{"id":1244584,"date":"2023-01-29T19:00:14","date_gmt":"2023-01-29T19:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1244584"},"modified":"2023-01-29T19:12:44","modified_gmt":"2023-01-29T19:12:44","slug":"best-deadline-day-signings-premier-league","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/best-deadline-day-signings-premier-league\/","title":{"rendered":"Premier League deadline day: Last-minute signings that turned out to be bargains"},"content":{"rendered":"

Transfer deadline is is often a law unto itself, a soap opera soaked in drama that defies any logic or reason.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If Peter Odemwingie isn’t turning up at random club car parks trying to force a move, then Harry Redknapp is rolling down his window and having a good ol’ chinwag with reporters. It’s truly a spectacle like no other!<\/p>\n

For some managers, though, deadline day is a time of panic. The crisis klaxons seem to sound the minute Jim White puts on his yellow tie and fax machines across the continent go into overdrive, unless you’re in Madrid, of course. Sorry David de Gea.<\/p>\n

With that, some weird and wonderful deals can sprout up, typically out of the blue. As managers roll the dice, last-minute gambles can often backfire, like Fernando Torres to Chelsea, Andy Carroll to Liverpool or Radamel Falcao to Man Utd.<\/p>\n

But, there are some that go on to become absolute steals, Eleventh Hour deals that prove managers can have the Midas touch even in desperate times. Here are 16 such examples over the years.<\/p>\n

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    Ashley Cole<\/h2>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    From: <\/strong>Arsenal<\/p>\n

    To: <\/strong>Chelsea<\/p>\n

    Fee: <\/strong>\u00a35m plus William Gallas<\/p>\n

    Perhaps it’s a bit cheeky of us to put Cole in this list given that William Gallas was used in a part exchange, but only \u00a35m was actually exchanged between Chelsea and Arsenal.<\/p>\n

    Cole was already one of the best full-backs in Europe when he left the Gunners but during his time at Stamford Bridge, he established himself as perhaps the best left-back in the world and his trophy cabinet from his time at the Blues only backs up that claim up.<\/p>\n

    Alvaro Arbeloa<\/h2>\n

    From: <\/strong>Deportivo La Coruna<\/p>\n

    To: <\/strong>Liverpool<\/p>\n

    Fee: <\/strong>\u00a32.6m<\/p>\n

    Arbeloa was a favourite during his two-and-a-half years on Merseyside, making the right-back slot his own and consistently performing for Liverpool.<\/p>\n

    The Spaniard only cost the Reds \u00a32.6m when he moved to Merseyside in 2007 and his efforts earned him a move to Real Madrid two years later.<\/p>\n

    Glen Johnson<\/h2>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    From: <\/strong>Chelsea<\/p>\n

    To: <\/strong>Portsmouth<\/p>\n

    Fee: <\/strong>\u00a34m<\/p>\n

    Johnson had already spent a year on loan at Portsmouth before the club signed him permanently on deadline day in 2007. The right-back would help to win the FA Cup in his first season after establishing himself in their back-line.<\/p>\n

    The defender impressed for England, was named in the PFA Team of the Year in the 2008\/09 season and eventually earned a big-money move to Liverpool – a decent \u00a34m move by the South Coast outfit!<\/p>\n

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      Asmir Begovic<\/h2>\n

      From: <\/strong>Portsmouth<\/p>\n

      To: <\/strong>Stoke City<\/p>\n

      Fee: <\/strong>\u00a33.25m<\/p>\n

      Goalkeeper Begovic joined Stoke as a backup on the last day of the 2010 winter window and worked his way to first-choice just 18 months later.<\/p>\n

      The Bosnian’s form helped establish the Potters as a consistent figure in the top flight and the shot-stopper’s excellent efforts earned him a move to Chelsea in 2015 as a result.<\/p>\n

      Rafael van der Vaart<\/h2>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

      From: <\/strong>Real Madrid<\/p>\n

      To: <\/strong>Tottenham<\/p>\n

      Fee: <\/strong>\u00a38m<\/p>\n

      Still one of the most left-field transfers in Premier League history, supporters from across Europe couldn’t believe it when Tottenham signed Real Madrid playmaker Van Der Vaart in 2010 for just \u00a38m.<\/p>\n

      The fee was simply too good to pass up and the Dutchman established himself as a fan favourite during his time at White Hart Lane, helping the club to reach the Champions League quarter-finals before they were eliminated by his old side.<\/p>\n

      Christian Benteke<\/h2>\n

      From: <\/strong>Genk<\/p>\n

      To: <\/strong>Aston Villa<\/p>\n

      Fee: <\/strong>\u00a37m<\/p>\n

      Questions were asked of Paul Lambert when he sanctioned a deal for Benteke but while most of the manager’s other signings at Villa flopped, the striker was a sure hit.<\/p>\n

      A powerful and consistent forward, the Belgium was Villa’s main front-man for three years and took the Premier League by storm before moving to Liverpool.<\/p>\n

      Hugo Lloris<\/h2>\n

      From: <\/strong>Lyon<\/p>\n

      To: <\/strong>Tottenham<\/p>\n

      Fee: <\/strong>\u00a38m<\/p>\n

      Another brilliant purchase by Tottenham, Spurs paid just \u00a38m for the Frenchman from Lyon a decade ago.<\/p>\n

