Weirdest transfer payments ever, with stars going for barrels of beer, Mars bars and packets of crisps
AS the transfer window hots up and comes to a close, many football clubs are throwing cash around to land their targets.
But it hasn’t always been money that has traded hands for top talent.
No, we’ve seen crisps, chocolate and even an iron used as currency in a deal between teams.
So, forget your £100million Manchester City paid for Jack Grealish, these are the weirdest transfer payments EVER.
IAN WRIGHT
The BBC pundit may have moved to Arsenal for £2.5million in 1991, a club record fee at that time for the North Londoners, it wasn’t always glam for Wrighty.
He began his professional career with Crystal Palace, famously scoring twice against Manchester United in an FA Cup final.
The Eagles didn’t have to work too hard to persuade his non-league club Greenwich Borough to sign him.
A set of dumbbells were handed over (hopefully with two hands) and the deal was struck.
FRANCO DI SANTO
The ex-Chelsea striker is perhaps best known for being a failed No9 for the Blues.
But when he was a promising youngster cash-strapped Chilean side Audax Italiano were desperate to add Di Santo to their ranks.
How did they buy him? They gave his local team two goal nets and 40 litres of paint to jazz up their home ground.
GIULIANO GRAZIOLI
Grazioli is best known for his FA Cup heroics for Stevenage against Newcastle – scoring an equaliser to force a replay in 1998.
He originally started his career with Peterborough, before joining Borough on loan.
The non-league needed a sweetener to seal that deal. They found it in the form of a “Mars bar and three packets of crisps”, according to boss Paul Fairclough.
TONY CASCARINO
The former Republic of Ireland striker, now talkSPORT presenter, didn’t have the most glamorous starts to his football career – turning out for Crockenhill in the 1980s.
However, Gillingham thought he’d make a decent centre forward for them and were willing to do anything it took to get their main.
That included buying Crockenhill a new kit, as well as some corrugated iron to fix up their ground.
ERNIE BLENKINSOP
You’d be forgiven for not recognising Blenkinsop’s name.
He played in the England side from the late 20s to early 30s, and won the old First Division with Sheffield Wednesday twice.
Ernie started his career in the most bizarre fashion, though, when Hull signed him from Cudworth Village for £100, as well as a barrel of beer.
Imagine trying to get that deal past Arsene Wenger?
HUGH MCLENAHAN
We all scream for ice cream. Well, at least that’s what Stockport did.
Before Manchester United were really minted, they had to be more creative in the transfer market.
And that’s where assistant manager, and part-time ice cream business owner, Louis Rocca came in.
In 1927, the Red Devils donated three fridge freezers to County for a fundraiser. In return, they got Hugh McLenahan.
COLLINS JOHN
This Dutch striker had a decent stint at Fulham in the Premier League, after the club bought him from FC Twente.
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But Collins John began his youth career at DES Nijverdal, who were very much a local community club.
Twente came in for him in 2002, and they must’ve been well read at this point.
After all, it wasn’t money that was paid for John’s services… it was encyclopedias which were donated to a local school.