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Countless football transfers have been completed over the past century of first-class football across the world, however, for every success, there are many more busts. Very few men can boast to have been the catalyst for unprecedented success for their club following their signings.
The following five footballers can all make very strong claims that their transfers did exactly that as we count down the most successful transfers of all time.
#5 Samuel Eto'o to Barcelona (2004-09)
Transfer Fee: £24.3 million
Major Honours Won: 6 (2x European Cups, 3x League Titles, 1x Spanish Cup)
An argument could be made that Samuel Eto'o's transfer from Barcelona to Inter Milan was just as successful, with him adding another six major trophies during his tenure at the Italian side, however it was the effect that Eto'o had on the Barcelona revolution of the mid-2000's which made him one of the most explosive and successful strikers of his generation, and catapulted Barcelona above great rivals Real Madrid as the number one side in Spain and Europe.
Barcelona had not won La Liga since the 1998-99 season when Eto'o arrived from Mallorca in the summer of 2004.
Eto'o's £24.4 million transfer immediately paid dividends. He smashed in 29 goals for Barcelona in all competitions as Barcelona finally reclaimed the La Liga title. Eto'o again top-scored for Barcelona in 2005-06 with 34 goals as the club's resurgence continued.
The Catalan side retained La Liga and also won their first European Cup since 1992, with a victory over Arsenal. Eto'o continued to perform to a high standard for the club even though the next two season's disappointed in terms of silverware.
Eto'o's goalscoring exploits led Barcelona to an unprecedented treble of trophies in 2008-09, as Eto'o racked up over 30 goals once again, as Barcelona swept to glory in La Liga, the Spanish Cup and the European Cup.
Eto'o played a crucial role in the success of one of the greatest teams ever, finishing his Barcelona career with 152 goals in 232 matches; all for a relatively modest transfer fee that the Cameroon forward paid back many times over.
#4 Wayne Rooney to Manchester United (2004-17)
Transfer Fee: £33.3 million
Major Honours Won: 13 (1x Club World Cup, 1x European Cup, 1x Europa League, 5x League Titles, 1x FA Cup, 4x League Cups)
Wayne Rooney arrived at Manchester United as an 18-year-old from hometown club Everton. 12 years later he left as the Captain and record goalscorer.
Signed for a bargain £33.3 million in the summer of 2004, Rooney scored a hat-trick on his debut match for the club in a European tie with Fenerbache.
Rooney scored a total of 253 goals in 559 matches for the club surpassing club legend, Sir Bobby Charlton's 40-year goal-scoring record.
Rooney scored a brace in the 2006 League Cup success at Wigan Athletic and contributed goals across all competitions as he won every major honour available to him in the red of Manchester United.
A fee of £33 million for 13 years of astonishing service represents the best value transfer in United's history.
#3 Gareth Bale to Real Madrid (2013 to present)
Transfer Fee: £90.9 million
Major Honours Won: 10 (2x Club World Cup, 4x European Cups, 2x Super Cup, 1x League Title, 1x Spanish Cup)
Gareth Bale became the most expensive man in world football at the time of his signing for Real Madrid in the summer of 2013, when he moved from Tottenham Hotspur.
The record of British players abroad is not particularly successful but Bale has astonishingly bucked that trend by twice becoming a World Club Champion and four-time European Cup winner.
Bale's match-winning contributions in the 2014 and 2018 Champions League finals will live long in the memory and were absolutely priceless for his club. No-one will ever dispute that £90.9 million was money well spent.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid (2008-17)
Transfer Fee: £84.6 million
Major Honours Won: 13 (3x Club World Cups, 4x European Cups, 2x Super Cups, 2x League Titles, 2x Spanish Cups)
Cristiano Ronaldo was already an astonishing player when he left Manchester United in 2008, having lifted the Club World Cup, European Cup, multiple League Titles, FA Cup and League Cup during his six-year spell at Old Trafford.
However, incredibly, that was just a snapshot of what Ronaldo would then accomplish for Real Madrid as he won every Championship available to him for the club, including an incredible four European Cups as he spearheaded the Spanish outfit to dominance not seen since their 1950's pomp.
Madrid paid a then-record £84.6 million for the Portuguese superstar but Ronaldo's success for the club has surely far exceeded their expectations of what was possible in football.
Ronaldo scored an unprecedented 450 goals in just 438 games, averaging over a goal every game, paying back every single penny of the £8 million Madrid shelled out on him.
Ronaldo, more than any other player, contributed to Madrid, once again overtaking Barcelona as the dominant side in La Liga and Europe, as his scintillating performances led to him winning four Ballon d'Or-s during his nine-year spell at the Spanish giants.
#1 Alfredo di Stefano to Real Madrid (1953-64)
Transfer Fee: £195,000
Major Honours: 15 (1x Intercontinental Title, 5x European Cups, 8x League Titles, 1x Spanish Cup)
It should come as no surprise that the most successful European club of all time has achieved the three most successful transfers of all time.
Two time Ballon d'Or winner, di Stefano had achieved most of his Real Madrid success prior to the individual award existing. Signed for a modest £195,000 in today's money from Argentinian side, River Plate, di Stefano inspired the greatest Real Madrid side in history to unprecedented success.
They won five consecutive European Cups between 1956 and 1960, largely due to the goal-scoring prowess of the Argentinian striker.
Unlike the current Madrid team, their 1950's counterparts were just as successful domestically as they were in Europe and di Stefano inspired them to an incredible eight La Liga successes.
The prolific Argentinian scored 156 goals in 232 matches - a very healthy return on a £195,000 transfer fee. Undoubtedly, the most successful transfer of all time.
