Fascinating facts about the top 10 best Chelsea legends of all time
FootballTransfer Deadline Day: Top 5 Premier League Signings That Proved Worthy
- Most European transfer windows close at different times today, September 1
- Clubs have begun jostling to fill up voids in their squads and make sales
- Deals done in a hurry have sometimes gone wrong for Premier League clubs
The European transfer window closes tonight, though some countries have about a week extension, with Germany closing first by 5 pm GMT and the Premier League shutting by 11 pm.
Clubs have begun jostling and hustling to buy and sell. The speed at which transfers get done on the deadline day makes you wonder why clubs can't do things the easy way while the window is still in its infancy.
Sports Brief looks at the top 5 transfers Premier League clubs made on the final day that proved worthy.
1. Wayne Rooney
A teenage Rooney arrived at Manchester United from Everton on the summer deadline of 2004 and Sir Alex Ferguson described him as the best talent in the country in 30 years. According to Planet Football, he proved him right with 253 goals and 16 trophies in 13 years.
2. Ashley Cole
Chelsea snapped up the English full-back from their rivals, Arsenal on the summer deadline of 2006. He proved to be a bargain, cementing his status as one of the best left-backs of his generation. The move was also good for the player who won multiple trophies while his former club went on a 10-year drought.
3. Dimitar Berbatov
Manchester United hijacked the Bulgarian from the grasp of their city rivals, Manchester City, despite having a deal accepted first. He won six trophies in his four years at Old Trafford including the 2011 golden boot. He told Sky Sports his move to Tottenham two years earlier was almost hijacked by Ferguson's side.
4. Claude Makelele
Chelsea secured the services of French midfielder Claude Makelele on the deadline day of the 2003 summer window. He helped the central midfielders at the club flourish by providing necessary defensive cover. He has the defensive midfield role named after him.
Ranking of the top 10 Manchester City legends of all time
Football5. Mikel Arteta
Arsenal began the 2011/12 season on a poor note, losing 8-2 to Manchester United three games into the season. Mikel Arteta was signed from Everton on the deadline day. His expertise and leadership brought calm to the team and was eventually named captain. He won the first two of three consecutive FA Cups between 2013-2016. He is back at the club as manager.
Top 5 disastrous deadline deals
Sports Brief analysed the top 5 disastrous deadline day deals by Premier League clubs and it had names that flopped for top clubs despite coming in with high reputations.
Liverpool sold out Fernando Torres who never hit the heights at Chelsea and used part of the fee to sign a bigger flop in Andy Carroll, who returned six league goals in three years.