Bastian Schweinsteiger‘s transfer to Manchester United has been met with a few doubts as to whether the 31-year-old can thrive with the pace of the Premier League.
The German World Cup winner makes it to the top ten of most expensive players over the age of thirty in a list revealed by Mirror Sport.
Take a look at the list in full:
10) Petr Cech – £10.9m (2015)
Age of transfer: 33
The Czech Republic international found himself as back-up to Thibaut Courtois last season and has now joined Arsenal after 11 successful years with London rivals Chelsea.
9) Fernando Redondo – £11m (2000)
Age of transfer: 31
The Argentine defensive midfielder has highly-rated at the dawn of the new millenium and his £11m transfer to AC Milan from Real Madrid was considered a big deal at the time.
However a serious knee injury during one of his very first training sessions with the Serie A giants sidelined him for two whole seasons and he eventually retired from professional football in 2004 at the age of 34.
8) Angelo Peruzzi – £12.5m (2000)
Age of transfer: 30
Lazio paid Serie A rivals Inter Milan £12.m for the services of Peruzzi in the year 2000 and he spent seven years in the Italian capital before retiring at the age of 37.
7) Bastian Schweinsteiger – £14m (2015)
Age of transfer: 31
The former Bayern Munich midfielder completed his move to Old Trafford earlier in the week in a £14million deal and he will be hoping his transition into English football runs smoothly.
6) Zlatan Ibrahimovic – £14.7m (2012)
Age of transfer: 30
Paris Saint-Germain splashed out almost £15million to land one of the best strikers in European football three summers ago and that transfer fee has certainly been repaid by Zlatan.
106 goals in just 126 games for the Ligue 1 champions makes it look like one the best deals in the last century.
5) Jeremy Mathieu – £15m (2014)
Age of transfer: 30
Eyebrows were raised when Barcelona paid £15m to complete the signing of the Frenchman from La Liga rivals Valencia last summer, but after his crucial goal against Real Madrid it was money well spent.
4) Claude Makelele – £16.8m (2003)
Age of transfer: 30
Makelele’s contribution to the game is for all to see as he is the only player to have a position named in his honour.
His arrival in the summer of 2003 can be viewed as the most important purchase in the Roman Abramovich era as it kick-started Chelsea’s successful period.
3) Diego Milito – £20m (2009)
Age of transfer: 30
Paying £20million for a 30 year-old seemed like an odd decision from Mourinho in summer 2009, but after Milito scored a brace to win the Champions League for Inter that season, it reminded the world to never question the Portuguese boss.
2) Samuel Eto’o – £22m (2011)
Age of transfer: 30
Eto’o stunned the footballing world by signing for Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala for £22million just a year after winning the treble with Inter.
His spell with Anzhi lasted for two years and after bagging a respectable 36 goals in 71 games, the former Barcelona hitman joined Premier League outfit Chelsea.
1) Gabriel Batistuta – £25m (2000)
Age of transfer: 31
The Argentine legend is officially the most expensive player over the age of 30 and it’s a title that he’s likely to hold for a long time.
AS Roma paid £25million for Batistuta, who was 31 at the time, and their expensive purchase rewarded them with the Serie A title in his debut season with the club.