From club legends to record breakers, we look at the 25 Manchester United signings that have helped shape the Red Devils’ history.
Ruben Amorim and Man United have suffered one of the worst seasons in the club’s 147-year history this campaign, with a pitiful 42-point tally in the league and a Europa League final loss to Tottenham Hotspur.
Plans are in place for the club to rebuild this summer with incomings and outgoings, so Amorim has a rejuvenated and more suited squad ahead of his first full season in charge.
United’s new signing Matheus Cunha is already through the door, and there are rumours of Alejandro Garnacho’s exit this summer among others.
New faces will be looking to help United reclaim their perch at the top of English and European football, with the chance to grasp the opportunity at being considered a United legend forever.
So without further ado, here are Man United’s greatest 25 signings, judged on criteria such as value for money, longevity, impact, and major trophy success.
25. Nani
Long-serving Portuguese winger, Nani, joined the club in 2007 for a fee believed to be in the region of £17m from Sporting CP.
The winger was an exciting player who would get fans on the edge of their seats with his unpredictable flair and dazzling dribbling ability.
A fun fact for Fantasy Premier League players (FPL), in the 2010-11 season, Nani was the highest scoring player with 198 points!
He left the club in 2014, racking up four Premier League title wins, a Champions League trophy, and two League Cups.
Nani stats for Man Utd
- Appearances: 219
- Goals: 36
- Assists: 51
24. Antonio Valencia
Antonio Valencia joined United from Wigan Athletic in 2009 for around £15m, going on to stay at the club for almost a decade.
The Ecuadorian was an underrated player at Old Trafford, who only started getting more recognition towards the back end of his playing days in red.
Valencia was a pacy right-back who could chip in with goals and assists, and his relentless work-rate gave opposition players on the left side of the pitch nightmares.
The versatile full-back saw the most success under Sir Alex Ferguson; however, he showed his class even more after Ferguson left the club.
Valencia stepped up when United were struggling to adapt to life after Ferguson, helping the club lift the Europa League in 2017.
Antonio Valencia stats for Man Utd
- Appearances: 339
- Goals: 25
- Assists: 54
23. Mark Hughes
Mark Hughes started his career at Man United and was an important player, but it was his second spell with the club that was remembered.
After leaving for Barcelona, Hughes rejoined United in 1988 and was at the heart of the club’s revival under Ferguson.
The powerful Welsh striker contributed massively to the club’s 26-year wait for a league title in the 1992-93 season, successfully defending their crown the following campaign.
He also helped win two FA Cups and a European Cup in 1991.
Mark Hughes all-time stats for Man Utd
- Appearances: 459
- Goals: 161
- Assists: 19
22. Ji-sung Park
South Korean Ji-sung Park embodied the true meaning of an ‘unsung hero’ during his time at United.
He was a midfield workhorse and was key to so many of Alex Ferguson’s title-winning squads, being played as a box-to-box midfielder, winger, or even as a defensive midfielder.
In an interview with Gary Neville for SPORTbible, Ferguson admitted that one of his biggest mistakes was not bringing Park Ji-sung on at halftime to man-mark Lionel Messi in their Champions League final in 2011.
Sir Alex said: “I should’ve changed at half time and put Ji-sung Park on Messi, that was a mistake, if I had played him against Messi, I think we would’ve beat them!”.
Ji-sung Park stats for Man Utd
- Appearances: 204
- Goals: 28
- Assists: 28
21. Steve Bruce
Centre-back Steve Bruce joined United in 1987 from Norwich City for a fee of £900,000, which at the time was a significant fee.
Bruce became a defensive leader for years to come at United, and would be described as the classic ‘no-nonsense’ defender, but also chipped in with an impressive number of goals for a defender.
He became the captain for many years, and left the club as one of the most decorated players in English football, winning 12 trophies with the Red Devils.
Steve Bruce stats for Man Utd
- Appearances: 413
- Goals: 50
- Assists: 6
20. Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes has been a shining light in a dark period for Man United since arriving from Sporting CP for £72m in 2020.
Fernandes has received praise from pundits and fans for years now, with many people alluding to the fact that without him they would be in a much worse state.
The Portuguese midfielder has helped drag United to an FA Cup and League Cup with his ability to turn a game on its head with his incredible vision, work-rate, and shooting ability.
If only Fernandes could be in a squad with some of the other names on this list, we might have seen him win everything.
Bruno Fernandes stats for Man Utd
- Appearances: 290
- Goals: 98
- Assists: 86
19. Teddy Sheringham
Teddy Sheringham is forever a Man United hero after his impact in several penultimate trophy-winning games.
The striker joined from Tottenham in 1997 for around £3.5m and was with the club until 2001, and after only four years, Teddy left with a handful of winners’ medals.
His most notable contribution was in the 1999 treble year, where he scored crucial goals in both the FA Cup and Champions League finals.
He also helped win three consecutive Premier League titles.
