Manchester United are always undoubtedly one of the clubs that are active on the summer transfer deadline day.
After playing a couple of games in the Premier League, the dust will have started to settle at Old Trafford – meaning the Manchester United manager will have more of an idea as to whether his Red Devils first-team squad still needs improving.
United are certainly not opposed to a last-minute deal – and what better time to do so than right on the wire?
So, with this – here are Manchester United’s best-ever summer transfer window deadline day deals.
Wayne Rooney – £27m from Everton (2004)
It had to be to begin with. Arguably the greatest coup in Manchester United’s history – when Wayne Rooney arrived as an 18-year-old from Everton for £27m on deadline day in 2004, no one could have predicted the monumental feats he’d achieve around Old Trafford.
Fresh off the back of a stunning Euro 2004 debut for England, Rooney’s arrival was met with major expectations, which the Englishman certainly surpassed.
United’s record goal-scorer is an undisputed legend – and most definitely Manchester United’s greatest-ever deadline-day signing.
Cristiano Ronaldo – £12.9 million from Juventus (2021)
From one Manchester United legend to another – the return of Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United in 2021 sent shockwaves around the footballing stratosphere.
After departing Manchester for Madrid a whopping 12 years ago, the prodigal son had returned, and it felt oh-so-good.
As we know with hindsight, the homecoming party did not exactly turn out as planned, but CR7 definitely did give Red Devils supporters some happy memories in his second stint around Carrington.
Dimitar Berbatov – £30.75m from Tottenham Hotspur (2008)
On transfer deadline day of 2008 – Dimitar Berbatov became a Manchester United player. Sir Alex Ferguson paid Spurs big bucks to secure to eloquent Bulgarian’s signature. £30.75m to be exact, a United record transfer fee at the time.
What a deal it turned out to be. Berbatov ended up being just as prolific in red as he was in white, scoring ludicrous goals for fun and exuberating class and style on the Old Trafford turf over four years.
Berbatov’s arrival from Tottenham Hotspur was made even more sweeter given the fact bitter rivals Manchester City, under their newly-led Saudi ownership rule, had made a late plea for the Bulgarian.
Thank god he chose red.
Anthony Martial – £36m from AS Monaco (2015)
Anthony Martial arrived from AS Monaco in 2015 for what was a quite ludicrous fee of £36 million for the young Frenchman, with the potential to rise through add-ons to around the £50m mark.
Many Red Devils believe that was paid in full just days later when he stole the show with a sensational debut goal against Liverpool.
He then spent nearly 10 years at United, becoming part of the furniture, but never met expectations due to Martial’s terrible injury record.
Edinson Cavani – Free from PSG (2020)
The most underappreciated striker in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, Edinson Cavani was an inspired pickup by Ole Gunnar Solksjaer in the summer of 2020.
With over 250 career goals to his name for household names such as PSG and Napoli, El Matador arrived with expectation, yet scrutiny due to his age. Could he produce in the Premier League?
The short answer was yes. His first season was electric, and he quickly became a fan favourite. That was until CR7 arrived a year later, and his game time depleted. Nevertheless, a striker who produced some great memories.
Daley Blind – £14m from Ajax (2014)
Certainly not as exciting as his predecessors on this list, but Daley Blind was a fantastic servant for the Red Devils.
He signed from Ajax in deadline day of 2014, with Louis van Gaal paying just £14m [BBC] for the versatile defender’s services.
Blind played a crucial role in the club’s FA Cup and Europa League triumphs, and will be remembered as a fantastic squad player and an underrated bargain at United.
Who else have Manchester United signed on transfer deadline day?
Here is a list of every single player Manchester United have signed on transfer deadline day:
- Antony
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Alex Telles
- Edinson Cavani
- Facundo Pellistri
- Anthony Martial
- Regan Poole
- Radamel Falcao
- Daley Blind
- Marouane Fellaini
- Saidy Janko
- Dimitar Berbatov
- Wayne Rooney
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