Thursday 11 June 2015 09:49, UK
James Milner and Danny Ings became the latest high-profile Bosman movers of the summer when they signed for Liverpool from Manchester City and Burnley this week.
The duo join a long line of players to have made the most of a transfer ruling passed by the European Court of Justice 20 years ago, when an appeal by Belgian player Jean-Marc Bosman changed the face of football forever.
Before the Bosman ruling, players could not leave unless their clubs agreed to let them go, but now they can dictate their own futures when they reach the end of their contracts. Here, we mark the opening of the transfer window by picking out the top 10 Bosman moves of the last 20 years.
James Milner
Milner became the Premier League's first high-profile Bosman mover of the summer when he agreed a deal to join Liverpool last week. Manchester City are believed to have offered the 29-year-old midfielder improved terms to stay at the Etihad and Arsenal were also thought to be interested, but the Reds won the race for his signature and he will join up with his new team-mates when his contract expires on July 1. It remains to be seen how Milner will fare at Liverpool, but he scored five goals and provided seven assists for City last season despite frequently starting on the bench. After winning two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup at City, the versatile England international will hope for more success with the Reds.
Sol Campbell
Campbell's move across north London from Tottenham to Arsenal in 2001 was probably the most controversial Bosman transfer in history. The centre-back was labelled 'Judas' by Spurs fans having promised never to join their fierce rivals, but a trophy-laden spell at Highbury seemed to justify his decision. Campbell helped the Gunners to a Premier League and FA Cup double in his first season and was a key member of the 'Invincibles', Arsenal's undefeated title winners of 2003/04. He left the club for Portsmouth in 2006, but returned for another brief spell at Arsenal in 2010.
Robert Lewandowski
Lewandowski's Bosman move from Borussia Dortmund to bitter rivals Bayern Munich was common knowledge for much of the 2013/14 season, and the Poland striker proved an excellent acquisition for Pep Guardiola's side. Lewandowski scored 66 Bundesliga goals in his final three years with Dortmund, and they struggled badly without the talismanic striker last season. Bayern, meanwhile, won the Bundesliga at a canter with Lewandowski spearheading their attack. In total, the 26-year-old scored 24 goals in 47 appearances in his first season in Bavaria.
Andrea Pirlo
Pirlo's move from AC Milan to Juventus in 2011 was arguably the pick of the bunch. The hirsute playmaker was deemed to be on the decline by Milan after an injury-hit campaign at the San Siro, but he blossomed at Juventus and re-established himself as one of the world's best midfielders. While Juventus won four consecutive Serie A titles following Pirlo's arrival, AC Milan rapidly declined. "I think was the signing of the century," said Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon after Pirlo's debut in 2011. "It's truly embarrassing just how good he is."
Henrik Larsson
After 242 goals in 313 games for Celtic, Larsson headed for Barcelona on a free transfer. The Sweden striker was approaching his 33rd birthday when he signed a one-year deal with the Catalan giants but they won La Liga in his first season, and he was given a new contract despite injury problems limiting him to 16 appearances. He was more involved the following year, however, scoring 15 goals in 42 appearances as they won a La Liga and Champions League double. In the Champions League final against Arsenal, Larsson played a match-winning role, coming off the bench to set up both goals as Barcelona came from behind to win 2-1.
Miroslav Klose
Klose is another veteran player who rekindled his career after a Bosman move. The vastly experienced former Germany international signed a three-year contract with Lazio after reaching the end of his contract with Bayern Munich in 2011. It seemed like an odd move for the 33-year-old, who had spent his entire career in the Bundesliga, but four years later he is still doing the business in Rome. Klose has scored 56 goals in 140 appearances for Lazio, and recently confirmed he is hoping to stay on for another season after helping them qualify for the Champions League.
Michael Ballack
Chelsea beat the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United to Ballack's signature when he left Bayern Munich in 2006. In four years at Stamford Bridge, the midfielder was a key figure. In total he won three FA Cups, a Premier League title and a League Cup. He was also a Champions League runner up in the 2007/08 season, in which he scored nine goals in 29 appearances from midfield.
Steve McManaman
McManaman signed a five-year contract with Real Madrid in 1999 having rejected a new contract at Liverpool and the opportunity to join Barcelona two years previously. He split opinion during his time as a winger at Liverpool, but he became a very different player in Spain as he swapped flair for industry and work-rate. Despite a number of high-profile Galactico arrivals in the years after his arrival in Spain, McManaman remained an important player for Madrid, winning two La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues before eventually returning to England with Manchester City in 2003.
Esteban Cambiasso
After his heroics with Leicester this season, it's fair to say Cambiasso merits two mentions in this list. The Argentine midfielder's first Bosman move came when Real Madrid foolishly allowed him to join Inter Milan in 2004. He marshalled Inter's midfield for a full decade, winning five Serie A titles, four Coppa Italias and the 2009/10 Champions League. The Foxes then made their move for Cambiasso last summer, and the 34-year-old played a pivotal role in their Premier League survival. Leicester are desperate to keep him at the club for another year, but he is yet to extend his contract and could soon make the third Bosman move of his career.
Gary McAllister
Gerard Houllier's decision to sign the 36-year-old McAllister on a Bosman transfer from Coventry in the summer of 2000 raised eyebrows everywhere, but the midfielder proved his doubters wrong in emphatic fashion. McAllister was crucial as the Reds secured a historic cup treble that season, winning the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup while also finishing third in the Premier League. Coventry were relegated without McAllister, who left the club as a Kop hero in 2002. Houllier named McAllister as his "most inspirational signing", and it was difficult to disagree.
