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With TV contracts and sponsorships green-washing football, it’s no surprise that even mediocre players demand big-money transfer fees. But splurging doesn’t necessarily equate to purchasing franchise-changing or even game-changing players.
The transfer window gives the clubs an opportunity to pluck players from their previous clubs and fill a much-needed void. In the 2017 summer transfer window alone, the top five European leagues spent 4.07 billion euros on 1,704 transfers.
Most of these transfers were mediocre signings with some being even poor while others went on to make the impact they were brought over for. With soccer being an imprecise science ruled by subjective and arbitrary player rankings, it’s difficult to know if a player would seamlessly fit in with their new club. Let’s take a look at the most impactful transfers from each of the last ten years:
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo – 2018
Although he’s yet to even play a game for the Old Lady, Ronaldo’s influence can already be felt, if not quantified. While soccer pundits can rightly wonder if the money splashed on Ronaldo is merited in regards to his quality on the pitch, economists are already hailing the purchase from a purely financial perspective.
In the 24 hours after Ronaldo inked his deal with Juventus, $60 million dollars worth of Ronaldo jerseys were sold worldwide, amounting to nearly half of his transfer fee. Not only that, but Juventus’ share price went up by 33%, a week after he signed, which translates to an increase of 231 million euros.
The signing of Ronaldo enables Juventus to tap new markets. CR7 currently has 318.3m followers across all social media platforms. Such a devout following means that Juventus can dip their toes into virgin markets. In terms of value and quality of football, Juventus is largely seen as a club among the second-tier of elite teams.
With the purchase of arguably the best football player of all time, the Turin-based titan is looking to propel itself into the top tier of football clubs. According to the illustrious financial services firm Deloitte, Juventus is currently the 10th wealthiest club in the world sandwiched between Tottenham and Liverpool.
If somehow the man who scored 44 goals for Real Madrid last season doesn’t come through on the pitch, he’s already shown to be the stimulus package that’s making the Old Lady look young again.
#2 Neymar & Mo Salah – 2017
2017 saw the sale of two world-class players, though at the beginning of the year only one of these players was worthy of such a label. Salah proved himself worthy of the praise as he won the Premier league’s Golden Boot, scoring 32 times and assisting 10 more in the premier league. Without the PFA Player of the Season, it’s fair to say that Liverpool wouldn’t have come close to finishing runner-up in the Champions League.
These two only have a share of this spot because of Neymar’s ability to make PSG an elite club again in the span of a season. After the departure of Zlatan, PSG became fallible again and dropped enough points to relinquish their title in the 2016-17 season to Monaco. With the addition of Neymar, PSG scored 25 more goals than in their previous season and won the league by 13 points. With both these players arguably too good for their respected clubs, we’ll see if they make the list again next year.
#3 N’Golo Kante – 2016
N’Golo Kante became a back to back EPL winner after being transferred to Chelsea from Leicester City. For his defensive efforts, Kante was awarded the PFA Player of the Year Award –arguably a season too late- after winning the title with Chelsea. The Blues had their worst season in EPL history having finished 10th in 2015/16, behind the likes of Southampton, West Ham, and Stoke City.
The team was in crisis mode and had to shake things up in a major way. Roman Abramovich shocked the transfer market by remaining uncharacteristically quiet. The only key transfers made were David Luiz, Marcos Alonso, and of course, the soon to be player of the season, N’Golo Kante.
#4 Paulo Dybala - 2015
Arguably the closest in style to Lionel Messi, Paulo Dybala was a world class player even before his move from Palermo to Juventus. However, once he donned the black and white of Turin, his feet metaphorically lit up the stadium in a way that quantifiably translates to having scored 52 goals in 98 games with the Turin giants.
Dybala has been instrumental in keeping Juve’s domestic title winning streak alive –now at 7 in a row. Dybala’s attacking prowess almost saw Juventus bring home the Champions League in 2017, but was denied by Ronaldo's heroics.
Expect to see Ronaldo and Dybala teaming up in a feverish tandem that makes defences in Italy and the whole of Europe weak in the knees. It should be noted that this was also the year Kante was sold from Caen to Leicester. Despite defying the odds and winning the EPL title with Leicester, in the spirit of sharing the most impactful transfer of the year was awarded to Dybala.
#5 Luis Suarez – 2014
Lewandowski, Rakitic as well as Eric Dier were all purchased by their current clubs during the 2014 transfer season. While the aforementioned have all deeply impacted their teams, Suarez has gone on to achieve something with Barcelona that no player has done before in the Messi-Ronaldo era. For six consecutive seasons, no player had been able to score more goals in La Liga than aforementioned duo.
