5) Asmir Begovic – Portsmouth to Stoke – £3.25 million – 2010
Asmir Begovic was a Portsmouth player for six years but he hardly played for Portsmouth. After going from team to team to team, five total in six spells, he finally found a home at Stoke in 2010. As the goalkeeper for Tony Pulis’ Stoke teams, he had to face a lot of shots. Through it all, he thrived and even scored this beauty. He’s one of the players who kept Stoke in the EPL as long as it has.
4) Patrice Evra – Monaco to Manchester United – 7 million Euros – 2006
Patrice Evra had already established himself as a great left back when he was in Monaco. By going to Manchester United, Evra catapulted himself into one of the best left backs in the EPL despite being controversial. In the nine years he was at Manchester United, he won five EPL titles, three Capital One Cups, five Community Shields and the 2008 UEFA Champions League and Club World Cup titles. In one of the toughest positions to staff, Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t have to worry when he had Patrice Evra as left back.
3) Daniel Sturridge – Chelsea to Liverpool – £12 million – 2013
When he was at Chelsea, Daniel Sturridge wanted to play more and believed he could contribute more. When he wasn’t getting that, he wanted to leave Chelsea and was labeled as having an “attitude problem” and someone who was uncoachable. When Liverpool signed Sturridge for £12 million, there were many unknowns as to how he was going to perform. Liverpool’s latest attacking signings proved to be good (Luis Suarez) and bad (Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing) so it could’ve gone either way. Under Brendan Rodgers’ leadership, Sturridge shed off the “attitude problem” and began with a bang scoring 32 goals in 46 appearances. Sturridge has been injured since August with consistent leg injuries but he still is an important part of Liverpool’s attacking
2) Luis Suarez – Ajax to Liverpool – 29 million Euros – 2011
Luis Suarez is a polarizing figure. The man signifies everything that was good and bad about soccer. Liverpool fans hated that they loved him and needed him while they were on their EPL title run last season. Yes, Suarez is going to be remembered for the biting and racism but he is also going to be known as one of the most naturally gifted talents in soccer history and an unnerving determination to be the absolute best. After being sold to Barcelona for 94 million Euros, Suarez became one of the most profitable players in Liverpool history. He seems to be on his best behavior at Barcelona and while Liverpool and Suarez didn’t have the best of times, there were some good times and the two entities can move on.
1) Nemanja Vidic – Spartak Moscow to Manchester United – 8.9 million Euros – 2006
Nemanja Vidic came from Spartak Moscow to Manchester United for less than 9 million Euros but Vidic left Old Trafford as a legend. Just like with Patrice Evra, he won five EPL titles, three Capital One Cups, five Community Shields and the 2008 UEFA Champions League and Club World Cup titles. He became captain of Manchester United in 2010 and as center back, made it tough for opponents to score. When a legend and future captain of one of the best teams in soccer gets signed in the winter, you are going to the #1 spot.
