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The ultimate discussion in pub football — who is regarded as the greatest bargain in the Premier League?
The announcement from Jamie Vardy about his departure from Leicester at the end of this season has ignited conversations across the country, particularly after Alan Shearer called him “the best £1 million ever spent”.
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Since his remarkable transition from Fleetwood Town in 2012, Vardy has thrilled Foxes fans with 199 goals, just one shy of the 200 milestone.
His impact has cemented his position as a Leicester legend, and Shearer accurately names him as one of the most extraordinary bargains in recent football lore.
But who reigns supreme on the list? That’s for you to determine as I outline a few other remarkable contenders.
Just two years after Vardy’s arrival, Algerian Riyad Mahrez joined the ranks for a stunning… £450,000! Four years later, the Foxes sold him to Manchester City for an eye-watering £60 million.
It appears that the East Midlands was fertile ground for bargains, as in 2011, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was acquired for £1 million, followed closely by midfield powerhouse N’Golo Kante for only £5.6 million. While not as extreme as Vardy, Mahrez, and Schmeichel, that’s still quite a catch in football transfer norms.
In a savvy move, Aston Villa secured John McGinn from Hibernian for under £3 million.
Not far behind, Wolves snagged Max Kilman from non-league Maidenhead United for a mere £40,000 back in 2018.
Countless other players have also showcased their value as exceptional bargains, such as John Stones, who made the leap from his hometown club Barnsley to Everton for just £3 million in 2013 — and he has since earned 83 England caps.
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Andy Robertson began at part-time Queen’s Park, but by 2017, Liverpool managed to secure his talents for just £8 million, becoming an essential figure in their triumphs both domestically and globally.
Similarly, Everton’s Seamus Coleman has delivered outstanding service since joining from Sligo Rovers for just £60,000.
Jamie Vardy reveals the best XI he’s played with at Leicester, notably omitting current England stars and teammates.
What about Moises Caicedo, who transferred to Brighton four years ago for £3.6 million and recently claimed the club’s player of the season award at Chelsea following his high-profile move to Stamford Bridge.
And on the topic of Chelsea, while £8 million isn’t merely pocket change, Spanish star Cesar Azpilicueta remarkably barely missed any matches over nearly a decade, captaining the club to Champions League, Europa League, and the Club World Cup.
Every manager seeks a valuable bargain. In the 1990s, Southampton manager Graeme Souness took a gamble on the alleged ‘cousin’ of Ballon d’Or winner George Weah.
And Ali Dia has cemented his place in football folklore.
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After coming on as a substitute for Saints legend Matt Le Tissier, he was subsequently taken off during a match against Leeds — marking his only Premier League appearance.
Le Tissier noted: “He ran around the pitch like Bambi on ice. It was incredibly embarrassing.”
Dia was quickly released by Southampton and later showed up at non-league Gateshead, where he falsely claimed to have recently scored for Senegal in a World Cup qualifier… only to find out that the African nation had already been knocked out.
It became evident that Dia was as much of George Weah’s cousin as I am.