The two untouchables had their names carved out in advance as the top two leading scorers for the foreseeable future until Suarez’s arrival. A year after signing, Suarez scored 40 goals in 35 appearances giving him the fourth highest single-season goal scoring tally in La Liga history. Since arriving Barcelona has won three out of the four contested league campaigns as well as the 2014-15 Champions League title.
#6 Riyad Mahrez- 2013
Unlike most players on this list, Riyad Mahrez was purchased in the January transfer window from a second division club by a second division club. Just months after coming to England, Mahrez was able to lift Leicester City out of the Championship and into the EPL for the first time in 10 years.
In his second season with City, Mahrez willed his team to win seven of their last nine matches to avoid relegation, thus earning his club –and himself- millions in the process. Just a year later and his transfer value rose exponentially as he scored 17 goals, provided 11 assists, and was named the PFA Player of the Year all while propelling his club to the improbable position of Premier League Champion.
#7 Luka Modric - 2012
Robin Van Persie immediately snatched the EPL title back from Man City, leading the league in goals scored, Hazard has won two titles with Chelsea, Greizmann broke up the monopoly in Spain, and Thiago Silva & Zlatan only failed to win the Ligue 1 once since they landed in Paris. All these players found new homes in 2012, yet none have played as consistently or have won so many Champions Leagues as has Luka Modric.
Although now considered the best midfielder in the world and arguably more worthy of the Ballon d’Or than Messi or Ronaldo, Modric’s Real Madrid days started off with him having been named La Liga’s worst signing of the 2012-13 season receiving 32.2% of the votes. Six years later and he’s now won four Champions League titles.
Considering Madrid is one of the most transfer-happy teams in the world, it’s amazing that Modric has been able to retain and excel at his position during his six years and counting with Real.
#8 Sergio Aguero – 2011
The rise to prominence took longer than Sheikh Mansour wanted to when he purchased Manchester City in 2008. Despite inundating the club with money and talent from abroad it couldn’t seem to offer a stern challenge to the big four English clubs. That was until Aguero’s arrival from Atletico Madrid. In the 2010-11 season, City finished fourth with 71 points.
After Sergio Aguero’s arrival, they won their first Premier league title topping the league with 89 points and scoring 33 more goals than they did the season prior. I’m not suggesting that Aguero was the sole reason for City’s difference of 18 more points, and 33 more goals, but he was a vital contributor, to say the least netting 23 in his first season.
Since then he’s scored 20+ goals in five seasons, won three titles and made City a perennial contender not only in England but in Europe. Next season he’s expected to break into the EPL’s top ten all time scorers list.
#9 Diego Godin - 2010
2010 saw the transfers of names that would become inextricably linked to their new clubs. Yaya Toure, David Silva, and Javier Mascherano would all play become icons for their clubs. However, one man would go on to not only become a club icon but shape the style and philosophy of what is now what of the most formidable teams in Europe.
Before the arrival of long-time coach, Diego Simeone, it was the other Diego who through his influence in the locker room and backline would craft Atletico’s now patented defensive style of play. He may not have won much with Atletico but considering the purchasing power of Real and Barcelona what little Godin has won should be considered disproportionate.
#10 Cristiano Ronaldo – 2009
Popping up on this list a second time and for good reason is Cristiano Ronaldo. After winning three league titles and the Champions League with Manchester United, young Ronaldo was sold for the record-breaking transfer fee of 94 million euros to Real Madrid.
Despite the transaction occurring nearly a decade ago, this fee is still the 8th most expensive transfer fee in the world. We all know what happened next: 450 goals, four Champions League titles, and four Ballon d’Or awards. After the transfer, Ronaldo solidified his place as one of the greatest football players of all time. Without Ronaldo, it’s likely that Madrid couldn’t have competed with one of the best Barcelona teams of all time.
#11 Gerard Pique – 2008
A product of La Masia, Pique played four seasons with Manchester United before returning to Catalonia. Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t make many transfer blunders in his managerial career, but he did goof up when it came to selling the now Barcelona legend. Manchester United was ousted by Barcelona in the Champions League Final the very season the transfer was finalized.
Two seasons later and it was Pique and Barcelona that again denied United European glory. Pique has won seven domestic league titles with Barca and hasn’t lost his place leading the defensive line since his arrival. The Spanish international has been an integral cog in many a great Barcelona teams.
