In the 24 years since the inception of the Premier League, England’s top soccer division has witnessed a number of truly great footballers. Not every manager gets it right in the transfer market, but when they do, great signings can win titles. As another summer transfer window opens, we cast our eye over the best Premier League signings of all time.
CRISTIANO RONALDO (£12 million)
Cristiano Ronaldo has certainly earned his way to the top and it’s no surprise that he is now one of the world’s top football earners. Picked up by Manchester United’s Alex Ferguson back in 2003 from Sporting CP for just £12 million the Portuguese star helped the club pick up three Premier League titles in the 6 seasons he was at the club as well as winning the Champions League. Apart from the endless goals and quality he bought to Old Trafford he also helped the side incur a profit of £68m when he was eventually sold to Real Madrid in 2009. If you were to have bet on this transfer with Premier League Betting Offers & Free Bets 2018, you could have made a lot of money. (But not as much as Ronaldo!)
XABI ALONSO (£10.7 million)
In 2004 Liverpool purchased Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso. Not that fellow team mate and all-round Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard needed a lot of help in midfield but Alonso’s arrival gave the team an extra dimension that they were desperate for. Bought from Real Sociedad for £10.7 million, Alonso’s impact on the team was incredible. Skilled, hard- working and a delight to watch, his 5 seasons with Liverpool helped the reds turn a corner. Alsono helped lead them to many successes including the Champions League victory in 2005 and some would argue the Spaniard has never been adequately replaced after he departed for Madrid.
ALAN SHEARER (£3.6 million)
In 1992 home grown strike legend Alan Shearer arrived at Ewood Park from Southampton and the rest is history. Within just two seasons at the club he had helped Blackburn Rovers land their first Premiership title, mostly thanks to his impressive score rate. Even when he was sold to his hometown club Newcastle United in 1996 he managed to net Blackburn a profit thanks to his world transfer record-breaking £15 million price tag.
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER (£1.5 million)
The baby faced Norwegian was a surprise buy for Manchester United back in 1996 as they chased a striker after failing to capture Alan Shearer who eventually went to Newcastle for that record fee. More commonly known as the “super-sub”, Solskjaer was frequently left from the starting line-up only to appear as a substitute during the game and somehow he always managed to get off the bench and score a goal or two. To emphasis his status as the all-time super-sub, the Baby-faced assassin once netted 4 goals in the final 12 minutes of a game between United and Nottingham Forest. His most memorable goal has to be the 92nd minute winner during the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final which clinched victory for United at the Nou Camp.
