Manchester United's top 5 Transfer Signings in the last decade

Manchester United's Bulgarian forward Di
Manchester United's Bulgarian forward Di

Manchester United's activity in the transfer market so far has not impressed fans, to say the least. Of all the positions which require attention, the right wing is perhaps the most severe. While the clubs around the world and even in the Premier League are making valuable additions to their squad, United seem to have lost their pace a bit.

As Manchester United scramble for time, with the Deadline Day arriving sooner than usual this season, we turn back the years and look at United's transfer business in the last decade, from 2008 till last year. United signed more than 30 players in the last 10 seasons and we have chosen the top five players among them.

Unsurprisingly, Sir Alex Ferguson bosses this list, having bought 3 of the 5 players in this list, while Jose Mourinho accounts for the addition of the other two.


#5 Dimitar Berbatov

The classy Bulgarian was brought to Old Trafford by Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer of 2008, joining United from Tottenham Hotspur on deadline day, for a fee of £30.75m.

In the 2008/09 season, he was a part of the formidable Manchester United front four, with Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, who scored 44 goals in the league and 75 goals between them, to power United to the Premier League Crown, the League Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and the Community Shield and they also ended up being runners-up in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Super Cup.

Berbatov scored 56 goals in 149 appearances for Manchester United altogether but proved his worth in the 2010/11 season when he scored 20 league goals in 32 games and helped United win the Premier League. He shared the golden boot that season with Carlos Tevez

But Berbatov was more than just a goal machine, he was someone who was capable of churning up pieces of insane magic in the field. He impressed football fans world over by providing an unimaginable assist for Cristiano Ronaldo against West Ham.

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During his days at Old Trafford, his composure on the ball, his vision for a pass and his intelligence more than made up for his laidback attitude. But he endeared himself to United fans both on and off the field with his attitude.

Even though he was a fearsome attacking prospect, he was also a wonderful player to have on the pitch and one instance which United fans will remember came in a League Cup match against fierce rivals Leeds United in 2011.

Debutant Zeki Fryers, playing in defence, was injured 10 minutes before time and Sir Alex Ferguson had used up all his substitutions. Fryers was suffering from severe cramp which meant he could not carry on under any circumstances.

Dimitar Berbatov took responsibility of the situation and played in central defence for the closing 10 minutes of the game, bailing United out and looking completely at home. For the record, United were already winning 3-0, but Berbatov’s big-heartedness won United fans over. Dimitar Berbatov was certainly a fine signing by Sir Alex Ferguson for Manchester United.

#4 Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Manchester United v Brighton and Hove Albion - Premier League
Manchester United v Brighton and Hove Albion - Premier League

The World went crazy when Zlatan announced that he was joining Manchester United via the Social Media. On 1st July 2016, Zlatan joined United as a Free Agent and Old Trafford had a new Number 9. He hit the ground running, scoring the winner as United defeated Leicester City to win the Community Shield. He then went on to score in his Premier League debut at Bournemouth.

In his home debut for United, he scored a brace against Southampton. Old Trafford was ecstatic, they had found a new Number 9 to embrace and he was perfect for United in every way. He was good in the air, and even at his age, he could not be described as slow. He was strong, held the ball perfectly and played well even with his back to the goal. He was a player United desperately needed after 3 disappointing years since Sir Alex retired.

In his first season, he went on to score 28 goals in 46 appearances for United. He was vital in Manchester United’s run at the EFL Cup, as United reached the final, where, against Southampton, Zlatan scored a free kick and a header, in a Man of the Match performance, to help United lift the Trophy. Zlatan was the top scorer of the tournament with 4 goals.

One cannot help but wonder just how much better things could have been for Manchester United by now had Zlatan not damaged his knee by the end of his first season. Defying all odds, though, Zlatan returned to the starting line up next season, helming the Number 10 now, but sadly, could not replicate his form from his first season, even though he scored a goal in the 7 games he played.

Zlatan arrived at United when the club was in deep waters, in terms of performance, and immediately lifted the mood in his first season, leading the way to recovery. His attitude and larger than life personality drew comparisons with the great Eric Cantona, and perhaps in the limited time he had, Zlatan touched United almost as much as the King of Old Trafford. He is already a United legend people will not forget in a hurry.

#3 Paul Pogba

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Pogba has been a great signing despite what detractors have to say

On 8th August 2016, Manchester United announced that the prodigal son was returning home. It was a great time for the Manchester United marketing team, as the excitement and the attention the news generated heightened the club’s popularity and had a positive effect on the club’s commercial reach.

Mourinho and Zlatan, it seemed had played an important part and one of the best young talents in the world had arrived at Old Trafford on a record transfer fee, from Juventus. Expectations had hit the roof when Pogba made his debut for United, but he could not live up to them initially.

He did recover his form soon and showed flashes of his brilliance, even though the consistency was missing. He scored some vital goals for United too, including one in the defeat of Hull City in the second leg of the EFL Cup Semi Final and the crucial goal in the final of the Europa League.

