PLAYERS BOUGHT AND SOLD TO SAME CLUB
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15/08/2017 09:30, Report by Adam Marshall
PLAYERS BOUGHT AND SOLD TO SAME CLUB
When Wayne Rooney returned to Everton this summer, and Guillermo Varela headed for Penarol, they joined a list of Manchester United players who were bought from and later sold to the same club.
We decided to take a look at some of these examples over the years from 'Welsh Wizard' Billy Meredith all the way through to former captain Rooney and Uruguayan defender Varela...
Billy Meredith (Manchester City) - Oct 1906 & Jul 1921
One of the first footballing stars, the winger arrived while still serving a suspension at City and picked up a signing-on fee of £500. Following the War, he turned out for United at the age of 46 but still spent another three years representing the Blues, becoming their oldest player.
One of the first footballing stars, the winger arrived while still serving a suspension at City and picked up a signing-on fee of £500. Following the War, he turned out for United at the age of 46 but still spent another three years representing the Blues, becoming their oldest player.
Willie Morgan (Burnley) - Aug 1968 & Jun 1975
The Scotland winger had impressed while playing for the Clarets against United and was an exciting purchase. After helping Tommy Docherty's men regain top-flight status with a successful campaign in Division Two, he linked up with Burnley again when Steve Coppell nailed down a regular place at Old Trafford.
The Scotland winger had impressed while playing for the Clarets against United and was an exciting purchase. After helping Tommy Docherty's men regain top-flight status with a successful campaign in Division Two, he linked up with Burnley again when Steve Coppell nailed down a regular place at Old Trafford.
Garry Birtles (Nottingham Forest) - Oct 1980 & Sep 1982
Enjoyed a remarkable rise from non-league Long Eaton United to Brian Clough's Forest and the England team. Reds boss Dave Sexton splashed out £1.25million on the striker but he struggled in his first season at Old Trafford and failed to score in the league. Despite a much-improved tally in his second term, he was allowed to go back to Forest.
Enjoyed a remarkable rise from non-league Long Eaton United to Brian Clough's Forest and the England team. Reds boss Dave Sexton splashed out £1.25million on the striker but he struggled in his first season at Old Trafford and failed to score in the league. Despite a much-improved tally in his second term, he was allowed to go back to Forest.
Neil Webb (Nottingham Forest) - Jul 1989 & Nov 1992
The England star scored on his debut, with a volley against champions Arsenal, but suffered a serious Achilles' tendon injury while on international duty and this curtailed his progress. Nonetheless, a searching pass for Lee Martin's key 1990 FA Cup final replay winner showed his quality and Forest paid £800,000 to be reunited with the midfielder towards the end of 1992.
The England star scored on his debut, with a volley against champions Arsenal, but suffered a serious Achilles' tendon injury while on international duty and this curtailed his progress. Nonetheless, a searching pass for Lee Martin's key 1990 FA Cup final replay winner showed his quality and Forest paid £800,000 to be reunited with the midfielder towards the end of 1992.
Gary Pallister (Middlesbrough) - Aug 1989 & Jul 1998
A British record signing at £2.3million after Boro snubbed a series of bids from Alex Ferguson. Already capped by England at this point, despite the Teessiders' Second Division status, he would go on to form a brilliant partnership with Steve Bruce at the heart of the defence. After nine years of distinguished service, he was allowed to rejoin Middlesbrough for a similar fee.
A British record signing at £2.3million after Boro snubbed a series of bids from Alex Ferguson. Already capped by England at this point, despite the Teessiders' Second Division status, he would go on to form a brilliant partnership with Steve Bruce at the heart of the defence. After nine years of distinguished service, he was allowed to rejoin Middlesbrough for a similar fee.
Teddy Sheringham (Tottenham) - Jun 1997 & Jun 2001
Earmarked as the man to replace Eric Cantona, the England forward became a key part of the Treble triumph in 1999, scoring in the FA Cup and Champions League finals. A classy striker who thoroughly enjoyed his time at Old Trafford, there was no shortage of interest when his contract expired but he ended up heading back to White Hart Lane on a free transfer.
