Most influential football signings of the last two decades

One of the best about football is when a struggling club does a signing that transforms the club from a mediocre side to a powerful force and helps them taste success and make them a dominant force.

Today, we will look at those players whose signing brought the team back to their dominating era and many cliched trophies during their run. Now without much ado, let's have a look at the most significant and best football transfers in recent memory.

Ronaldinho

One of the best signing Barcelona did when they were struggling to win trophies in Spain and Europe in the early 2000s. 

Ronaldinho's signing ushered Barcelona towards the dominance era, and during that period, Barcelona won two La Liga titles and their second Champions League under his reign. 

The Brazilian World Cup winner's talent was something else that shook the football world; he used to dance with the defender the most skilled footballer Barcelona ever signed.

During his tenure in Barcelona, Ronaldinho inspired the club to win its first La Liga title in six years and Champions League their first in fourteen years which showed how powerful his presence was on the field. 

And one of the most iconic moments when Barcelona destroyed Real Madrid 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu, where Ronaldinho scored a solo goal and became the second Barca player after Diego Maradona to receive a standing ovation from Rivals fans.

During his remarkable spell at Barcelona, he won the 2005 Ballon d'Or's and FIFA World Player of the year award. Hence, Gaucho Ronaldinho is in our list of the best football transfers since the 2000s.

Jamie Vardy

This was one of the best football transfers and business Leicester City did in their transfer history. Jamie Vardy was the main reason behind Leicester City's Premier League triumph in 2016, becoming one of seven clubs to have won the Premier League since its establishment in 1992.

Leicester City signed Jamie Vardy in 2012 for a non-league transfer fee of £1 million, and the rest is history. 

He took the team to its first-ever championship win in 2014, which saw them getting promoted for Premier League. 

During the 2015-16 season, the deadly combination of Vardy and Mahrez playing in the team, the team ran riot against big teams, both the attacking duo came in limelight when they took Premier League by storm.

 After bagging the Premier League title, it shook the football world; as newspaper describe it as Leicester's title win as the greatest sporting shock ever; they made them "The Unbelievables" compared to Arsenal undefeated invincible team.

During that season, Jamie Vardy scored in eleven consecutive Premier League matches, breaking Rudd van Nistelrooy's record, winning the footballer of the year award. Jamie Vardy has also won the Golden Boot in the 2019-20 season. 

Jamie Vardy was described as "priceless" by Claudio Ranieri. 

Sergio Aguero

Sergio Aguero has been the most decisive Manchester City signing of the last decade. He was one of the best transfers Manchester city could have asked for. 

Manchester City signed him for £35 million from Atletico Madrid in 2011. His tenure started at City with a bang, and he became City's most influential player, his famous goal in a dying minute against QPR won them the Premier League in 44 years.  

The Argentine helped the team win many trophies and played a huge part in making them the greatest team in Europe. His consistency made him the club's legend, and his heroic title-winning goal made him the most lethal striker in football.

Aguero has won the golden boot and is the all-time top goal-scorer of Manchester City and the fourth all-time Premier League goal-scorer, and registered the most hat-ricks in Premier League.

He has been named PFA player of the year award twice. Indeed, one of the golden signing of Manchester City and one of the best football transfers in the premier league.

Luka Modric

The second player to break Ronaldo and Messi's decade dominance in winning the Ballon d'Or. We already know the fact that Real Madrid is one of the top clubs that have dominated Europe for many years. 

However, the signing of Modric had been one of the best football transfers they did in years. Real Madrid signed Luka Modric from Tottenham for £30m in the summer of 2012.

Luck Modric became one of the best midfielders, and he was the vital player in the squad who helped the team win its 10th UCL La Decima. After Zidane's appointment, he became the key player and was voted each time into the squad of the season.

Modric's excellent vision and brilliant performance on the field earned him the best midfielder award in La Liga twice. Becoming first, Croatian player to be included in FIFA FIFPro World XI. 

The Croatian won UEFA Men's player of the year award and Ballon d'Or in 2018. The little maestro helped the club win three consecutive Champions League crowns being at the heart of the Madrid midfield. 

Manuel Neuer 

No Bayern fans knew that his signing would be one of the remarkable signings Bayern would do; it was hard to believe when he made his move to Bavarians in the summer as a free agent, many fans were not happy. However, almost a decade ago, he went on to become one of the greatest goalkeepers. 

Manuel Neuer had an astonishing beginning at Bayern Munich without conceding a goal over 1000 minutes, breaking the club’s competitive record. He was given a tag as ‘sweeper-keeper' for not only goalkeeping prowess but also as a skillful outfield player. 

With Bayern Munich, Manuel Neuer has won a magnificent 18 trophies which include (8) Bundesliga titles and (2) Champions League trophies. 

The German stopper was also awarded the UEFA Goalkeeper of the year award and the IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper five times. 

He was also nominated for the Ballon d’Or along with Messi and Ronaldo; however, he finished third in the prestigious award. Neuer deserves to be on our list of the best football transfers in recent seasons.

Frank Lampard

One of the greatest midfielders of his generation, Lampard was the best signing the blues did in their transfer history; Chelsea bought him for £11 million from West Ham United in 2001.

During his magical spell at Chelsea, Frank Lampard scored 210 staggering goals and provided 102 assists in 648 appearances. 

Lampard also stands as the fourth all-time assist provider in the Premier league. 

He bagged many individual awards including the PFA player of the year award and FWA tribute award, he was included in PFA team of the year thrice for being the top assister and named in FIFPro World XI. 

Lampard has been Chelsea’s prodigal son who was a top professional for the London club. One of the most decorated midfielders Chelsea had.

Frank Lampard helped the team win three Premier League titles, Champions League, Europa League and four FA Cups. He was the best signing Chelsea invested in and would never get returns this good for an investment of £11 million ever again. 

With this we complete our list of the best football transfers of recent times.