The Best Transfer Bargains in Premier League History

At the midpoint and at the end of each football season, a transfer window opens, allowing clubs to address their weaknesses. Each football club has its own strategy during the transfer windows, but often, smart and savvy business moves reap the highest rewards. It is often crucial for a smaller club to conduct in-depth market research and carefully assess its signings. This detailed transfer approach ensures that clubs make informed choices in the market and can compete with some of the world's biggest clubs. Some excellent case studies of smart business are Brighton and Bournemouth. In recent years, these clubs have made some excellent transfer bargains that have had a significant impact on their performance on the field.

BoyleSports, a casino platform that allows users to play live casino in the UK, has provided a list of some of the best transfer bargains that have forever impacted English football.

Eric Cantona

Eric Cantona joined Manchester United from rivals Leeds United in the inaugural season of the Premier League for £1.2 million. The move is widely considered one of the biggest bargains in Premier League history, which proved fruitful for Manchester United in their dominance in the 90s. The signing came as a surprise, as the storied rivalry of Leeds and Manchester United was at its peak. The fee of £1.2 million was specifically surprising to sign a player of Cantona’s quality.

Following Eric's signing for the Manchester giants, he played a vital role in securing four league titles in the 5 years following his arrival. Cantona made over 180 appearances for Manchester United, scoring more than 80 goals during his tenure.

N'Golo Kanté

Leicester City put pen to paper on a deal with French club Caen to sign N'Golo Kanté for £5.6 million. Originally, many people questioned the signing as Leicester City were struggling, and N'Golo Kanté was a pretty unknown name. Spending over £5 million on a club that was seen as a relegation contender shocked fans; however, looking back, it was some of the greatest business in the league's history.

In Kanté's first and only season at Leicester City, he played a crucial role in shocking the world of football and winning the Premier League title. The story remains the biggest shock in Premier League history, which was named at a 5000/1 outsider before the season began. N'Golo Kanté played a huge role in the upset, dominating the midfield with his tenacity and quality. In the title-winning season, N'Golo Kanté was named in the PFA Team of the Year, a terrific achievement for the midfielder. After the season concluded, he joined Chelsea in a deal worth £32 million, leaving Leicester City as a legend despite his short stay.

Vincent Kompany

The legendary centre back joined Manchester City in 2008 for a fee worth £6 million. The transfer marked the beginning of a new era for Manchester City and was one of the first major signings under Mr Mansour. Kompany joined Manchester City as a 22-year-old, a move that coincided perfectly with the club's growth.

The wonderkid Thierry Henry joined Arsenal as a young man, aged just 21, for a fee worth £11 million. Many Arsenal fans were excited about the arrival of the highly sought-after youngster, though none would predict he would leave the mark he did on the north London club. During his time at Arsenal, he was developed as a player and achieved monumental success.

Thierry Henry

The wonderkid Thierry Henry joined Arsenal as a young man, aged just 21, for a fee worth £11 million. Many Arsenal fans were excited about the arrival of the highly sought-after youngster, though none would predict he would leave the mark he did on the north London club. During his time at Arsenal, he was developed as a player and achieved monumental success.

After a year of settling in at Arsenal, Thierry Henry played a crucial role in the title-winning season in 2001/02. Henry was crowned the Premier League golden boot in this season after bagging a total of 24 league goals. Additionally, in the 2003/04 season, Henry elevated his game even further. Henry was part of the infamous “invincibles” season, where Arsenal did not lose a single Premier League match all season and were crowned champions. Henry scored 30 times in the league and was named the PFA Player of the Year.

Final Thoughts

Business in the Premier League is difficult and requires intense scouting to find the right fit for each club. Clubs must ensure that their players meet the physical standards set by the Premier League. They also need to check if players can easily fit into the team's playing style before making transfers during the transfer windows. Bargain hunting can be difficult and often a waste of money if the clubs do not partake in this in-depth research process. Although it is a challenge, the clubs that excel in this area benefit financially by acquiring a player of high quality for a lower fee.