Allan Simonsen

A former European footballer of the year, Simonsen remarkably transferred to Charlton Athletic in the then old 2nd division, having turned down moves to Real Madrid and Tottenham. Allan said, quote, “That it was his ambition to try a new adventure”. Nicknamed the ‘greatest little Dane’, Simonsen still stands as the only player to have scored in the UEFA Cup winner’s final and the European Cup final.
The Dane’s Charlton Athletic career came to an end after just 16 matches for the Addicks, who could no longer afford Simonsen’s extortionate wages, perhaps is the real reason for his move, the little Dane headed back to the old pastures of Denmark.

Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa

In the summer of 1978, a ticker tape entrance was afforded for Argentina’s World Cup players of Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa, who duly arrived in North London as a tandem courtesy of Tottenham, and became the first players from abroad to make a real impact in English football.
Ossie was an all action player with the dodgy English accent, while the robustious Villa came with highly technical skills. Both became heroes to the Tottenham supporters with the Lilley Whites triumphant in their famous FA Cup final win v Manchester City, 3-2. Two years after their arrival, Villa’s match winning goal was voted the ‘goal of the century’. Ricky’s goal is still much revered in the annals of English football. They were the perfect fit for the Ardiles sounding in speak, “Tot—-en—-ham”.

Sol Campbell

All ‘solled’ out when Sol Campbell jumped ship from Tottenham to arch rivals Arsenal, as Sol became the ‘Judas’ of North London, after being the original academy kid at Tottenham. The Tottenham supporters were in shock and looked on in horror when Campbell signed for the enemy. Death threats and effigies followed alongside an Arsenal crested body guard, Campbell was out of control and some would suggest that loyalty cuts both ways, apparently. Sol’s house win London can also be entered via a tunnel, Gunner style!

Steve Daley

September 1978 and Steve Daley transferred to Manchester City from Wolverhampton Wanderers and subsequently became the ‘marriage’ made in transfer hell.
The 1.5 million pounds transfer fee eclipsed the Trevor Francis fee by some margin with wages of 3000 pounds a week to supplement Daley further, the feeling of grandeur was evident in Daley’s performance, resulting in 20 months later, with the ending of Daley’s contract by mutual consent. As the Daley flop flip flopped his way to a warmer climate in America for the forgotten man with F.C Seattle.
Transfers that shook the world part 3 will follow during January 2020.