In an age, where money is the biggest power one can have, we see Premier League clubs spending exorbitant amounts of cash to get their desired player. Transfer fee records are being broken year after year, therefore it’s not surprising to see Manchester United willing to spend £120m to get Paul Pogba from Juventus this summer. However, there have also been players who were brought in for a bargain and then went on to become the best the league has seen. With the Premier League season just a few days away we look at the top 5 players who were brought in by their respective clubs for under £1m.
Kolo Toure
Toure moved to Arsenal in 2002 from ASEC Mimosas for a nominal fee of £150,000. The Ivorian international made a total of 326 appearances for the club and was part of the invincible team of 2003-2004 season. From the start the big centre-back formed a formidable partnership with Sol Campbell, it was their solidity at the back that allowed the likes of Henry and Bergkamp to flourish up front without any worry. The Ivorian moved to Manchester City in 2009 for£14 million, where he helped the club win its first Premier League title in 44 years.
Peter Schmeichel
Schmeichel is probably the best goalkeeper to have played in the Premier League. Manchester United signed Schmeichel from Brondby IF on 6 August 1991 for a fee of £505,000. The Denish international went on to make 292 appearances for the Red Devils, in which he won five EPL titles, three FA Cups, and a Champions League. Although United have had some great keepers over the year, Schmeichel will always be regarded as the best keeper United ever had. He was part the treble winning team of 1999 and even captained the side in that famous Champions League final against Bayern Munich.
Riyad Mahrez
Mahrez joined Leicester City in 2014 from French club Le Havre for reported fee of £400,000. The Algerian international was the stand-out player for the Foxes last season as they did the unthinkable by winning the Premier League. He was awarded the PFA player of the year gong for his 17 goals along with 11 assists. Currently, he is one the most sought after footballers in the world, with clubs like Arsenal and Barcelona fighting for his signature.
Raheem Sterling
Sterling joined Liverpool in 2010 for a nominal fee of £600,000 and went on to make a total of 95 appearances for the club, in which he scored 18 goals. Liverpool made a huge profit last year, when they decided to sell the England international to Manchester City in a deal worth around £50m. He is the second most expensive British player after Gareth Bale.
Seamus Coleman
Coleman moved to Everton from Sligo Rovers in January 2009 for a mere £60,000. Since then the Irish full-back has made a total of 180 appearances on route to becoming one of the most important players at the club. He is regarded as one of the top right backs in the country currently. Giving his signing fee, the transfer of Coleman has to go down as the bargain of the century. He has recently been linked with big money moves to the likes of PSG and Manchester United.