The 2023 January transfer window saw yet another big-name player sign for a promoted club as Keylor Navas signed on loan for Nottingham Forest, but which of these signings have been the best in Premier League history?

The 30 years of the Premier League have seen the marketability and popularity of English football skyrocket, which has led to players wanting to test themselves in the league. The financial disparity between the league and its European contemporaries has also played a huge role in many moves.

Some players have joined promoted clubs with the intention to use them as springboards to greater success, others when their careers have been at a crossroads and many in the twilight of their playing days.

Here are the 10 best big-name signings by promoted clubs in the Premier League era.

Read more: 2022/23 Premier League January transfer Window: Top 10 signings

10. Attilio Lombardo – Crystal Palace 1997/98

Affectionately nicknamed “The Bald Eagle” by Palace fans, Lombardo stunningly arrived at Selhurst Park in the summer of 1997 as the club embarked on their first-ever Premier League season. He arrived from Juventus, with whom he had won the Serie A title, as he did with Sampdoria too.

His signing didn’t keep Palace in the division, but he became a club legend overnight. Lombardo briefly acted as player-manager towards the end of the season, stayed with them upon their demotion, and only left to win another Serie A, this time with Lazio. In 2005, he was voted into the club’s all-time XI. Impact.


9. Esteban Cambiasso – Leicester City 2014/15

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Esteban Cambiasso of Leicester City celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and Queens Park Rangers at The King Power Stadium on May 24, 2015 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Esteban Cambiasso of Leicester City celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and Queens Park Rangers at The King Power Stadium on May 24, 2015 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

One of the great defensive midfielders of the 21st century, Cambiasso became a Fox in the summer of 2014 after 10 years with Inter Milan, with whom he had won the treble with in 2010 along with numerous other honours.

If anyone thought the 34-year-old was coming for a swansong, they were quickly set straight as the Argentine helped keep Nigel Pearson’s side in the top flight, even scoring in the epic 5-3 win over Manchester United. He was voted the club’s Player of the Year but then left, to be replaced by N’Golo Kante. Succession.


8. Raphinha – Leeds 2020/21

Upon Leeds’ promotion to the top flight after 16 years in lower league purgatory, the club instantly made a splash with their exciting brand of football under Marcelo Bielsa. It was also the presence of “El Loco” that enabled the club to sign Raphinha from Rennes.

The Brazilian winger quickly became the best player in the team along with Kalvin Phillips and helped the club stay up in both of his seasons at Elland Road. The measure of his success is seen in the £50 million transfer fee that took him to Barcelona, who beat off competition from Chelsea and Arsenal.


7. Christophe Dugarry – Birmingham City 2002/03

BIRMINGHAM - APRIL 21: Christophe Dugarry of Birmingham City celebrates after scoring from a free-kick during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Birmingham City and Southampton on April 21, 2003 at St Andrews in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

BIRMINGHAM - APRIL 21: Christophe Dugarry of Birmingham City celebrates after scoring from a free-kick during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Birmingham City and Southampton on April 21, 2003 at St Andrews in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

A member of the French side that won both the 1998 World Cup and EURO 2000, Dugarry was a mercurial talent that somehow made his way to the second city midway through Steve Bruce’s side’s first-ever Premier League season.

Five goals and some typical French flair endeared him to the St. Andrews’ faithful, as well as preserving their status in the top flight. He left little over a year later but remains a favourite son.


6. Nicolas Anelka – Manchester City 2002/03

It feels strange to say it now but 20 years ago, Manchester City were just looking to consolidate a spot in the top flight after several seasons yo-yo-ing between the divisions. Finally, under Kevin Keegan, they did just that with the help of several star signings, most notably Anelka.

“Le Sulk” had been on loan at Liverpool the season prior, but Gerard Houllier foolishly decided to sign El-Hadji Diouff instead. Their loss was City’s gain, with the French forward becoming an instant hit and then making Manchester his home for longer than any of the other previous cities in his nomadic career.


