'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Ever Banega | Valencia | €18m
Ronald Koeman's time at Valencia is not looked back upon fondly by either club. The Dutchman spent just a year at the Mestalla and parted ways with the club after a disastrous season in Spain. However, if there was one memorable aspect of his time at Valencia, it was that of Banega's signing.
One of the most experienced midfield controllers in LaLiga Santander with over 300 league games under his belt, Ever Banega was signed by Valencia from Boca Juniors during Koeman's time at the club. The Argentine spent just under six years on the books of Los Che, including two loan spells to Atletico Madrid and Newell's Old Boys. He played over 130 league games for Valencia.
However, It was after his move to Sevilla from Valencia that truly unlocked the potential of the midfield maestro he is, and he been an indispensable figure for the Spanish club since then. Banega was at the heart of Unai Emery's 'three-peat' winning UEFA Europa League side. Although he is widely expected to join Al-Shabab Riyadh after Sevilla's season, he is 90 minutes away from registering his fourth UEL trophy. What a way to sign off it would be!
#2 Sadio Mane | Southampton | €23m
The third player on this list signed by Ronald Koeman in his first year at Southampton, Sadio mane is a player that needs little introduction. The Senegalese established himself as one of the most under-the-radar attackers in the league after quietly leaving a superb account of himself at St. Mary's.
Mane's arrival and departure from Southampton coincided with Koeman's stay at the club. During those two years, Mane was arguably one of the most elite players in the league outside the traditional big six clubs. He impressed with his scintillating displays for the Saints and etched his name into the history books after the fastest-ever hat-trick in the top-flight against Aston Villa in 2015. The winger scored thrice in two minutes and 56 seconds against the Villans in a 6-1 win.
The 28-year-old still remains the second-most expensive Saints purchase ever, and was eventually sold to Liverpool in 2016. Mane went on to win the Premier League, Golden Boot, UCL, FIFA Club World Cup, and a host of other honours with the Reds.
#1 Virgil van Dijk | Southampton | €15.70m
Who else but the world's best central defender was expected to top this list? Ronald Koeman was known to be one of the most devastatingly good centre-halves of his era, and while he was at the helm of St. Mary's, he sanctioned the purchase of his compatriot who also happened to be a centre-back — Virgil van Dijk.
The towering Dutchman spent two and a half years at Southampton, where he learnt the tricks of the trade in England. Van Dijk was then made the world's most expensive defender in football history when Liverpool came calling for his services in the winter of 2018, and the 29-year-old has never had to look back since.
The former Saints man has been nothing short of a 'Rolls Royce' defender for the Reds, providing a rock-solid base at the back for Liverpool to play their expansive brand of football. Van Dijk went from being a mid-table Premier League centre-half to arguably the best central defender on the planet after his breathtaking performances — and nothing is a more significant testament of that than his catalytic impact at Anfield.
The Dutchman was pivotal in Liverpool's capture of the Premier League, Champions League, and a host of other top honours. Van Dijk will retire as one of the best-ever players to play in England.
Also read: Most expensive footballers in the world in each position
