Emmanuel Petit – 2000 (£7m)
Petit was an instrumental figure in Arsenal’s 1997-98 double-winning season, forming a formidable partnership with countryman Patrick Vieira which is still seen by some Gunners fans as the club’s greatest ever central-midfield pairing.
After a trophy-less year in 1999-2000, Petit decided to leave Highbury and join Barca where he never settled under manager Llorenc Serra, who, to the displeasure of the Frenchman, deployed him curiously as a central-defender.
Coupled with reoccurring injuries, it was a season to forget for Petit who would return to the Premier League after just the solitary year in Spain, only this time in the blue of Arsenal’s bitter rivals Chelsea.
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