Teddy Sheringham stats for Man Utd
- Appearances: 153
- Goals: 46
- Assists: 31
18. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
The ultimate super-sub, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer cemented himself as a United legend after his move from Norwegian side Molde FK in 1996, which only cost around £1.5m.
He gained the nickname ‘Baby-Faced Assassin’ from fans, due to his deadly nature in front of goal, but also his boyish innocence off the pitch.
He helped the club to a staggering six Premier League titles, and scored that goal in their 1999 UCL final against Bayern Munich.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stats for Man Utd
- Appearances: 366
- Goals: 126
- Assists: 57
17. Bryan Robson
Midfielder Bryan Robson was signed in 1981 from West Bromwich Albion for an estimated £1.5m, a British transfer record at the time.
During his time at Old Trafford, he helped United to two Premier League titles, three FA Cups, and the European Cup Winners’ Cup.
He was at United until 1994 and was nicknamed ‘Captain Marvel’ for his heroic captaincy performances over the years.
Bryan Robson for Man Utd
- Appearances: 461
- Goals: 99
- Win Percentage: 51.84%
16. Dennis Irwin
Left-back Dennis Irwin arrived at Old Trafford in 1990, leaving Oldham Athletic for a fee of around £600,000.
Irwin is regarded as one of the best full-backs in Premier League history, and even though he was a defender, he was a fantastic free-kick and penalty taker for United.
He left the club in 2002 after winning a whopping seven Premier League titles, two FA Cups, a League Cup and a European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Dennis Irwin stats for Man Utd
- Appearances: 529
- Goals: 33
- Assists: 25
15. Denis Law
Denis Law was another British transfer record at the time that United signed him, with a documented fee of £115,000 in his transfer from Torino in 1962.
Law was a forward, and a part of the “United Trinity” with Sir Bobby Charlton and George Best, and he ranks as the club’s third highest goal scorer.
He won the Ballon d’Or award in 1964, and was a massive part of United’s trophy winning success in the 60s.
Denis Law stats for Man Utd
- Appearances: 404
- Goals: 237
- Assists: 54
14. Gary Pallister
Man United signed centre-back Gary Pallister from Middlesbrough in 1989 for £2.3m, with Pallister going on to make a formidable partnership with Steve Bruce.
Pallister was a key figure in Alex Ferguson’s dominant reign in the 90s and was a stalwart at the heart of the United defence.
He won multiple major trophies with the club and is one of the key reasons United are as big as they are today.
Gary Pallister stats for Man Utd
- Appearances: 437
- Goals: 15
- Assists: N/A
13. Jaap Stam
Dutch colossus Jaap Stam joined United in 1998 from PSV for a fee in the region of £10m, becoming the most expensive defender in history at the time.
The towering defender’s stay was short, but the impact he had was evident with three Premier League trophies, a Champions League trophy, and an FA Cup.
Jaap Stam stats for Man United
- Appearances: 127
- Goals: 1
- Win Percentage: 57.48%
12. Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick joined the Red Devils from Spurs in 2006 for £14m, which turned out to be a long-standing investment for years to come.
Carrick was at the club for 12 years and was an influential part of Ferguson’s midfield, and left the club as one of the most decorated players in English football history.
The ex-England international won major trophies such as the FA Cup, the Europa League, and the Champions League, three League Cups, and five Premier League titles, all with Carrick’s unmatched composure proving pivotal to his side’s success.
Michael Carrick stats for Man Utd
- Appearances: 464
- Goals: 24
- Assists: 35
11. Patrice Evra
One of the most loved players of recent times, Patrice Evra joined United in 2006 for £5.5m from French side AS Monaco, and while struggling to adapt at first, he soon became one of the best left-backs in the world.
Ferguson helped guide Evra like he did with many other players, and Evra quickly became loved at United with his energetic play style, defensive capabilities, and tendency to bomb down the wing in attacking phases.
Evra was pivotal to United’s famed success in the 2000s.
Patrice Evra stats for Man Utd
- Appearances: 379
- Goals: 10
- Assists: 29
10. Edwin van der Sar
Giant goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar signed for Man Utd in 2005 from Fulham in a deal worth just £2m.
He was the key man between the sticks at United for years and was a huge part of their success in the 2000s, and according to Guinness World Records, van der Sar holds the record for the longest run without conceding a goal in Premier League history.
Edwin van der Sar stats for Man Utd
- Appearances: 266
- Clean Sheets: 135
9. Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie’s move to Old Trafford was one of the more controversial transfers of recent times.
Ferguson lured Arsenal’s star man away from the Emirates in 2012 for a deal worth £24m.
Van Persie was one of the most clinical strikers the world has seen in the last twenty years, and arguably single-handedly delivered Man United an unprecedented 20th league title in the 2012/13 season, scoring 26 times.
That season alone deserves him to be high up on this list.
Robin van Persie stats for Man Utd
- Appearances: 105
- Goals: 58
- Assists: 15
8. Nemanja Vidic
The tough-as-nails Nemanja Vidic cemented himself as one of the greatest ever centre-backs in football during his time at United, creating an unbreakable wall with Rio Ferdinand.
