5 expensive defenders who succeeded

While the whole football world celebrated Christmas, it was a busy week for Liverpool as they secured the signing of their long-time top target in Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk after agreeing to pay the sum of £75m.

Van Dijk, who has been a long target for Liverpool, is now expected to join the Merseyside club come January - making him the most expensive defender in history with pundits and ex-footballers questioning the price tag of the Southampton man.

We take a look of expensive defenders in history who have featured excellently for their clubs.

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#5 Rio Ferdinand (Leeds - Manchester United)

Rio Ferdinand had a stellar career with Manchester United

The England international broke the record of being the most expensive defender in history twice, the most for any defender. First, his £18m move from West Ham to Leeds made him the most expensive defender, also earning him the captaincy over his two-year stay at the club.

Then, a switch to Old Trafford followed. In July 2002, he signed for Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United for £30m - becoming the most expensive defender at a time where such amounts were termed ridiculous even for an attacking player.

He went on to win the Premier League in his first season, but could not feature well in his second season at the club after failing a doping test.

Rio formed a great partnership with Vidic at the time and made the Manchester United defence one of the best in his playing days, building a fortress as the Red Devils blasted past other opposition.

Known for his work-rate and ability to read the game, Ferdinand did not only establish himself as one of the finest in the Premier League but also featured in five PFA Teams of the Year, and was vital in Manchester United's Champions League triumph.

Rio Ferdinand's career at Manchester United ended with 6 EPL titles and 14 major trophies including the Champions League.

#4. David Luiz (Chelsea - PSG)

David Luiz has proven to be one of the best defenders in the world

David Luiz, also like Rio Ferdinand, signed for two record-breaking fees, by first making a switch to Paris, before returning to Chelsea later.

The central defender enjoyed two stellar seasons in his first stint with Chelsea, winning the League title, before sealing a record-breaking fee of £50million to Paris St Germain where he penned a five-year contract.

At PSG, he alongside Thiago Silva, formed a formidable back-line as the Paris club dominated the French league, winning major titles in the process. David Luiz was also named in the FIFA team of the year in 2014.

The switch back to Stamford Bridge in 2016 marked the end of his spell in Paris for considerably less than the fee he moved for back in 2014, and he already has another League title under his belt in a second stint with the club.

Over the course of his career, David Luiz has worked with many managers and his versatility sets him apart from other defenders, as he can play up ahead the back-line in a defensive midfield position and can also feature as a right-back. He also blessed with the vision to create long passes and is good with set-pieces.

Currently out with an injury, amidst a turbulent relationship with Antonio Conte, David Luiz is still regarded as one of the best defenders in the world and would walk straight into the back-line of many teams.

#3. Thiago Silva (AC Milan - PSG)

Thiago Silva has been likened to Maldini

Thiago Emiliano Da Silva popularly known as Thiago Silva joined the Parisian club from AC Milan in 2012 for a deal which took over a month to complete before a record-breaking fee of £33 million was finally agreed between the two clubs.

Since making the switch, the Brazilian has cemented his place at the heart of the defence and is outright first-choice centre-back for any manager at the club, also being handed the Captain's arm-band.

Good on the ball, confident, strong and athletic, and blessed as well with an unmatched ability to read the game among his contemporaries, the impressive Brazilian has not only made a name for himself in France, but in the football world as well, and he is rated among the top 10 defenders in the World.

In his five years at the club, the 31-year-old has been included in a UEFA Champions League Team of the Season and boasts four Ligue 1 titles alongside three Coupe de France titles in his trophy cabinet.

If one signing is to be singled out over the past five seasons, since the Qatar spending spree started at the Parisian club, it is surely going to be that of Thiago Silva, who has justified every amount paid to sign him.

#2. Lilian Thuram (Parma - Juventus)

Thuram's signature was a success for Juv

Transfers involving huge fees are rarely brokered in the Serie A, but when they do, it clearly states that the players were important, and this was the case for Thuram when joining Juventus.

The Old Lady's sale of Zinedine Zidane for a World record fee at the time (€73.5m) in 2001 created finances at the club allowing the club to go on a spending spree. This spending spree let Juventus to signing Thuram for €30m and Buffon €45m, two quality signings from Parma.

The France international was known for his versatility at the back, in which he could play as a central defender or as a full-back. Naturally, he settled into the team quickly and featured more at right back. At right back, Thuram became one of the best in his playing days. Thuram's strength, power and ability to time his challenge allowed him become key to Juventus as they triumphed in Italy.

In six years at the club, Thuram played 144 matches scoring one goal and won four trophies, including two Serie A titles before sealing a move to Barcelona in the summer of 2006. Thuram was huge success during his time at Juventus and was worth every penny paid.

#1. Dani Alves (Sevilla - Barcelona)

Dani Alves, the defender who plays like an attacker

Brazilian players are known for their attacking and dominating play, and Dani Alves is not an exception.

As a defender, Alves outperformed most attackers and is usually a constant threat down the flanks, making him seem like an attacker after all.

Dani Alves' dominance on the right flank for Sevilla on their way to back-to- back UEFA Cup triumphs attracted Barcelona, who shelled out €35.5m to sign the Brazilian in the summer of 2007.

At Barcelona, Dani Alves made the right-back position all his own, scoring goals and made a name with keeping attackers at bay. In his time at the club, the 32-year-old Brazilian won 3 Champions League titles, 6 La Liga titles, 4 Copa del Rey cups, 5 Spanish Super cups and 3 FIFA Club World Cup trophies.

Dani Alves is known for his marauding runs down the flanks, his strength, resilience and attacking sense. The Brazilian is also good with set pieces, makes perfectly timed crosses and has a knack for scoring goals.

The amount paid to sign him has nevertheless been justified and Alves will look at his Barcelona days as one of the best in his career.