# The 16 Best Premier League Signings of the 2000s

> Bargain teenagers, record-fee defenders and one shock free transfer across enemy lines — the deals that reshaped a decade of English football. Which one paid off most?

*By YPB Team · Published July 22, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-16-best-premier-league-signings-of-the-2000s*

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## Current results (2 votes)

1. **Cristiano Ronaldo** — score 1000/1000
   Signed by Manchester United from Sporting in 2003 for £12m and became a Ballon d'Or winner at Old Trafford.
2. **Petr Čech** — score 680/1000
   Joined Chelsea from Rennes in 2004 and set the Premier League clean-sheet record.
3. **Michael Essien** — score 647/1000
   Chelsea's club-record 2005 signing from Lyon, a box-to-box force in two title-winning sides.
4. **Frank Lampard** — score 624/1000
   An £11m move from West Ham in 2001 that produced Chelsea's all-time top scorer.
5. **Fernando Torres** — score 624/1000
   Liverpool's 2007 signing from Atlético Madrid who scored 65 goals in his first three seasons.
6. **Luka Modrić** — score 485/1000
   Tottenham's £16.5m capture from Dinamo Zagreb in 2008 who ran their midfield before a record sale to Real Madrid.
7. **Nemanja Vidić** — score 485/1000
   A £7m January 2006 arrival from Spartak Moscow who became a title-winning Manchester United captain.
8. **Vincent Kompany** — score 485/1000
   Manchester City's £6m 2008 signing from Hamburg who captained four title wins.
9. **Didier Drogba** — score 291/1000
   Chelsea's 2004 signing from Marseille who scored in four FA Cup finals and delivered the 2012 Champions League.
10. **Patrice Evra** — score 291/1000
   Signed from Monaco in 2006, he won five league titles and the Champions League as United's left-back.
11. **Xabi Alonso** — score 291/1000
   Liverpool's 2004 signing from Real Sociedad whose passing anchored the Istanbul Champions League win.
12. **Rio Ferdinand** — score 291/1000
   Manchester United's British-record £30m defender from Leeds in 2002, a six-time league champion.
13. **Sol Campbell** — score 291/1000
   Arsenal's shock free transfer from rivals Tottenham in 2001 who anchored the Invincibles.
14. **Gareth Bale** — score 291/1000
   Tottenham's 2007 teenage buy from Southampton who grew into a world-record sale.
15. **Edwin van der Sar** — score 162/1000
   Joined Manchester United from Fulham in 2005 and kept goal for four titles and a Champions League.
16. **Carlos Tevez** — score 162/1000
   The 2006 West Ham gamble whose goals kept them up before title-winning spells at both Manchester clubs.

Tags: 2000s, football, players, premier league