In his first season, Pogba scored 5 goals and provided 4 assists in the league and scored 9 goals in total. His second season was tougher than his first. He was on a brilliant run of games before getting injured and missing a chunk of the season.

On his return, he was faced with criticism for his half-hearted performances from the press and there was news of differences with his manager. All the while Pogba continued to strive, not making his opinion or rumoured differences with his manager public.

However, he gave the world a timely reminder of his talents after inspiring United from 0-2 down at halftime in the Manchester Derby at the Etihad. Pogba scored 2 goals as United came back to win the game 3-2. He ended his second season with 6 goals.

With a World Cup win in the summer, Pogba will be ready to inspire Manchester United in the new season and the team will be looking forward for him to run the engine through the middle of the park.

Often harshly criticized for his off-field antics and for every little mistake he makes in a game, Pogba has the talent and the confidence, as a current World Champion, to shut his critics. With time and experience, Pogba could yet turn out to be one of the finest bit of business done by Manchester United in the near future.

#2 Robin Van Persie

Swansea City v Manchester United - Premier League
Swansea City v Manchester United - Premier League

Sir Alex Ferguson masterminded the steal of the 2012/13 season and one of the coups of the Premier League era when he convinced Arsenal and Arsene Wenger to sell him Robin Van Persie. On 17th August, 2012, Van Persie joined United for £24m, an amount which would soon be repaid countless times.

He took up the Number 20 and come the end of the season, that number would give him legendary status among the United fans. Van Persie would go on to score 26 League goals and 30 goals in total, as United won their record 20th Premier League Title.

Van Persie would go on to win the Golden Boot in a season when his goals were the main reason United won the league. In his 3 years at United, Van Persie scored 58 goals in 105 appearances. He was a fabulous striker of the ball, with a perfect left foot, but he did not just score goals.

He was great in building up and often drifted to the wings to bring the midfielders into play. But it was his goals that gave him legendary status, including the last minute free-kick that won the Manchester Derby and ended City’s unbeaten run in the 2012/13 season; and that outrageous second goal in the game against Aston Villa, where he volleyed Rooney’s floating ball from behind the halfway line into the net.

He was rightly judged as the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year for the 2012/13 season.

Robin Van Persie was vital in the season that culminated in the last title won under Sir Alex Ferguson and in fact the last Premier League title Manchester United won. The love and adulation he enjoyed from United fans were evident when he returned to play against United as a Fenerbahce player in the Europa League group stages in 2016.

He was one of the last players signed by Sir Alex Ferguson in Scott’s long tenure at Old Trafford and he would certainly fit among some of the most influential players the legendary manager signed in his time.

#1 David De Gea

Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur - Emirates FA Cup - Semi Final - Wembley Stadium
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur - Emirates FA Cup - Semi Final - Wembley Stadium

Legend has it that Sir Alex Ferguson missed only two United games in his long reign as a Manchester United Boss. One was for his son’s wedding and the other was to scout David De Gea. While the truth of the tale might be debatable, it is true that Sir Alex had gone to scout the young Spanish Goalkeeper and had, in fact, actually skipped a League Cup Match against Scunthorpe United.

Sir Alex rarely repeated mistakes and with the Legendary Edwin Van Der Sar retiring, he would not have the uncertainty after the exit of Schmeichel from years ago repeat itself. Sir Alex had narrowed down his requirements and found his man. But then, he always had the eye to recognize a gem.

On 29th June 2011, David De Gea joined Manchester United from Atletico Madrid, for a then British record fee, for a goalkeeper, of approximately £18.9 million. His start to life as a United player was shaky to say the least as he was culpable for failing to stop a tame Shane Long shot from distance in his Premier League debut.

Yet it was a testament to the character of a player who would go on to become the best in the world soon, that De Gea bounced back with a clean sheet in his Old Trafford debut and then stopped a Robin Van Persie penalty in United’s record 8-2 win over Arsenal.

De Gea had arrived and he had announced himself. From then on, he was on the rise, with his only hiccup being aerial balls, but like a true champion, it wasn’t long before he would leave his weaknesses trailing.

And ever since, De Gea has been reaching new heights season after season and has been making outstanding and even near-impossible saves with relative ease. Every season, there are instances where De Gea defies the laws of physics and keeps the opposition baffled.

When his move to Real Madrid broke down under strange circumstances in the summer of 2015, it seemed that the frustration would get to him and affect his performances. Yet, in another evidence of the player’s character, he went on to captain United in a game for the first time and narrowly missed out on the Golden Glove that season.

De Gea has found new levels after hitting excellence since and has finally won his first Golden Glove after earning 18 clean sheets last season.

Even 4 years after Sir Alex’s retirement, one of his best signings is still the first player on the team sheet for the Red Devils. David De Gea is definitely Sir Alex’s Ferguson’s greatest farewell gift to United and the seeds of the Legendary Manager’s tenacity, resolve and brilliance is firmly embedded in the Spaniard’s gloves and heart. David De Gea, without any doubt, is Manchester United’s greatest signing in the last decade.


Are there any other players who should be in this list? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Edited by Shambhu Ajith