Are you an avid follower of the comings and goings of the football transfer market? Put your knowledge to the test with this quiz on the best and worst signings of all time.
The transfer window has just opened, and there is likely to be some big moves happening this summer. As ever, there’ll be big-name signings and a host of leftfield moves you weren’t expecting – and there are likely to be a few flops, too.
But how much do you know about transfers of seasons gone by? CopyBet created the quiz following a poll of 2,000 football fans, commissioned by the betting platform, which revealed the most embarrassing football transfers of all time.
Harry Maguire’s switch from Leicester to Manchester United in 2019 for £80 million was voted the most humiliating.
And Paul Pogba’s return to Manchester United from Juventus for £89.3 million in 2016 came second, while Liverpool’s signing of Andy Carroll from Newcastle in 2011, for £35 million, came third.
Other notable disaster moves include Ali Dia who joined Southampton in 1996 – after someone claiming to be former World Player of the Year, George Weah, convinced manager Graeme Souness to sign him.
And Eden Hazard’s £150 million move to Real Madrid in 2019, along with Chelsea’s £15 million signing of Adrian Mutu in 2003 – later sacked due to a failed drug test – also made the list.
A spokesman for CopyBet.com, which commissioned the research, said: “Transfers have a big impact on the global football landscape, and can be the difference between a club having a good or bad season.
“With transfer fees at an all-time high, there is a lot of pressure on players to perform, and they don’t always live up to expectations.
“Some manage to turn things around and make their move the right one, but we often see clubs selling for a reduced price as they attempt to cut their losses.”
Football fans also voted for the most successful transfers – with Erling Haaland’s move to Manchester City last year for a fee of £51.2 million, from Borussia Dortmund, deemed the best.
Others include Thierry Henry (Juventus to Arsenal for £14.5 million in 1999), Mo Salah (Roma to Liverpool for £34 million in 2017), and Diego Maradona (Barcelona to Napoli for £7 million in 1984).
Out of the 20 Premier League clubs, those polled believe Chelsea tend to make the worst signings, while Manchester City tend to get it right.
North of the border, Celtic are considered to make the best signings in the Scottish top flight, while Rangers tend to make the worst ones.
With the summer transfer window currently open, the study, carried out through OnePoll, found Harry Kane is the player fans want to move this summer – more than any other.
As many as 32 per cent think he should leave Tottenham, while 28 per cent believe Harry Maguire should quit Old Trafford.
Of those who support an English Premier League side, 71 per cent believe their team needs to invest in more players in the upcoming transfer window – to the tune of £91 million on average.
And they believe a centre forward (37 per cent) should be a priority, followed by an attacking midfielder (33 per cent), and a central defender (29 per cent).
It also emerged 83 per cent of all those polled are of the opinion the amount of money being spent on football players has gotten out of hand – and 76 per cent think the FA should do more to regulate spending in the transfer market.
Fans believe a club’s manager (51 per cent) should be responsible for handling the process of buying players – rather than a sporting director (16 per cent), technical director (five per cent), or CEO (five per cent).
The spokesman for CopyBet.com added: “This summer transfer window is likely to be as busy as ever – with many expecting records to be broken.
“Speculation over which players will be leaving and where they’ll be going to is already rife, and will only increase in the coming weeks.”
TOP 10 MOST EMBARRASSING SIGNINGS OF ALL TIME:
- Harry Maguire – Leicester to Manchester United for £80 million in 2019
- Paul Pogba – Juventus to Manchester United for £89.3 million in 2016
- Andy Carroll – Newcastle to Liverpool for £35 million in 2011
- Ali Dia – free agent to Southampton in 1996
- Romelu Lukaku – Inter Milan to Chelsea for £97.5 million in 2021
- Eden Hazard – Chelsea to Real Madrid for £150 million in 2019
- Adrian Mutu – Parma to Chelsea for £15.8 million in 2003
- Fernando Torres – Liverpool to Chelsea for £50 million in 2011
- Ángel Di María – Real Madrid to Man United for £59.7 million in 2014
- Joey Barton – Burnley to Rangers on a free transfer in 2016
TOP 10 MOST SUCCESSFUL SIGNINGS OF ALL TIME:
- Erling Haaland – Borussia Dortmund to Man City for £51.2 million in 2022
- Eric Cantona – Leeds United to Manchester United for £1.2 million in 1992
- Cristiano Ronaldo – Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United for £17.1 million in 2003
- Cristiano Ronaldo – Manchester United to Real Madrid for £80 million in 2009
- Kenny Dalglish – Celtic to Liverpool for £440,000 in 1977
- Thierry Henry – Juventus to Arsenal for £14.5 million in 1999
- Mo Salah – Roma to Liverpool for £34 million in 2017
- Wayne Rooney – Everton to Manchester United for £33.3 million in 2004
- Roy Keane – Nottingham Forest to Man United for £3.75 million in 1993
- Diego Maradona – Napoli to Barcelona for £7 million in 1984
TOP FIVE WORST CLUBS IN THE TRANSFER MARKET:
- Chelsea
- Everton
- Tottenham Hotspur
- Manchester United
- Nottingham Forest
TOP FIVE BEST CLUBS IN THE TRANSFER MARKET:
- Manchester City
- Brighton & Hove Albion
- Liverpool
- Newcastle United
- Manchester United
TOP FIVE PLAYERS WHO SHOULD MOVE THIS SUMMER:
- Harry Kane
- Harry Maguire
- Anthony Martial
- Donny van de Beek
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