      Undoubtedly Lloris was on his way to becoming a top goalkeeper when he moved to White Hart Lane and now at 35 he has truly established himself in that bracket. Not only that, but he is also Tottenham’s captain! Not bad business at all.<\/p>\n

      John Stones<\/h2>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

      From: <\/strong>Barnsley<\/p>\n

      To: <\/strong>Everton<\/p>\n

      Fee: <\/strong>\u00a33m<\/p>\n

      Not many Everton fans paid much attention when their club brought in John Stones from League One Barnsley in 2013. The youngster was clearly a signing for the future, if he could make it in the top level.<\/p>\n

      However, three-and-a-half years later, Everton got over ten times back on their investment when Stones moved to Manchester City for \u00a350m in 2016, having become an essential member of the Toffees’ defence.<\/p>\n

      Scott Dann<\/h2>\n

      From: <\/strong>Blackburn Rovers<\/p>\n

      To: <\/strong>Crystal Palace<\/p>\n

      Fee: <\/strong>\u00a31.5m<\/p>\n

      Most people thought Dann’s crack at the Premier League had passed when he was relegated with Blackburn Rovers in 2012, the third relegation of his career.<\/p>\n

      Despite this Crystal Palace took a chance on the defender in 2014 and he went on to make over 180 appearances for the Eagles before leaving last summer.<\/p>\n

      Find the latest Premier League winner odds for the 2025-26 season here:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
      \r\n

      PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE ODDS<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n

      Club<\/b><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\r\nSky Bet<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
      Liverpool<\/strong><\/td>\r\n15\/8<\/b><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
      Arsenal<\/strong><\/td>\r\n9\/4<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
      Manchester City<\/b><\/td>\r\n11\/4<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
      Chelsea<\/b><\/td>\r\n9\/1<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
      Newcastle<\/b><\/td>\r\n33\/1<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
      Manchester United<\/b><\/td>\r\n33\/1<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
      Tottenham<\/b><\/td>\r\n50\/1<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
      Aston Villa<\/b><\/td>\r\n66\/1<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n

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      Dele Alli<\/h2>\n

      From: <\/strong>MK Dons<\/p>\n

      To: <\/strong>Tottenham<\/p>\n

      Fee: <\/strong>\u00a35m<\/p>\n

      The Dele Alli of today would look out of place on this list. But before his form nosedive, the 37-capped England international struck 46 goals in his first three seasons in north London, also helping Mauricio Pochettino’s men reach the 2019 Champions League final, in which he started.<\/p>\n

      Tariq Lamptey<\/span><\/h2>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

      From: <\/strong>Chelsea<\/p>\n

      To: <\/strong>Brighton<\/p>\n

      Fee: <\/strong>\u00a34m<\/p>\n

      With a surfeit of wing-back talent emerging from Cobham, chiefly Reece James, Chelsea allowed Tariq Lamptey to move to Brighton for just \u00a34m in January 2020. Having only made one Premier League appearance for the Blues, \u00a34m looked like savvy business from both parties.<\/p>\n

      Brighton gambled on the unheralded youngster, and that gamble has more than paid off. He is now considered among the best wing-backs in the division (when fit), but his form has waned just slightly since sustaining a long-term hamstring injury in 2020\/21. At 22, time is still on his side to rediscover his initial buzz.<\/p>\n

      Jarrod Bowen<\/h2>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

      From: <\/strong>Hull City<\/p>\n

      To: <\/strong>West Ham<\/p>\n

      Fee: <\/strong>\u00a322.5m<\/p>\n

      A \u00a322.5m fee for a Championship player certainly didn’t seem like a bargain when West Ham brought Jarrod Bowen to the London Stadium in January 2020, but given his current form and making it into the England squad, David Moyes has a player on his hands potentially worth triple that value.<\/p>\n

      The Hammers were in relegation trouble when they reached out to Hull, who knew they could demand a premium for their prized asset. Moyes gave the green light, and Bowen has now gone on to become one of the Premier League’s most devastating forwards, capable of unlocking doors, breaching nets and turning full-backs inside out. That \u00a322.5m fee now looks an absolute snip.<\/p>\n

      Raphinha<\/h2>\n

      From: <\/strong>Rennes<\/p>\n

      To: <\/strong>Leeds United<\/p>\n

      Fee: <\/strong>\u00a317m<\/p>\n

      There were, of course, two summer deadline days in the 2020\/21 season. The first ending on October 5, and the second — for domestic signings only — ‘slamming shut’ on October 16. For the first, which allowed overseas purchases, Marcelo Bielsa strengthened his frontline with the acquisition of Raphinha from Rennes.<\/p>\n

      The Brazilian was a bit of an unknown entity on these shores, but he quickly set to work transfixing terraces with his dazzling imagination and quick feet. Style and substance are rarely happy bedfellows, but Raphinha encompasses both; a player who would not look out of place in a YouTube highlight reel set to dubstep, but also a player who makes a tangible impression in the final third.<\/p>\n

      No wonder Barcelona came knocking.<\/p>\n

      Dejan Kulusevski<\/strong><\/h2>\n
      \n

      Only three players in the competition\u2019s history have reached 10 assists in fewer games than Dejan Kulusevski. ? pic.twitter.com\/CEaSNK1mlK<\/a><\/p>\n

      — Squawka (@Squawka) August 28, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n