He failed to make the grade at Anfield, and left two years later with the club making a £15m loss on him.
7. Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City to Chelsea £21m)
In 2005, Shaun Wright-Phillips seemed to be one of the most naturally gifted wingers in the Premier League. However, following his move to Chelsea, his career – which promised so much – seemed to fizzle out to the point where he now struggles to make Queens Park Rangers’s substitutes’ bench.
6. Joleon Lescott (Everton to Manchester City £22m)
The centre-back was an absolute bargain when David Moyes brought him to Goodison Park in 2006 for an initial £2m, and it’s fair to say that his performances warranted the interest from the top clubs in England. However, the £22m Manchester City would spend on him never looked great business, and the England international nearly cost City the Premier League title in 2012 with a terrible error on the final day against QPR.
5. Darren Bent (Sunderland to Aston Villa £24m)
Darren Bent had been fairly prolific throughout his career – except for a spell with Tottenham – before a move to Aston Villa in 2011. However, his time at Villa Park – which is not over – has only produced 21 league goals, meaning that each strike has cost the club over £1m.
4. Adam Lallana (Southampton to Liverpool £25m)
At 25, and with only two seasons of top flight experience under his belt, it was certainly a surprise to see Liverpool spend £25m on the midfielder. Unfortunately for the player, he is yet to justify his fee as injuries have overshadowed his time on Merseyside.
3. James Milner (Aston Villa to Manchester City £26m)
The former Newcastle man may be one of the Premier League’s best utility men, but there have been very few occasions where a moment of brilliance from the midfielder have got the world talking up his ability. The size of his fee is made all the more incredible when you consider that he is out of contract in the summer, and City could thus lose him for nothing.
2. Luke Shaw (Southampton to Manchester United £27m)
The full-back made a huge impression last season with Southampton, so it was no surprise to see one of the Premier League elite go after the England international. But like his former Saints teammate Lallana, injuries have been the story of his season, and he has lost his place to Daley Blind, who has proved to be a much more reliable option for Louis van Gaal.
1. Andy Carroll (Newcastle to Liverpool £35m)
It is unclear if anyone will understand the logic behind Andy Carroll’s move to Liverpool. Perhaps the only reason that the club moved for a striker who had enjoyed one good Championship season is that they were desperate to replace Fernando Torres, who had left for Chelsea that same day. The striker was quickly overshadowed by fellow deadline day signing Luis Suarez, who also cost much less. His six Premier League goals for the Reds before a move to West Ham, came at a cost of nearly £6m each.