Cesc Fabregas – 2011 (£25.4m)
In one of the most protracted transfer sagas in recent memory, Fabregas finally returned to the club he came through as a young boy before leaving for Arsenal as a 16-year-old to seek greater opportunities.
The move left Wenger distraught as he fought tooth and nail to keep hold of his most prized asset. Under his tutelage, Wenger had nurtured and developed Fabregas to the point where he had become one of the premier central-midfielders in world football, while also becoming Arsenal captain at the tender age of 21.
The plan to build future teams around the Spaniard went up in smoke as Fabregas joined what was an already a star-studded Barca team that had won three La Liga titles in a row as well as two Champions League triumphs in three seasons.
Fabregas was seen as the heir to Xavi’s throne as the midfield orchestrator for years to come. However, with Xavi still at the peak of his powers, Fabregas was often deployed in the unorthodox role as the false number nine.
After a stop-start Barca career that saw him claim five pieces of silverware, Fabregas would return to England, signing for Chelsea as Arsenal passed up on their use of the buy-back clause they inserted in his Barca contract.
Click NEXT for player #2
