Leeds United, Burnley and Sunderland earned promotion to the Premier League last season and each face a tough task to survive.
The gap between the second tier and Premier League appears to be growing and recruitment will be crucial to their chances of consolidation.
Sunderland have set a new transfer record for a promoted team with the £30m capture of Habib Diarra from Strasbourg, while Leeds and Burnley have brought in solid signings.
Talents, no doubt, but not quite the big names that have joined promoted teams in past seasons. Here are five of the best marquee additions for newly-promoted teams.
The biggest statement signings by teams promoted to the Premier League
Alan Shearer – Blackburn Rovers (1992)
Jack Walker bankrolled Blackburn Rovers’ route to the top of English football in the early nineties. After earning promotion to the top flight ahead of the Premier League’s inaugural season, Blackburn broke the British transfer record by signing Alan Shearer from Southampton.
Shearer was fast emerging as England’s best goalscorer and enjoyed a prolific period at Ewood Park.
Starting his journey to becoming the #PL‘s record scorer ⚽️#OnThisDay in 1992, @alanshearer moved to Blackburn @Rovers pic.twitter.com/6Cg32VV14e
— Premier League (@premierleague) July 27, 2019
He scored 112 goals in 138 league appearances, winning two Golden Boots, and helped Rovers to Premier League title success in 1994/95. After four seasons he recouped Rovers a world-record transfer fee, after joining boyhood club Newcastle United in a £15m transfer.
Iconic Duos: Shearer and Sutton – Blackburn’s ‘SAS’
Juninho – Middlesbrough (1995)
Middlesbrough beat competition from some of Europe’s leading clubs to land Juninho in 1995, signing the Brazilian midfielder after promotion in 1995. It was a shock move for both the player and the club, with Juninho having broken into the Brazil set-up earlier that year.
Juninho’s arrival was the start of a love affair between the Samba star and North-East England. His brilliance kept the club in the top flight during his debut season but ‘Boro were relegated the following campaign, despite Juninho finishing as runner-up for the FWA Player of the Year award.
DONE DEAL: #OnThisDay in 1995 Boro welcomed Juninho to the Riverside.
The Brazilian superstar, in a suit three sizes too big for him, was treated to a samba band and a game of keepy-uppy with Bryan Robson.pic.twitter.com/3etiuBAfk6
— A Funny Old Game (@sid_lambert) October 7, 2018
He departed to keep his Brazil hopes alive, only to twice return. A loan spell in 1999/2000 was followed by a permanent return in 2002. During that third spell, he helped Middlesbrough to 2004 League Cup success, the club’s only major honour.
Edwin van der Sar – Fulham (2001)
How Edwin van der Sar arrived at Fulham in 2001 remains a real head-scratcher.
The Dutchman had won the Champions League at Ajax before two seasons at Juventus. A world-record deal for Gianluigi Buffon ended his time in Turin, with Fulham the surprise destination. Van der Sar moved to the newly-promoted West Londoners in 2001 and spent four seasons with Fulham, as part of an impressive team under Jean Tigana and later Chris Coleman.
Manchester United came calling in 2005 to sign the veteran goalkeeper. Despite being 35 at the time of his arrival, Van der Sar enjoyed the best period of his career at Old Trafford. He lifted 11 trophies, including four Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League.
Youri Djorkaeff – Bolton Wanderers (2002)
Sam Allardyce must have been one smooth talker in the boardroom. During the early noughties, ‘Big Sam’ persuaded some huge names to take on a new challenge at Bolton Wanderers.
Youri Djorkaeff was the trailblazer for what would follow, with the World Cup and European Championship winner landing in the North West from Kaiserslautern.
🌍🏆 A @FIFAWorldCup winner with France in ’98, Youri Djorkaeff added star quality to a Wanderers side upon his arrival in February 2002.
We’ve picked out 🔟 of the goals he scored during just over two seasons at the club! #BWFC 🐘🏰 pic.twitter.com/PP3yrLwpnR
— Bolton Wanderers (@OfficialBWFC) April 24, 2020
A huge fan favourite, the Frenchman’s arrival helped consolidate Bolton in the Premier League and paved the path for names including Jay-Jay Okocha, Ivan Campo, Fernando Hierro and Nicolas Anelka to sign for the club.
Indian summers in Bolton. Barclays heritage.
Nicolas Anelka – Manchester City (2002)
When Nicolas Anelka joined Real Madrid in a club-record deal in 1999, the French forward was regarded as one of world football’s most exciting talents. A sensation at Arsenal, he had won a domestic double and the PFA Young Player of the Year before leaving his teens.
The move to Real Madrid did not work out as planned, despite Champions League success, and kickstarted a nomadic existence. A return to PSG was followed by a loan spell with Liverpool before Manchester City swooped in to sign Anelka.
Kop end.
Final minute of stoppage time.@ManCity’s Nicolas Anelka shows how to haunt your former club in style… 😮#GoalOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/RNXQOmE5zB— Premier League (@premierleague) April 28, 2017
Back then, the Citizens had bounced between the top two divisions, a far cry from their status as a Premier League powerhouse. Anelka’s arrival was a coup and he soon proved his class, scoring 45 goals in 103 games over three seasons.
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