Luke Shaw signs for Manchester United and becomes the most expensive teenager of all time
He may now be the most expensive teenager in the history of the game but Luke Shaw’s £27 million, potentially rising to £31 million, move to Manchester United from Southampton is a significant investment in a player who has impressed immensely in his early career to date.
Shaw impressed so much in 2013/14 he persuaded Roy Hodgson to pick him ahead of seasoned veteran Ashley Cole in the World Cup squad and the teenager was given a taste of the tournament he will hope to grace over the next ten years in England’s final group game against Costa Rica. A few days later the news was announced that he would be joining Manchester United for a record fee.
With Patrice Evra entering the twilight of his career, this is surely a shrewd investment in what is one of Europe’s brightest young talents who played 35 times in the Premier League last season.
Shaw will look to follow in the footballing footsteps of Patrice Evra, Arthur Albiston and Denis Irwin – who collectively have made nearly 1,400 appearances for the club – and become a fan favourite on that left flank. With new boss Louis van Gaal still in Brazil with the Dutch national team, the 2014/15 season does appear to be exciting for United fans following the dismal football played under former manager David Moyes. Shaw joins
Ander Herrera as United have completed nearly £50 million worth of transfers already. The much criticised Edward Woodward has shown that he has indeed learnt from the mistakes of last summer.
Some have raised eyebrows at the significant fee for a player that wasn’t even born when Sir Alex Ferguson decided at sell Mark Hughes, Paul Ince and Andrei Kanchelskis in the summer of 1995 (bet that makes your feel old). Oliver Kay of The Times suggests that the fee for the left back would be scoffed at in Italy, Germany or Spain and that in England our players are overpriced in comparison to our foreign counterparts (which is why Manchester City and Chelsea buy from the continent). That may be so, but if you take a look at the £30 million transfer fee (obviously excluding astronomical wages) invested in Wayne Rooney – that works out at £3 million per season for a player who has hit 22 goals, on average, for every season he has been at the club.
Luke Shaw may not have taken an International tournament by storm, like Rooney did ten years previous, but his lung busting runs, athleticism and delivery have been enough for United to part with the cash for the youngster. Southampton were not in any need to sell and from an academy that produced Theo Walcott, Gareth Bale and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – they were in a very strong position. United’s new left back is extremely quick and will provide an excellent attacking outlet for the team and with van Gaal encouraging his fullbacks to get forward, as we saw with Daley Blind and Daryl Janmaat against the Spanish in the 5-1 thumping for the Dutch, the signing of Shaw is spot on.
Patrice Evra has been a magnificent servant to Manchester United and has been a fan favourite following his arrival from Monaco in the January of 2006. The Frenchman is currently enjoying an impressive World Cup campaign and will be looking forward to next season having signed a new contract at the end of last term. However, Evra hasn’t really had any significant cover since dislodging Gabriel Heinze from the left back spot – with both Fabio Da Silva and Alexander Buttner never reaching the desired ability to significantly challenge for the position.
Evra will be aware that he is the second choice left back for 2014/15 – but will be used sporadically in season derived of European Football. His experience and personality will no doubt he beneficial factor in the development of Shaw, whilst his competitive nature will ensure that the youngster will have to play to the best of his ability week in week out. United fans wouldn’t expect anything less.
Luke Shaw becomes the most expensive teenager
Since signing from Southampton, Luke Shaw has become the most expensive teenager – dislodging Wayne Rooney – of all time. Here is a list of some of the highest transfer fees paid over the years:
Player | From | To | Transfer fee |
---|---|---|---|
Luke Shaw | Southampton | Manchester United | £31 million |
Wayne Rooney | Everton | Manchester United | £30 million |
Javier Saviola | River Plate | Barcelona | £29 million |
Anderson | FC Porto | Manchester United | £25 million |
Marquinhos | Roma | PSG | £25 million |
Antonio Cassano | Bari | AS Roma | £24 million |
Sergio Ramos | Sevilla | Real Madrid | £22 million |
Jon Obi Mikel | Lyn | Chelsea | £16 million |
Sergio Aguero | Independiente | Atletico Madrid | £16 million |
Alexandre Pato | Internacional | AC Milan | £15 million |
Romelu Lukaku | Anderlecht | Chelsea | £15 million |
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