Manchester United have never been shy of making statement signings. From the Sir Alex Ferguson era to the chaotic rebuilds of the 2010s, the Reds have often leaned on high-profile transfer incomings to achieve their ambitions. That has meant smashing not only their own transfer record, but also the British transfer record, on a number of occasions.
While some of those marquee arrivals went on to etch their names into the club’s rich history by lifting the most coveted trophies, others became cautionary tales of how easily world-class talent can wither under the pressure of a hefty price-tag at Old Trafford.
Roy Keane - £3.75m in 1993
In the summer of 1993, Sir Alex Ferguson was looking to bolster a midfield which had just clinched United’s first league title in 26 years. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest had just suffered relegation and their fierce 21-year-old midfielder, Roy Keane, was one of the most sought-after players in English football.
The Irishman appeared to be heading to Blackburn Rovers but, because the required paperwork wasn’t submitted in time, the transfer couldn’t be registered over that weekend. Ferguson found out and quickly phoned Keane directly, setting up a meeting which would lead to United hijacking the move.
Their £3.75m investment, which smashed United’s previous record fee paid for Gary Pallister in 1989, quickly paid off as Keane became the heartbeat of the team. He struck up a formidable partnership in midfield with Paul Ince and later Paul Scholes, and his leadership proved priceless as United dominated the 1990s and early 2000s.
Keane was named club captain in 1997 and won a total of seven Premier Leagues, four FA Cups and the Champions League. By the time his bitter exit came in 2005, he had played 480 games for the club, cementing his status as arguably United's greatest-ever captain.
Andy Cole - £7m in 1995
Keane was United’s club record signing for around 18 months. In January 1995, Ferguson went back into the market to sign Andy Cole from Newcastle United. The deal was valued at £7m (£6m in cash plus Keith Gillespie moving to Tyneside, valued at £1m), and also broke the British transfer record. Cole’s ruthless scoring run, which earned him the move, continued at Old Trafford.
His legacy was immortalised thanks to his partnership with Dwight Yorke from 1998 onwards, and the duo were crucial in United winning the Treble in 1998/99. Cole left Old Trafford in 2001 and retired in 2008 with 289 official club goals, of which 121 came in a Reds jersey.
Angel Di Maria - £59.7m in 2014
Following a woeful seventh-place finish under David Moyes, United looked to implement a rebuild under Louis van Gaal in the summer of 2014. Desperately needing a world-class winger, United targeted Real Madrid’s Angel Di Maria. The Argentine was coming off the back of a Man of the Match performance in the 2014 Champions League final and taking his nation to a World Cup final.
United shattered the British transfer record again to sign him for a colossal £59.7m, handing him the iconic number 7 shirt. The move initially appeared a masterstroke as Di Maria racked up three goals and four assists in his first six games. However, the honeymoon ended soon after. Van Gaal's rigid, highly structured possession system suffocated Di Maria’s creative flair, leading to friction between the pair.
Off the pitch, an attempted burglary at his Cheshire home left his family unsettled and eager to leave England. By the second half of the season, Di Maria was dropped to the bench and he ended the campaign with just four goals. He refused to board United's pre-season tour flight to the United States and was sold to Paris Saint-Germain at a financial loss, cementing his place as one of Old Trafford's most expensive flops.