Vidic was a Christmas Day present for United fans, signing on the 25th December in 2005 from Spartak Moscow for a fee of £7m, with the transfer officially going through in the following January.
The Serbian spent nine years at Old Trafford, spending four years as club captain, all while winning five Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy to top it off.
The defender was known for putting his body on the line, and as a result, will never be regarded as anything less than a Manchester United legend.
Nemanja Vidic stats for Man Utd
- Appearances: 300
- Goals: 21
- Clean Sheets: 95
7. Rio Ferdinand
Man United made yet another record-breaking transfer in 2002, signing Rio Ferdinand from Leeds United in a deal worth around £30m.
Ferdinand carried unique balance and technical skill for a centre-back, and could be seen as a pioneer for what we now know as the ‘modern-day centre-back’.
The defender’s leadership led United to six Premier League titles while he was there, alongside three League Cups and one Champions League trophy.
Rio Ferdinand stats for Man Utd
- Appearances: 455
- Goals: 8
- Clean Sheets: 189
6. Ruud van Nistelrooy
In 2001, Man Utd forked out £19m for the signature of PSV’s Ruud van Nistelrooy, with the hopes that he could carry them to more glory.
Van Nistelrooy established himself as one of the best strikers of his generation at United, overtaking Denis Law as their all-time top scorer in European competitions.
In his five-year tenure, he helped the Red Devils to a Premier League, an FA Cup, and a League Cup trophy.
Ruud van Nistelrooy stats for Man Utd
- Appearances: 219
- Goals: 150
- Assists: 28
5. Roy Keane
A fierce leader, a serial winner, and a dominant midfielder, Roy Keane was one of the greatest signings ever made by Man United.
They bought Keane from Nottingham Forest in 1993 for a British transfer record at the time of £3.75m, but a transfer that would make their money back tenfold.
Keane joined as a young man but transitioned into a hardened leader, with the Irishman captaining the club for eight of the twelve years he was at United.
His bite in midfield and footballing IQ helped United to a staggering seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and a Champions League trophy.
Roy Keane stats for Man Utd
- Appearances: 479
- Goals: 51
- Assists: 41
4. Peter Schmeichel
When United brought goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel to the club from Danish side Brondby in 1991, they probably didn’t expect him to become the greatest keeper they’ve ever had.
A £505,000 fee in retrospect turned out to be pennies as the great Dane established himself as arguably the best goalkeeper the world has ever seen, pulling off breathtaking saves every other week.
The goalkeeper was instrumental in United winning five Premier League titles, three FA Cups, and one Champions League Trophy during his time at the club.
Peter Schmeichel stats for Man Utd
- Appearances: 398
- Clean Sheets: 180
3. Cristiano Ronaldo
At £12m, Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer to Man United from Sporting CP remains one of the greatest transfers in history, let alone in United’s.
The great Ronaldo has since gone on to become one of the best players, if not the best player in the world, but it’s at United under Ferguson where it all started.
Ronaldo was an unknown talent that Sir Alex unearthed at Old Trafford, as young Cristiano displayed his mesmerising dribbling and athleticism in his first season.
Ronaldo kept growing and moulded himself into one of the best forwards in the world, with out-of-this-world shooting ability, pace and power.
He helped United become one of the most feared teams in the world, winning everything with the club.
While his second stint with the club wasn’t one to particularly remember success-wise, his first will always be written in history.
Cristiano Ronaldo all-time stats for Man Utd
- Appearances: 346
- Goals: 145
- Assists: 64
2. Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney is arguably the most iconic player to ever be remembered in a United shirt.
Signed from Everton, an 18-year-old Rooney cost the price tag of around £25m, but repaid it and more over 13 illustrious trophy-filled seasons.
Rooney is the club’s all-time leading goal scorer, as the striker proved to be one of the most deadly players in the world for so many years at United.
Towards the end of his United career, he started being deployed as a midfielder, but even then showed his qualities with his playmaking ability.
He won five Premier Leagues, an FA Cup, both the Champions League and Europa League, as well as four League Cups.
Wayne Rooney stats for Man Utd
- Appearances: 559
- Goals: 253
- Assists: 141
1. Eric Cantona
Eric Cantona arrived at Man United after a transfer worth just £1.2m to buy him from Leeds, but this transfer was more than just about value for money.
Cantona proved to be transformative for the club as he brought a winning mentality to a relatively young United squad.
As soon as defenders saw the Frenchman’s iconic turned-up collar, they knew they were in for a long day at the office, as his creativity and technical ability were the heartbeat of Man Utd at the time.
Cantona added four league titles and two FA Cups to United’s trophy cabinet during his five-year stay with the club.
Eric Cantona stats for Man Utd
- Appearances: 185
- Goals: 82
- Assists: 63
The post Manchester United's top 25 signings of all-time, ranked - opinion appeared first on HITC.
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