Clubs often sign players after excellent World Cup displays, but Arsenal and four others had the foresight to buy surprise stars of the tournament ages ago.
Ritsu Doan
Signed by: SC Freiburg
Signed from: PSV
Signed for: £7.7m
The substitute hero against both Germany and Spain, equalising within four and two minutes of his introduction in those historic Japan victories, could make current employers Freiburg an absolute fortune.
Doan has yet to truly settle at club level after breaking through at Gamba Osaka. The 24-year-old seems to prefer joining the ladder of a league at one of the lower rungs before working his way up: he joined Groningen before moving to PSV, then spent time on loan at Arminia Bielefeld ahead of that switch to Freiburg.
Four goals and four assists for the team second in the Bundesliga and into the Europa League knockouts as unbeaten group winners would have helped Doan register on many a radar before the World Cup; his performances in Qatar have only multiplied that rising stock.
Enzo Fernandez
Signed by: Benfica
Signed from: River Plate
Signed for: £8.6m, rising to 15.4m
“Could this be the World Cup of Enzo Perez?” asked one mixed zone journalist, as relayed by Miguel Delaney of The Independent. “I’m Enzo Fernandez,” came the reply as the Argentina midfielder walked away.
Those cases of mistaken identity are unlikely to happen much more often for Fernandez, the 21-year-old who appeared from the bench in the defeat to Saudi Arabia and victory over Mexico, proving himself worthy enough in the process of a first-ever international start in the crucial final group game against Poland.
That ought to underline the progress made by Fernandez, who joined Benfica this summer for an initial £8.6m with some healthy add-ons thrown in. He was given Eusebio’s famous No. 13 shirt and has been a crucial member of a side which is unbeaten in 23 Primeira Liga, Champions League, Taça de Portugal and Taça de Liga games this season. There is a reason the Eagles reckon they can get £86m for the Liverpool and Real Madrid target now.
Matt Turner
Signed by: Arsenal
Signed from: New England Revolution
Signed for: £5.73m
Only once has the United States goal been breached in the World Cup so far – and a pretty excellent penalty was required to beat Matt Turner at that, with the Arsenal keeper even diving the same way as Gareth Bale’s effort in the draw with Wales.
Turner has otherwise been relatively untroubled by a toothless England…
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