5 players who returned to their former clubs this transfer window
The transfer window at the start of the football season is about to close and while numerous players have traded in their usual strips for new ones, some have chosen to don older, more familiar strips. After the first international break is over and the players are back playing domestic football, many will be in unfamiliar territory with new bosses, teammates, and fans to please. However, there will also be those who ae going back home, ready to begin a new chapter in a familiar place.
Clubs have gone above and beyond their budgets and status in pursuit of those considered the best, leaving no stone unturned. Here’s a look at five players who have re-signed with their former clubs this transfer window:
#5 Tomas Rosicky
After spending 10 years with Arsenal, Tomas Rosicky has gone done in Gunner folklore as one of their favourites. Following in his father’s footsteps, Rosicky joined Sparta Prague’s youth team and made his first senior appearance in 1998. He was a fresh young talent who spent three good years at the Czech club.
He was part of the team that won the domestic titles in 1999 and 2000. Rosicky was even awarded ‘Talent of the Year’ at the 1999 Czech Footballer of the Year awards. After an impressive start to Champions League campaign in 2000-01, he attracted attention from Borussia Dortmund and soon joined the German side in January 2001.
Known as ‘little Mozart’ for his ability to ‘orchestrate’ in the midfield area for Dortmund, he attracted Arsenal’s interest and quickly moved to the London side. In spite of spending an entire decade at Arsenal, he appeared for the north London club only intermittently as he was plagued by a string of long-term injuries. He won just two titles with the club and announced his decision to leave at the end of the 2016 season following the expiration of his contract. The move was most likely inspired by yet another injury.
However, the Czech midfielder had a very specific plan for his career. He was moving back to his old club, Sparta Prague on a free transfer for a period of two years and he completed the move this transfer window. At the age of 36, it makes sense a player would want to move back to his boyhood club to see out the rest of his playing career.