Who is the best transfer to a new club of all time?

Any time a club announces a big-name signing, fans hope that name becomes the best transfer of all time. Way more often than not, that is not the case. To be fair, it is a tall order to be the ‘best’ at anything.

Last week, we asked about the flip side of this question. Analyzing the biggest transfer flops is one thing as soccer fans like to scrutinize. That part of the game is just in our blood. However, let’s put a more positive spin on that.

We want to know who you think is the best transfer of all time. Take into consideration things like cost, goal output, consistency, trophies and frankly how much of a positive impact they made with the new team. Positive being the key word there. Oftentimes we remember to transfers that did not pan out more than those that do.

The best transfer of all time

Using the factors listed above, there are a couple options that are truly remarkable.

As a Barcelona fan, the effect of Johan Cruyff on the club started with his transfer to the Catalan side in 1973 for just $2 million. Roughly adjusted for inflation in USD, that is around $14 million. Clearly a bargain for a player that revolutionized the club as both a player and a coach.

However, if the goal is simply trophies, Kenny Dalglish may take the top spot. The Scot broke the British record for a transfer fee at an Earth-shattering 440,000 pounds. For a modern American audience, that is $2.5 million in 2022. Nine league titles, four League Cups, three FA Cups and three European Cups later, he is the greatest player in a vaunted Liverpool history.

For something somewhat more recent, few would argue the impact Sergio Aguero made at Manchester City. Coming over from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2011. In that inaugural season, he scored the most-famous goal in the history of the Premier League. He clinched the league title for Manchester City, and would later go on to win everything except the Champions League. In doing so, he became the top foreign-born scorer in the history of the league. His 184 goals ranks fourth-highest in the history of the league, a bargain for what Manchester City paid to acquire him.

Who do you think is the best transfer to a new club of all time?

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