The best signings in Prem history?

Tommy Platinum · 10-06-2009, 04:21 PM

I'm not asking for a top 5, top 10 or anything like that (not yet at least) but basically discuss/nominate some of the best pieces of business in Premier League history here. Obviously there are a few things which need to be taken into account. The fee (and how significant that fee was in the context of the time), the performance of the player, how long he stayed at the club etc. I'm not necessarily asking for bargain buys. If a player costs £30m and is the best player in the world for 5 years he's just as good value as anybody.

Here's a few that spring to mind for me:

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - Manchester United (£1.5m from Molde in 1996)
One of the best finishers in Premier League history. Again, didn't cost much and scored countless crucial goals for Manchester United in all competitions, most famously in the CL final in 99.

Cristiano Ronaldo - Manchester United (£12m from Sporting in 2003)
Not exactly cheap at £12m, but the 18 year old gave 6 years of service (3 of which were great, one of which saw him become the world's best player), helped the club win 3 league titles and a CL, before being sold for a near £70m profit. Not bad.

Tim Cahill - Everton (£1.5m from Millwall in 2004)
The main reason Everton have been so good in recent years (apart from Moyes). Always a threat in the air and one of the best goalscorers from midfield. £1.5m looks nothing now.

Pepe Reina - Liverpool (£7m ?? from Villarreal in 2005)
Maybe Liverpool fans can confirm if that fee is correct. Anyway, it is easy to underrate the importance of a solid keeper, and that fee looks like nothing now. Wish we had a keeper like him.

Thierry Henry - Arsenal (£10m from Juventus in 1999)
Arguably the best player in Prem history, so no real justification needed here.

Frank Lampard - Chelsea (£11m from West Ham in 2001)
Probably looked too much at the time, but since the Abramovic takeover he has been one of the best midfielders in the world and as likely to score as any other midfielder in the world.

----

Not thought about it too hard, so I'm sure there are many obvious ones I've forgotten. Agree/Disagree so far? Any to add?

Crocker · 10-06-2009, 04:44 PM

Eric Cantona - Manchester United(£1.2 Million)

The man who helped stat Utd's Premiership dominance, would Utd have won them early Premierships? He set the tone for the Utd players that followed him.

Bigpapa42 · 10-06-2009, 04:58 PM

Can't disagree with the list, for the most aprt. Cantona is on that jumped to mind as well, but Crocker pointed him out.

Peter Schmeichel, though I guess he doesn't technically count as a "Prem signing" as it happened in 1991.

Patrick Vieira is another name that jumps out.

Tommy Platinum · 10-06-2009, 05:02 PM

Ha. Can't believe I forgot Cantona. I had Schmeichel down before I realised he was pre-Prem.

Vieira is a good one indeed.

Crocker · 10-06-2009, 05:08 PM

Alan Shearer - Blackburn Rovers (£3.3 Million)

At the time it was a British transfer record for a man who had one good season for Southmpton, but he ended up proving his worth and was the main reason that Blacburn won the league in 1995

Roy Keane - Manchester United (£3.75 Million)

Another British transfer record, went from getting relegated at Nottingam Forest to being the heartbeat of the great United team of the late 90's/early 00's. I truly believe that Utd wouldnt have won the treble without him.

Dmac · 10-06-2009, 05:10 PM

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink... x2?

He came over once, was fantastic for the great Leeds team that once were then came over a second time and were fantastic for the pre-rich Chelsea team.

Tommy Platinum · 10-06-2009, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crocker
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Alan Shearer - Blackburn Rovers (£3.3 Million)

At the time it was a British transfer record for a man who had one good season for Southmpton, but he ended up proving his worth and was the main reason that Blacburn won the league in 1995

Roy Keane - Manchester United (£3.75 Million)

Another British transfer record, went from getting relegated at Nottingam Forest to being the heartbeat of the great United team of the late 90's/early 00's. I truly believe that Utd wouldnt have won the treble without him.

Yeah pretty great picks that I should have said. Don't think many would disagree that Keane was crucial to that period of success.

Recent United ones:

Edwin Van Der Sar - Manchester United (£2m from Fulham)
He was fairly old, but a great piece of business. £2m for a few year's service from one of the most dependable keepers around.

Patrice Evra - Manchester United (£5.5m from Monaco)
£5.5m for arguably the world's best left back sounds good to me.

Nemanja Vidic - Manchester United (£7m from CSKA Moscow)
Has formed a formidable partnership with Rio Ferdinand which has been the cornerstone of recent successes.