Best Premier League Signings Ever – 25 Greatest Deals
15. Gianfranco Zola [Parma to Chelsea, £4.5m]
A lot of eyebrows we0re lifted when Chelsea signed Zola for £4.5m from Parma. The diminutive Italian brought glamour to Stamford Bridge before the Abramovich era. Even the non-Chelsea fans used to come to see him play. Such was his talent and impact on the game.
14. David Silva [Valencia to Manchester City, £25m]
If there ever was a player who could be named as the magician, then it has to be David Silva. The Spanish midfielder moved to city from Valencia for just £25m. Ever since then, he is ruling the midfield in the whole of Manchester. He can easily be regarded as one of the best premier league signings ever.
13. Alan Shearer [Blackburn to Newcastle Utd, £18m]
People were shocked when Shearer moved to Newcastle in 1996 for a record fee of £18m. The player was wanted by Real Madrid and Barcelona. However, he stayed in Newcastle and scored goals after goals for a decade for the magpies. He ended up being the Premier League’s record goalscorer.
12. Wayne Rooney [Everton to Man Utd, £25.6m]
Man United broke the bank when they brought eighteen-years old Rooney for £25.6m from Everton. After more than a decade, he is their top goal scorer of all-time. What makes him special was that most of the time, he didn’t always play in his preferred position.
11. Pablo Zabaleta [Espanyol to Man City, £6.45m]
Right backs and left-back aren’t talked about much when we talk about the best players. Zabaleta was brought in 2008 for £6.45m from Espanyol and was a mainstay in the team for a decade and won two premier league titles. It won;t be wrong to consider him among the best premier league signings ever.
10. Sami Hyypia [Willem II to Liverpool, £2.6m]
Liverpool signed the big defender from side Willem II for a mere fee of £2.6m in 1999. Not a lot was said about Sami, and he was rumored to be a third choice defender. The defender went to be a regular feature in the Premier League team of the year and won the UCL.
9. N’Golo Kante [Caen to Leicester to Chelsea, £5.6m & £32m]
The only confusion is to decide who benefitted more from Kante – Chelsea or Leicester. Both teams won the premier league due to Kante tireless running in the midfield. Such was the quality of the player that he made Drinkwater look world-class.
8. Dennis Bergkamp [Inter Milan to Arsenal, £7.5m]
Bergkamp was such a brilliant player that opposition players would ask for his shirt even before the match began. The player was brought from Inter Milan in 1995 and set the standard at the club for years to come. He is widely remembered as one of best premier league signings ever.