In 2006, Joe Hart was an unknown 19-year-old goalkeeper impressing with Shrewsbury Town in League 2. He had been nominated in the League 2 Team of the Year, and Manchester City took notice. He was signed for a reported fee of £100,000, and made his debut for the club early in the 2006/07 campaign, following injuries to Andreas Isaksson and Nicky Weaver. It wasn't long before Hart was really starting to impress whenever he got his chance, and he made a total of 49 Premier League appearances in 2007/08 and 2008/09. Shay Given signed from Newcastle, however, and became the undisputed first-choice, and Hart was sent on loan to Birmingham City in 2009/10. He did excellently there, and he usurped Given as number one at City the following season. Since that point Hart has never looked back. He has become England's first-choice 'keeper, earning 47 caps to date, and established himself as one of the Premier League's best 'keepers. He has won two league titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup. At 27 he is still a few years away from his peak, and there is every chance he could become one of the top four or five in the world over the next several years. He makes the odd error here and there, but on the whole, he's been terrific for City and England. That £100,000 fee was an absolute steal.
