Top 10 deadline deals in European transfer history
It is not unusual for a tranfer to take place a few hours or even minutes before the transfer window closes. While deals like this may be regarded as rushed, reality and history have demonstrated that many times, these deadline day transfer deals turn out to be some of the best decisions ever.
Below are 10 deadline transfer deals within the last three decades that turned out great, in no particular order.
RONALDO NAZARIO (INTER MILAN TO REAL MADRID) 2002
After Ronaldo’s incredible season at Barcelona with 47 goals in 49 games, the 21 year old Brazilian move to Serie A giants, Inter Milan where he received the Ballon d’or award at the age of 21. The youngest player to ever win the prestigious award. A few years later, the forward would go back to Laliga, but this time to Real Madrid and on deadline day for 46 million.
The transfer as you know, turned out well as R9 as he is popularly known spent 4 beautiful seasons at Real Madrid, scoring 103 goals and 34 assists. His performance in his debut season also earned him a Ballon d’or title, making him one of the few to ever win the title at different clubs, he also won the golden boot later on. Throughout his years at Madrid, the Brazilian won 5 trophies including 2 Laliga titles, 1 UEFA super cup and one Spanish cup. He never won the champions league though, as Real Madrid never made it past the round off 16 in his four years at the club.
CLAUDE MAKELELE (REAL MADRID TO CHELSEA) 2003
Claude Makelele’s move to Chelsea in 2003 was one with a lot of expectations as he already had an illustrious time at Real Madrid, winning seven trophies with the Spanish side, including 1 Champions League title, 2 Laliga titles and 1 UEFA Super cup title.
The French man’s move to Chelsea is well remembered with his effort in the 2004/2005 season where Chelsea conceded just 15 goals throughout the whole season. He also went on to win 6 titles with the blues, including 2 back to back Premier league titles, 2 English league cups, 1 FA cup and 1 English super cup, while reinventing the defensive midfield role while at it.
WAYNE ROONEY (EVERTON TO MANCHESTER UNITED) 2004
Wayne Rooney’s impressive outing with the English squad at the Euro 2004 earned him the title of the best English player at the tournament. It also earned him the title of the world’s most expensive youngster at the time as Manchester United acquired the 18 year old for 37 million.
Rooney went on to become one of Manchester United’s best players in history, been the highest goal scorer in the history of the club with 253 goals for the club. He also won 17 trophies for the English club, including 1 Champions league trophy, 1 EUROPA league trophy, 5 premier league trophies and 1 FA cup to mention a few.
SERGIO RAMOS (SEVILLA TO REAL MADRID) 2004
Looking at the career that Sergio Ramos had at Real Madrid, it is quite hard to believe that the one time world cup winner’s transfer was a transfer deadline deal.
Having shown good talent in the previous season with Sevilla, the defender attracted the attention of Los Blancos who paid 27 million for the defender. The move turned out well as Ramos’ time at Madrid saw him win 4 Champions League trophies, while been the first person to captain a team to 3 consecutive Champions league trophies.
Sergio Ramos is known for his brutal defensive abilities, which has earned him 26 red cards, but his goal scoring prowess is not to be underrated as the former Real Madrid center back has a crazy goal tally of 101 goals and 40 assists in 671 matches for the Madrid based club – stats that would even make a striker ashamed.
ASHLEY COLE (ARSENAL TO CHELSEA) 2006
Ashley Cole’s move from North London to West London was not won without any controversy, having just won the Premier League title with gunners as part of the invisibles, Ashley Cole was suspected of plotting a move from Arsenal to Chelsea after we was said to be seen meeting with Chelsea representatives. It turned out to be true as he moved the very next season for a measly sum of 7 million plus William Gallas.
It turned out a good business for the blues as Ashley Cole won 9 trophies with the blues, including 1 Premier league title, 1 Champions League, 1 Europa title and 4 FA cups among others. He also appeared 337 times for Chelsea.
DIMITAR BERBATOV (TOTTENHAM TO MANCHESTER UNITED) 2008
Berbatov is another deadline day transfer that turned out so well. After scoring over 40 goals at Tottenham, the Bulgarian striker, who was known for his subtle touch caught the eye of Alex Fergusen, who needed something new in his frontline. The fee for Dimitar Berbatov was 38 million for a 4 years deal.
The Bulgarian showed his worth two seasons later when he won the Premier league golden boot, he won 7 trophies with the red devils, including 2 Premier league titles, 2 English super cups, 2 league cups and 1 club world cup. He also scored 56 goals and 26 assists for the club.
GARETH BALE (TOTTENHAM TO REAL MADRID) 2013
Gareth Bale gained more popularity after he was switched from the left back position to the frontline due to his speed and ability going forward and in 2013, Spanish giants, Real Madrid paid a whooping sum of 101 million for the Welsh to bolster the already super squad at Madrid. The former spurs man proved his worth by scoring 106 goals and 67 assists while at Real Madrid, he also was 5 Champions league trophies, 3 Laliga titles, 3 UEFA Super cups, 1 Spanish cup and 1 Spanish super cup.
MESUT OZIL (REAL MADRID TO ARSENAL) 2013
Mesut Ozil’s Real Madrid exit for Arsenal on deadline day did not only come as a shock to the fans but to some of his former teammates at Real Madrid such as Sergio Ramos and Christiano Ronaldo.
The gunners paid 47 million for the German midfielder and while he did not win the Premier league or Champions league titles while at Arsenal, his contributions of 44 goals and 75 assists in 254 games earned him a place here, he also won 4 FA Cup titles and 2 English super cups.
MANUEL AKANJI (DORTMUND TO MANCHESTER CITY) 2022
Manuel Akanji is one of the deadline day transfers of the recent times who has turned out to be great. His good performances at Borrusia Dortmund earned him the admiration of City manager, Pep Guardiola who sought him for his team.
Manchester city acquired the defender for 20 million and the Swiss has since proven to be worth the interest. Since his debut, he has won2 Premier league trophies, 1 Champions league title, and 1 Club world cup trophy, 1 UEFA Super cup, 1 FA Cup and 1 Community shield.
COLE PALMER (MANCHESTER CITY TO CHELSEA) 2023
Another deadline day signing of the recent years that is proving to be effective, is Cole Palmer. Breaking through the Manchester City academy, the left footed maverick hoped to break into Pep Guardiola’s first team all to no avail playing only a combined 850 minutes for the citizens the season before.
The 22 year old moved to Chelsea the following season for a fee of 47 million on the transfer deadline day.
While he has not won any silverware for the blues, he has hit the ground running with his 25 goals and 15 assists in 45 games, making him the player with most goals and assists in the premier league last season.
