Top signings by Arsène Wenger

Fredrik Ljungberg

In: £3m Out: £3m

“We love you Freddie, cuz you’ve got red hair

We love you Freddie, cuz you’re everywhere.”

One of the many talismanic players to have played under Wenger, the Swedish footballer was a gem. He took the plunge in 1998, when he signed from Halmstads BK for £3 million. The amount made it the maximum amount paid for a Swedish player at that time. Arsène Wenger, renowned for his meticulous assessment of talent, skipped a few steps after he decided to sign Ljungberg after watching him play in Sweden’s victory against England on television. Ljungberg hit the ground running, scoring on debut against Manchester United, and helping Arsenal win the game 3-0.

Over the next nine seasons, the player accumulated 216 games, scoring 46 times. Comfortable on either wing, Ljungberg could play as an attacking midfielder and double up as a supporting striker. After the departure of Emmanuel Petit and Marc Overmars, he found a permanent spot in the first team. In Arsenal.com’s List of Greatest 50 Players, the Swede came in 11^th.

The Calvin Klein underwear model was a huge hit with advertisers, representing Nike, P&G, L’Oreal, Puma, ESPN and Pepsi. He was also named the sexiest player in the Premier League at one point in time.

Ljungberg left Arsenal for West Ham United in 2007 for £3 million. Another one of Wenger’s smart buys.