Earmarked as the man to replace Eric Cantona, the England forward became a key part of the Treble triumph in 1999, scoring in the FA Cup and Champions League finals. A classy striker who thoroughly enjoyed his time at Old Trafford, there was no shortage of interest when his contract expired but he ended up heading back to White Hart Lane on a free transfer.
Erik Nevland (Viking) - Jul 1997 & Dec 1999
United have had more than one striker from Norway and Nevland scored for the first team in a Worthington Cup clash with Bury in 1998. A loan switch back to Stavanger was followed by a temporary switch to IFK Gothenborg, before he sealed a permanent move to Viking around the turn of the century.
United have had more than one striker from Norway and Nevland scored for the first team in a Worthington Cup clash with Bury in 1998. A loan switch back to Stavanger was followed by a temporary switch to IFK Gothenborg, before he sealed a permanent move to Viking around the turn of the century.
Henning Berg (Blackburn Rovers) - Aug 1997 & Dec 2000
The Norwegian defender became the first player to win the Premier League with two clubs after helping Blackburn lift the title before enjoying success with the Reds as a reliable central defender. He returned to Ewood Park permantly, after an initial move, in 2000.
The Norwegian defender became the first player to win the Premier League with two clubs after helping Blackburn lift the title before enjoying success with the Reds as a reliable central defender. He returned to Ewood Park permantly, after an initial move, in 2000.
Dong Fangzhuo (Dalian Shide) - Jan 2004 & Aug 2008
The Chinese forward made only one senior appearance for United, in a game at Chelsea in 2007, when Sir Alex Ferguson's side had already been crowned champions. He did play plenty of times for Royal Antwerp on loan but ended up back home with Dalian Shide on a free transfer.
The Chinese forward made only one senior appearance for United, in a game at Chelsea in 2007, when Sir Alex Ferguson's side had already been crowned champions. He did play plenty of times for Royal Antwerp on loan but ended up back home with Dalian Shide on a free transfer.
Gerard Pique (Barcelona) - Apr 2004 & May 2008
Unfortunately, the cultured centre-back was never able to show his true worth at Old Trafford, due to the talent in front of him in the queue for the first team. After leaving the Nou Camp as a youngster, the prospect of a return to his boyhood club was too good to resist and he has since enjoyed fabulous success with his club and Spain.
Unfortunately, the cultured centre-back was never able to show his true worth at Old Trafford, due to the talent in front of him in the queue for the first team. After leaving the Nou Camp as a youngster, the prospect of a return to his boyhood club was too good to resist and he has since enjoyed fabulous success with his club and Spain.
Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund) - Jun 2012 & Aug 2014
The talented Japan international was bought from Dortmund during the close season of 2012 and scored a hat-trick in a win over Norwich City during his first season. He won the Premier League title with Sir Alex's side but was allowed to seal a move back to his former club in Germany in 2014.
The talented Japan international was bought from Dortmund during the close season of 2012 and scored a hat-trick in a win over Norwich City during his first season. He won the Premier League title with Sir Alex's side but was allowed to seal a move back to his former club in Germany in 2014.
Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) - Jun 13 & Feb 15
A wide man with plenty of flair, he was technically Sir Alex's last-ever signing as a deal was struck to bring him to Old Trafford before the Scot retired. He made his competitive debut in the Community Shield against Wigan Athletic as David Moyes' side lifted the trophy but, after two loan stints with Palace and another at Cardiff City, he only began to show his best form again when permanently re-signing for the Eagles.
A wide man with plenty of flair, he was technically Sir Alex's last-ever signing as a deal was struck to bring him to Old Trafford before the Scot retired. He made his competitive debut in the Community Shield against Wigan Athletic as David Moyes' side lifted the trophy but, after two loan stints with Palace and another at Cardiff City, he only began to show his best form again when permanently re-signing for the Eagles.
