10 Most Controversial Transfers Of The Premier League Era

8. Sol Campbell To Arsenal

He said he would never play for Arsenal. In 2001, he joined Arsenal. More than a decade on, Sol Campbell's transfer from Tottenham to their fierce rivals remains a controversial one. In the summer of 2001, Campbell's contract was running out at White Hart Lane and, desperate to keep their captain and talisman, Spurs offered the defender a contract that would have made him the club's highest-paid player in history. However, despite repeat assurances he would stay, the centre-half later went on to proclaim he wanted to join a Champions League club. There was much interest from across the continent, but despite his aforementioned claims he would never play for the Gunners, he joined Arsenal - on a free transfer, no less. If losing their star player for absolutely nothing wasn't bad enough, Spurs fans were wounded by Campbell's hypocrisy and have labelled him a Judas ever since. In March this year, the defender apologised for the controversial move, but there are many who will never forgive him.