Ranking 5 best Barcelona signings from the Premier League

While Premier League clubs are currently dominating the transfer market, Spanish giants like Barcelona and Real Madrid have lost their financial might of the past. Thanks to Karim Benzema's inhuman form of late, Los Blancos have been able to cover their cracks to some extent. Barcelona, however, haven't been so lucky.

Following the departure of Lionel Messi, the Blaugrana have fallen even deeper into the hole they had been digging for themselves, with no money to aid their current predicament. Scaling back a few years, we'd see that things were massively different at Camp Nou.

Barcelona and the Premier League share a rich past

Back when the 26-time La Liga champions actually had few pennies to spend, they'd frequently indulge in transfer business with Premier League clubs. Arsenal have been their go-to club for shopping, with the Blaugrana snapping up nine players from the clutches of the Gunners.

However, Barcelona have shifted their business from the Emirates to Anfield in recent times. As many as three players have chosen to abandon Liverpool in favor of the Catalans since 2010. Barcelona have also purchased a number of players from the remaining members of the traditional top six of the Premier League.

With a total of 22 signings, Barcelona have encountered a bit of mixed luck when buying players from English clubs. While few have turned out to be absolute stinkers, a handful of transfers have gone on to rewrite the footballing history in Catalonia. On that note, let's take a look at the five best Barcelona signings from the Premier League:

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#5 Thierry Henry (Arsenal)

Henry won the treble with Barcelona

Thierry Henry was a legend through and through during his time at Arsenal. The Frenchman was pivotal to Arsene Wenger's reign of supremacy in the early 2000s, which saw them win two Premier League titles. However, the 'invincible' was just as impressive at Barcelona.

Henry was 29 at the time of the said transfer and was considered to be past his prime. However, the skilled forward silenced every single one of his critics with a brilliant spell at Barcelona. Henry scored 49 goals and laid out a further 27 assists during his three-year stay with the Catalans.

Part of a lethal trident comprising Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o and himself, Henry was essential to Barcelona's fabled treble-winning season of 2008-09. He gracefully combined with the rest of the team, flawlessly adapting his game to suit Pep Guardiola's system. The World Cup winner was finally let go in 2010, after proficiently serving his purpose.

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#4 Javier Mascherano (Liverpool)

Mascherano was an exceptional midfielder in the Premier League

In his eight years with Barcelona, Javier Mascherano famously scored just one goal, that too off a penalty-kick against Osasuna. Yet his legacy at Camp Nou has never been questioned. Such was his reputation at the Catalan club that the reliable Argentine was adored by every Culer across the globe.

Primarily a defensive midfielder during his Premier League days, Mascherano elegantly transitioned to centre-back following his transfer to Barcelona. Having established his pedigree at the base of the midfield, he went on to spend an equally remarkable time as a leader in Barcelona's backline.

Mascherano managed to defend the Blaugrana crest for 334 games, rarely letting his team down. The sturdy defender was especially vital to the club post Carles Puyol's retirement, becoming Barcelona's chief no-nonsense centre-back. After eight trophy-laden seasons with the Spanish giants and two brief spells with Hebei FC and Estudiantes, Mascherano finally called it a day on his glittering career in 2020.

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#3 Gary Lineker (Everton)

Lineker scored frequently in the Premier League

Having proved his worth in the Premier League with Leicester City, Tottenham and in La Liga with Barcelona, Gary Lineker's exploits deserve a lot more appreciation than they usually receive. The footballer-turned-pundit was a masterful striker back in his day, scoring goals wherever he went.

Lineker's impressive solitary season with Everton, which saw him score a whopping 35 goals in 45 games, compelled Barcelona to splash €3.2 million for his services. The Englishman went on to spend three fulfilling seasons with the Catalans, scoring 48 goals along the way.

Back then, Barcelona were not the winning machine they have become in recent years. Yet Lineker managed to get his hands on a Copa del Rey title and a European Cup Winners’ Cup during his stint in Spain. He returned to the Premier League in 1989 with Tottenham, where he continued with his goalscoring antics.

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#2 Luis Suarez (Liverpool)

Suarez is a legend in the Premier League as well as La Liga

Barcelona's third all-time top scorer makes his way into second place on this list, having achieved everything with the Catalan giants during his six-year stay at Camp Nou. In 2014, Luis Suarez became one of the most expensive signings ever, when Barcelona forked out €81.72 million to land his signature.

Suarez was practically unplayable in Liverpool's unforgettable 2013-14 campaign. He single-handedly took an average Liverpool side within touching distance of Premier League glory that season. Impressed by his dominative demeanor, Barcelona wasted no time in snapping him up.

The Uruguayan legend more than repaid their investment, scoring 195 goals in just 283 appearances. His telepathic connection with Lionel Messi resulted in one of the deadliest attacking duos in the history of the sport. While his disrespectful ousting in 2020 did put a blotch on his Barcelona career, Suarez is still a classy Barcelona signing from the Premier League.

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#1 Gerard Pique (Manchester United)

Barcelona made a brilliant decision in bringing back Pique

Even though Gerard Pique has always been a Culer at heart, the Catalan did spend some time away from his hometown. Having graduated from the esteemed La Masia, Pique was sold to Premier League stalwarts Manchester United in 2004 for a nominal fee of €5.25 million. Nevertheless, Barcelona initiated a return for their prodigal son four years later, snapping him up for €5 million in 2008.

The outspoken defender has been an absolute revelation since then. In the subsequent 13 years, Pique has gone on to rack up a mind-boggling 574 appearances for his boyhood club, even contributing with 51 goals along the way. However, his legacy at Barcelona stretches way past just a few numbers.

Pique comprised one half of Barcelona's fabled centre-back partnership, with captain Carles Puyol filling in the other spot. His exceptional ball-playing capabilities and technical prowess were substantially enhanced by Pep Guardiola, who transformed the lanky defender into a certified beast. Having won 30 titles with his current club, Pique is undoubtedly the best signing made by Barcelona from a Premier League club.

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