In 2009, following the big-money takeover of the club by the Abu Dhabi United Group, Manchester City made a statement of intent by signing Kolo Toure from Arsenal in a £17 million deal. It was hoped Toure's arrival would help transform City into a top four team and the Ivorian was handed the captain's armband by manager Mark Hughes. Toure made a good start to his career at Eastlands, making 31 Premier League appearances in 2009-10, but following Hughes's dismissal and the arrival of Roberto Mancini, things turned sour. Toure was stripped of captaincy with Carlos Tevez taking the armband and was used as a squad rotation player by Mancini, making just 22, 14 and then 15 league appearances in the following three seasons. The defender is proof that making big-money signings isn't always the best transfer policy in the world with Toure lasting just four seasons at Etihad Stadium before being released from his contract. A member of the famous 2003/04 Arsenal 'Invincibles' team, his career went backwards when he left the Gunners.