Top 10 free transfers in football history
Player transfers are one of the best aspects in the game of football. They add the much-needed drama and spice to the 'beautiful game'. Who doesn't like it when a big player joins their favourite club? What about when a player joins a fierce rival? What makes the feeling even better or worse is when a player signs for free. Sometimes, these 'free' signings go on to become some of the most important players of a football club.
Football clubs often have to shell out astronomical fees to sign the players they want. While using one's financial muscle is one way to sign top players, some shrewd planning and thinking can also get the deal done. Besides, it's always nice for the fans and the club to sign great players for free.
The Bosman Ruling states that when a player's contract with his current football club has less than six months remaining, the player can join any other club for free, that is without any money flow happening between the two clubs.
Jean-Marc Bosman's contract at RFC Liege was coming to an end in 1990, and Dunkirk wanted to sign him. However, the deal wasn't being allowed to go through, leading to a five-year legal battle at the European Court of Justice.
Before the Bosman ruling, a player could not leave their football club at the end of their contract unless that club agreed to let him go for free, or that club received an agreed fee from a buying club.
Clubs like Juventus and Bayern Munich have signed several top players for free who went on to have tremendous impact during their stints at their new clubs. Other notable clubs who have signed fabulous players for free include Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United and Barcelona among others.
Without any further ado, here are my top 10ten free transfers in the history of football.
# 10: Esteban Cambiasso - Real Madrid to Inter Milan, Inter Milan to Leicester City, Leicester City to Olympiacos
The legendary Argentine midfielder is one of two football players on this list to have been snapped up by three different clubs for free. Cambiasso was bought for free by Inter Milan from Real Madrid in 2004.
The decision was not a surprise at the time as Real Madrid had big football players like David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and Guti in their ranks. Perhaps this decision was in the interest of both parties as Real Madrid obviously did not have a place for Cambiasso who deserved regular first-team football. Cambiasso went on to have a fabulous career at Inter Milan.
Cambiasso was a versatile midfielder capable of both joining the attack and bolstering the defence. He went to win five consecutive Scudetti with Inter Milan and of course the Champions League title with Jose Mourihno in 2010. In fact, Inter won the treble that season.
After spending a glorious decade at the San Siro, the Argentine moved to Leicester City. Cambiasso had a huge part to play in Leicester avoiding relegation. In 2015, Cambiasso turned down a new contract offer from the English football club and moved to Olympiacos on a free transfer.
Cambiasso is well known for finishing a goal that had a mesmerising build-up in Argentina's 2006 World Cup clash against Serbia. The Argentine retired from football in September 2017.
#9: James Milner - Manchester City to Liverpool
James Milner is perhaps not the name that comes to mind when one thinks of the best players in Europe. Milner, however, is a very fine football player.
This man personifies the word 'versatile'. Milner can play as a winger, defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder, or full back. Milner, a player any manager would love to have, is perhaps not the most glamorous or appealing football player in the world. But he surely is capable of getting the job done.
It's no surprise that Jurgen Klopp wanted this player at Liverpool Football Club. Milner has been a key member of Liverpool's Champions League and Premier League-winning squads. He also has two Premier League medals (2012 and 2014) from his time at Manchester City.
On 26 December 2002, at 16 years and 356 days, Milner became the youngest player to score in the Premier League when he scored in a 2–1 win against Sunderland. By doing so, he broke Wayne Rooney's two-month old record.
#8 Henrik Larsson - Celtic to Barcelona
Even though Henrik Larsson spent only two seasons at the Nou Camp, he had a massive impact at the Spansh football club and is remembered fondly by the Barcelona faithful.
Larsson's transfer to Barcelona came as a shock to many as he had found the net an unbelievable 242 times in 315 games over seven years for Scottish giants Celtic. The Swede signed a one-year deal with Barcelona.
Injuries had wrecked the football player quite a few times, and his time at Barcelona wasn't any differernt in this regard. Larsson suffered a left knee injury and played just 16 matches in all competitions, scoring just four goals. Although Barcelona won the La Liga that season, Larsson obviously was not a key player in that triumph.
Barcelona renewed his deal for another year and Larrson repaid their faith in style. Although he scored only 10 goals, no Barcelona fan can forget the 2006 Champions League final. Larsson came on as a substitute and had a hand in both Barcelona goals as his team beat Arsenal 2-1.
Larrson also enjoyed a very short, but noteworthy stint at English football club Manchester United. It was January 2007 and United were short of attacking options. Larsson was contracted to Helsingborg, a Swedish club at that time. As it was Allsvenskan's off-season, it was an ideal time to sign him for a three-month period.
The then 35-year-old Swede scored three goals in 13 games for United. He missed out on a Premier League medal as he had to go back to Allsvenskan and his family.