Football: Most expensive teenagers in English Premier League
The start of the European football season is just about a month away and teams are busy in the transfer market trying to bolster their squads with fresh young talent. The success of the Spanish and German sides at the World Cup has emphasized the importance of having young players in the squad and this has had a direct affect on the market prices of some of the most sought after youngsters like Sergio Cannales, Conor Wickham and Graham Dorrans.
Teams are fighting tooth and nail to secure the services of these teen prodigies but the inflated rates in the market do not help at all.
In the past there have been some insane amounts paid for virtually unknown footballers and here is a list of such players some of whom have made it big and some have not.
Glen Johnson: West Ham to Chelsea - £6m
The electric paced right back was just 18 when he made the move from Upton Park Stamford Bridge and had just represented West Ham a mere 15 times. Chelsea swooped in for the youngster in 2003 making him the first signing in Roman Abrahamovic’s era. The 6 million pounds paid for the teenager to West Ham back in 2003 is still the highest amount ever paid by the London club to secure the services of a player in his teens but Johnson failed to impress his then manager, Jose Mourinho, and was later offloaded to Portsmouth.
Gareth Bale: Southampton to Tottenham - £5m (rising to £10m)
The Welsh Left back first came to prominence in Southampton back in 2006 where he made the left back spot his own and becoming a free kick specialist for the south coast boys. Manchester United were keen to bring him to Old Trafford but the youngster chose to sign for the Spurs when he signed for them in 2007 only at the age of 17 for a initial fee of 5 million pounds. He had a cursed start to his career at White Hart Lane as his team failed to win a single match whenever he featured in the starting line-up, the run stretched to 24 games. His first win for the club, was incredibly, after almost 2 years of joining the club against Wigan. But last season he was in inspired form where he was tormenting the opponents with his marauding runs forward and also scoring some crucial goals. His performances also made him a strong contender for a national call, but Capello chose the experienced legs of Ashley Cole.
Theo Walcott: Southampton to Arsenal - £9m
Walcot is a lightning fast winger that can terrorize the best defences in the world. Walcott was roommate of Gareth Bale when the players were part of Southampton’s youth academy. While Bale opted for Spurs, Walcott chose the other side of North London signing for Arsenal in a big money move back in 2006. He had the choice of signing for Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United or Tottenham but opted to play for the Gunners.
Cristiano Ronaldo: Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United - £12m
The now most expensive player in the world was an absolute nobody back in 2003 when Manchester United bought him from Sporting Lisbon for 12 million pounds. He had both Arsenal and Liverpool after him but opted for a move to Old Trafford. Ronnie was just 18 when he made his debut for Manchester United in the English Premier League and under the tutelage of Sir Alex Ferguson has gone on to become one of the best players in World Football.
Anderson: Porto to Manchester United - £18m
It really seems mind boggling that the Brazilian midfielder cost more than Cristiano Ronaldo but it’ actually true, as Manchester United paid FC Porto, a staggering 18 million pounds to bring the midfielder to Old Trafford in 2007 at the age of 19. The midfielder has had a stop start career at the club and has failed to cement his position in the starting 11. He has often been linked with a move away from Old Trafford but with the player failing to live up to his price tag United are not likely to get their money back.
Wayne Rooney: Everton to Manchester United - £27m
Rooney burst on the international stage only at the age of 17 while playing for Everton when he scored a stunning goal against Arsenal. That was the day that changed the life of a 17 year old. United snapped up the Scouse star for a staggering 27 million pounds and have had their every penny worth. Ronney has been bagging goals left, right and centre for United and has become the fulcrum of the side and has helped the red devils win 3 premier league titles and a Champions League crown.
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