5. Edwin van der Sar – Fulham 2001/02

LONDON - DECEMBER 7: Edwin Van Der Sar of Fulham in action during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Fulham and Leeds United held on December 7, 2002 at Loftus Road Stadium, in London. Fulham won the match 1-0. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

LONDON - DECEMBER 7: Edwin Van Der Sar of Fulham in action during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Fulham and Leeds United held on December 7, 2002 at Loftus Road Stadium, in London. Fulham won the match 1-0. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Perhaps the most obscure move of the lot, given the clubs the Dutch keeper played for either side of four seasons at Craven Cottage. He won the Champions League with Ajax before joining Juventus and then won the famous trophy again with Manchester United after departing West London.

Moving from Turin to Fulham for £11 million, van der Sar would play in the same side as future United colleague Louis Saha in an extremely trendy side, who were then sponsored by Pizza Hut. Perhaps free takeaway is what kept him with the Cottagers for so long?


4. Youri Djorkaeff – Bolton Wanderers 2001/02

Like Dugarry, Djorkaeff was part of the French dream team from 1998-2000 and had played for the likes of Monaco, PSG and Inter Milan in his pomp. So, it was a major shock when he joined Big Sam’s Bolton as they stared down relegation in their first season in the top flight under his charge.

Arriving in January, the French forward kept Bolton up and kickstarted the “Galactico” era at the Reebok stadium, which saw Jay-Jay Okocha, Fernando Hierro and Nicolas Anelka sign for the club amongst others. Trailblazer.


3. Christian Eriksen – Brentford 2021/22

BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Christian Eriksen of Brentford controls the ball during the Premier League match between Brentford and Southampton at Brentford Community Stadium on May 07, 2022 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Christian Eriksen of Brentford controls the ball during the Premier League match between Brentford and Southampton at Brentford Community Stadium on May 07, 2022 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

The most recent big-name signing on this list, and one that came with extenuating circumstances. After the traumatic events of EURO 2020, it was unknown if Eriksen would ever return to the game. It would not be with Inter Milan, as he was not permitted to play in Serie A with an implanted defibrillator.

Eriksen trained with Ajax before joining his fellow Dane and former under-17s international manager Thomas Frank at Brentford. His mid-season arrival was absolutely pivotal to the Bees staying in the Premier League, and his form was then rewarded with a move to Manchester United.


2. Juninho – Middlesbrough 1995/96

Having already made his international debut and been tracked by most of Europe’s biggest clubs, it was a major shock when Juninho rocked up on Teesside to join Bryan Robson’s Boro in their first season back in the big time.

He immediately wowed fans and kept them in the division, but the club suffered relegation the next season as well as two cup final losses. He left the club in 1997 but returned for two more spells, on loan in 1999-2000 and then permanently again from 2002-2004, where he won the League Cup (Boro’s only major honour). For his contributions, he was voted the club’s greatest-ever player.


1. Alan Shearer – Blackburn Rovers 1992/93

14 MAY 1995: BLACKBURN ROVERS STRIKER ALAN SHEARER CELEBRATES AFTER HIS TEAM CLINCHED THE LEAGUE TITLE AFTER THE GAME AGAINST LIVERPOOL.

14 MAY 1995: BLACKBURN ROVERS STRIKER ALAN SHEARER CELEBRATES AFTER HIS TEAM CLINCHED THE LEAGUE TITLE AFTER THE GAME AGAINST LIVERPOOL.

It’s probably forgotten that Blackburn were newly promoted just in time for the dawn of the Premier League, given they would quickly become one of the best sides in the league under the management of Kenny Dalglish and with the wallet of Jack Walker.

Shearer moved for a then-British record transfer fee and became the most deadly striker in the league almost instantly. Injuries slowed down his first season, but he would go on to hit over 100 league goals for Rovers in his four seasons with them, winning two Golden Boots and famously the title in 1995 ahead of Manchester United.



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