£999,999

Trevor Francis became the first £1 million pound football transfer player on February 9th 1979. His move from Birmingham City to Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest was actually publicised at £999,999, so that "the lad wouldn't get too big headed"!... Old "Big Head" explained to the press.

With add ons the total fee was £1.15m beating the previous most expensive transfer in British football.

Trevor Francis, born in Plymouth, he spent time at Birmingham City (280 apps with 119 goals), so no wonder Brian wanted him! Francis had a spell at Detroit Express, Nottingham Forest (70 apps with 28 goals), Manchester City, Sampdoria, Atalanta (USA), Rangers, Wollongong City in Australia, QPR and Sheffield Wednesday, two clubs he also managed, along with Birmingham City and Crystal Palace.

On 13 April 2012, Francis was reported to be recovering in hospital from a suspected heart attack but sadly died of another heart attack at his home near Marbella, Spain, on 24 July 2023. He was 69.

It's a long time since Alf Common cost £1,000, involving Middlesbrough back in the day. See below......

http://www.myfootballfacts.com/BritishFootballPlayerTransferRecords1904-2009.html

Alf was born in Sunderland, played for them, then went to Sheffield United for £325 (yes £325) and won an FA Cup medal with the Blades in 1902, after helping Sunderland AFC to a runners-up place in the First Division. After that he scored 58 goals in 168 apps for Middlesbrough, had a spell at Woolwich Arsenal and helped Preston to a Second Division promotion in 1913. With all his clubs he averaged 1 goal in 3 games. With 3 England caps and two goals, his career came to halt with the Great War but he lived on until 1946, running pubs in the north-east and that sort of thing!

Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1900–1901	Sunderland	18	(6)
1901–1904	Sheffield United	67	(22)
1904–1905	Sunderland	20	(6)
1905–1910	Middlesbrough	168	(58)
1910–1912	Woolwich Arsenal	77	(23)
1912–1914	Preston North End	35	(9)
Total		385	(124)
International career
1904–1906	England	3	(2)

David Mills, who cost £516,000, the first English £500,000 player. He came from Whitby Town and had played for England Schoolboys as a forward. He joined Middlesbrough in 1968 and stayed there for 11 years, making nearly 300 appearances. He scored 76 goals before moving on to the Baggies under Ron Atkinson.

From there he moved to Sheffield Wednesday, Newcastle United, back to Middlesbrough in 1985 and finished off at Darlington and then home to Whitby Town. He then worked as a freelance journalist for local press, T.V. and radio, and was a print consultant. He went back into football as assistant chief scout at Newcastle and now works on Middlesbrough's scouting team. 

Here he is....