The most random football transfers of all time

Slipping through
Leave fans shocked
Here we go!
Edgar Davids (Barnet 2012)
Player/manager
David James (AFC Bournemouth to IBV, Iceland 2013)
Shock move to Iceland
Thomas Gravesen (Everton to Real Madrid 2005)
Dirty play
Jay Jay Okocha (Qatar SC to Hull City 2007)
Promotion to the Premier League
Ashley Cole (LA Galaxy to Derby County 2019)
Back to England
Ben Greenhalgh (Welling United to Inter Milan 2010)
Transfer failed
Slipping through

Before the days of constant transfer speculation and 24/7 coverage, some of football's weirdest transfers slipped through the cracks.

Leave fans shocked

Big stars to lower leagues and loan moves you didn't dream had happened. Some of these transfers will leave you shocked!

Here we go!

Even Fabrizio Romano would have trouble remembering some of these deals! Here are some of the most random football transfers of all time!

Edgar Davids (Barnet 2012)

Edgar Davids is one of the greatest footballers to ever live, playing for Juventus, Ajax, and AC Milan. However, his move to English non-league Barnet in 2012 is one of the strangest transfers in football history.

Player/manager

Davids took them over while still in League Two, playing 28 games for them but failing to keep them up as player/manager. The Dutch legend stayed for half their season in the National League before resigning in January 2014.

David James (AFC Bournemouth to IBV, Iceland 2013)

David James is one of England's greatest goalkeepers, playing over 200 games for Liverpool and making over 50 appearances for England. His move from England is one of the strangest moves in transfer history.

Shock move to Iceland

After leaving Bournemouth in 2013, James made a shocking move to Iceland, joining IBV to play and gain more coaching experience. The former England international played 17 games for the Icelandic side.

Thomas Gravesen (Everton to Real Madrid 2005)

Thomas Gravesen was a standout for Everton at the turn of the 21st century, helping in Everton's rise to the top of the Premier League. His move to Spanish giants Real Madrid is a transfer that went under the radar during their Galactico era.

Dirty play

Graveson joined Madrid for a shockingly low fee of 2.5 million euros and made a solid start to his time in the Spanish capital. However, his dirty play and tough tackling were enough to show him the door, and he left after two seasons.

Jay Jay Okocha (Qatar SC to Hull City 2007)

Jay Jay Okocha, one of the most skillful footballers of his generation, lit up European football, playing for PSG, Frankfurt, and a legendary spell for Bolton in the Premier League.

Promotion to the Premier League

Many thought Okocha's career in Europe was done when he joined Qatar SC, but many have forgotten that the Nigerian international came back to Europe and played for Hull City in 2007. He played 18 games and helped Hull reach the Premier League for the first time.

Ashley Cole (LA Galaxy to Derby County 2019)

Ashley Cole is arguably the greatest left back in the history of football, playing in Arsenal's invincible team and helping Chelsea to several Premier League and a Champions League.

Back to England

Cole joined up with his former Chelsea teammate Frank Lampard, who managed Derby County at the time, joining them as a player in 2019. Cole struggled to make an impact, playing nine games and then being released.

Ben Greenhalgh (Welling United to Inter Milan 2010)

Perhaps the strangest transfer in football history is Ben Greenhalgh, who earned a move to Inter Milan from Conference South team Welling United after winning the football reality show 'Football's Next Star' in 2010.

Picture – Instagram @bengreenhalgh17

Transfer failed

Greenhalgh received a six-month contract from Milan, but the spell failed to materialize, leaving Milan and joining Welling again in 2012. He now plays for Margate in England's nonleague.

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