To mark the anniversary of Sol Campbell’s shock move from Tottenham to Arsenal, we take a look at five of the most controversial Premier League transfers of all time…
Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal to Manchester City – July 2009)
Arsenal fans were left feeling betrayed by Emmanuel Adebayor’s decision to head north back in the summer of 2009 but within two months, frustration had turned to rage.
A full-length sprint and a knee slide in front of Arsenal supporters in celebration was later condemned but not forgotten as the travelling Gooners hurled abuse and objects towards their arch-nemesis.
A transfer that lives long in the memory with Adebayor’s celebration an iconic Premier League moment.
Nick Barmby (Everton to Liverpool – July 2000)
Embed from Getty ImagesA case of six words changing the landscape of a player’s career. To Nick Barmby’s credit, he had told then Everton manager Walter Smith directly that “he wanted to play for Liverpool”.
There was no coming back from that. Barmby had subsequently turned down a £27,000 per week deal to stay and become Everton’s highest paid player in history and duly packed his bags to head across Stanley Park.
Barmby’s decision was merited as he would go on to play a decisive role in Liverpool winning the treble in his first season as a Red.
Ashley Cole (Arsenal to Chelsea – September 2006)
Embed from Getty ImagesA long-running transfer feud which saw Ashley Cole fined by the Premier League for making contact with Chelsea without informing Arsenal.
Chelsea and Jose Mourinho were also heavily fined before Cole seemingly put an end to the saga by agreeing a new one-year contract extension with Arsenal.
Just over a year later and with tensions still rife, Cole departed in acrimonious circumstances and later described feeling like Arenal had treated him like a “scapegoat” over the “tapping up” scandal.
Carlos Tevez (West Ham to Manchester City – July 2009)
Embed from Getty ImagesSir Alex Ferguson was left seething by the ultimate betrayal as Argentine striker Carlos Tevez rejected Manchester United’s advances to sign for arch-rivals Manchester City.
Ferguson had banked on Tevez turning his loan move from West Ham into a permanent transfer and was infuriated further as City unveiled a huge billboard of the striker in Manchester city centre.
Tevez later revealed he was furious with Ferguson and the nature of the pair’s souring relationship makes this a transfer that will never be forgotten.
Sol Campbell (Tottenham to Arsenal – July 2001)
The empty press room that greeted Sol Campbell as he arrived at London Colney to be unveiled as Arsenal’s new signing told its own story.
Not many believed that it was possible. Switching allegiances after verbally agreeing to remain at Spurs, Campbell’s move to Arsenal is surely the most controversial transfer in Premier League history.
The torrent of abuse Campbell received on his first visit back to White Hart Lane has, to this day, barely subsided as Spurs fans continue to struggle to come to terms with the manner of his departure.
The former England international cited competing for major honours as a determining factor and his decision was justified with two Premier League titles following in quick succession.
