Manchester City may turn £1.7m into around £30m with Oleksandr Zinchenko, but Premier League clubs have turned peanuts into fortunes before.
These are not the biggest transfer profits ever turned by top-flight clubs; Philippe Coutinho does not belong here. They are, however, some of the best examples of a relatively small investment becoming a substantial sale. The following five players were all signed for low fees and subsequently sold at great expense. A bit like Oleksandr Zinchenko stands to be if he joins Arsenal.
Robin van Persie – £2.75m to £24m in eight years (772.72% increase)
Two days after rounding off their Invincibles season with victory from behind at home to Leicester, Arsenal sought to complete maintenance on a vehicle in apparent cruise control. The signing of Feyenoord problem child Robin van Persie, who had spent most of the corresponding campaign on the bench due to a series of disagreements with manager Bert van Marwijk, was announced for £2.75m. It was widely reported that this would be Arsene Wenger’s latest renovation project, an attempt to coax the lightning of Thierry Henry’s transformation from mercurial winger to world-class centre-forward to strike twice. Not even the optimistic Gunners manager could have foreseen a similar degree of success.
It took time. Van Persie showed flashes and glimpses to score 63 goals in 177 games. But the summer of 2009 departure of Emmanuel Adebayor shifted a level of responsibility onto the Dutchman’s shoulders and he thrived under the pressure. A nice 69 goals in 101 matches across his last three seasons in north London marked him out at the elite level. Then with the hard work done and Van Persie fully converted, Arsenal reacted to his reticence at signing a new contract by selling the 28-year-old to direct rivals Manchester United. A tidy profit was turned but the Premier League title was effectively turned over to the retiring Sir Alex Ferguson.
Robin van Persie was capable of brilliance and petulance
John Stones – £3m to £50m in three and a half years (1566.67% increase)
Manchester City were listed among the clubs, on an eclectic list which included Aston Villa, Chelsea, Sunderland and Wigan, who had shown an interest in Barnsley defender John Stones. But David Moyes bestowed upon Everton a parting gift with his final Toffees signing in January 2013, guaranteeing the Merseyside club a future transfer windfall.
Stones stayed at Goodison Park for just three years…
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