£117.5million FROM £100

On this day in 1977, Liverpool replaced Kevin Keegan with Kenny Dalglish. Of his time in Liverpool, Keegan later said, "The only thing I fear is missing an open goal in front of the Kop. I would die if that were to happen. When they start singing "You'll Never Walk Alone". my eyes start to water. There have been times when I've actually been crying while I've been playing." After 323 appearances and exactly 100 goals, Keegan left Liverpool. He had been made offers from clubs across Europe, and chose to join Hamburg FC in the West German Bundesliga for £500,000. Liverpool replaced him with Kenny Dalglish. Times have moved on and the money changing hands between clubs has spiralled in 44 years!

Don't forget the first £1 million man, Trevor Francis.

Recent signings include: Kaoru Mitoma midfield from Kawasaki to Brighton on August 8th was undisclosed (they daren't): Armando Broja an attacker from Chelsea to Southampton, on loan: Axel Tuanzebe from Man Utd to Aston Villa-loan:Yoane Wissa from FC LOrient to Brentford undisclosed: Juraj Kucka from Parma to Watford undisclosed: Axel Tuanzebe from Man Utd to Aston Villa-loan, Armando Broja-Chelsea to Southampton, Christian Romero Atlanta to Spurs on loan and Christian Romero Atlanta to Spurs on loan, seem harmless enough BUT Josh Sargent from Weder Bremen to Norwich £9.5m: Leon Bailey-Bayern L to Aston Villa 32m: Danny Ings Southampton to Aston Villa 35.2m:  Jack Grealish Aston V to Manchester City 117.5m POUNDS! makes the eyes water. 

In 2017 Neymar went from Barca-PSG for £198m and Philippe Coutinho went from Liverpool to Barcelona for £105m in January 2018. In 2001, Zidane from Juve to Real Madrid £45.6m; Ronaldo in 1997 transfered from Barca to Inter £19.5m; 1987 Rud Gullit from Eindhoven to Milan £6m; 1973 Cruyff from Ajax to Barca £920,000. 

Inflation began when Denis Law topped £115,000 from Torino to Man City in July 1962 and in February 1979, Trevor Franics went from Birmingham City to Nottingham Forest for £1.18m. topping the million pound mark.

Way back in 1929 David Jack transferred for £10,890 from Bolton W to Arsenal; 1905 Alf Common from Sunderland to Middlesbrough £1,000 with a previous sale from Sheffield Utd to Sunderland for £520. (here he is, in  a new hat!)  

Patrick William “Willie” Groves is widely considered to be the first player that cost over £100 in a transferred from one club to another. An inside forward, he broke through into the Hibernian team when he was just sixteen and made his international debut for Scotland the following year when he scored the fourth goal in 5-1 win for the Scots over the Welsh in the 1888 British Home Championship.

He moved to Celtic in August of 1888 but the Scottish game was still amateur then, so it didn’t take long for the professional English clubs to come calling. West Bromwich Albion brought him to the Midlands in 1890, helping them to win the FA Cup in 1892, when the Baggies beat their rivals Aston Villa 3-0.

It was Villa who paid the £100 for him, taking him to Villa Park in 1893. They also had to pay a fine, as the Football Association believed that they had poached him illegally from West Brom. He may not have been worth the money, with Groves returning to Scotland in 1894 after a dispute over his contract with Villa. Smart boy though.