Cesc Fabregas was a member of Barcelona's highly-rated 'La Masia' academy as a youngster, playing in the same youth team as the likes of Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique. As soon as it became clear that Barca didn't see him as part of their future plans, however, Fabregas joined Arsenal on a free transfer in September 2003. It was a brave move by the then 16-year-old, but it wasn't long before people realised Arsene Wenger had signed a real gem. The Spaniard made his debut at 16, and immediately didn't look out of place. He had an incredible group of players to learn from, and before long he was a regular. He played 33 times in the league in 2004/05, and became more and more influential by the game. A hugely gifted central midfielder with great creativity and a good scoring record, Fabregas was a fans' favourite. At the age of 21, Wenger made Fabregas his captain, outlining just what a talent and natural leader he was. He was one of the Premier League's best players, and he was producing mesmerising displays week in, week out. Although he never won any silverware during his time at Arsenal, he is still rightfully regarded as a club legend. He left for Barcelona in 2011, after the Catalan giants clearly realised they'd made an error in selling him in the first place, and he joined Chelsea this summer for around £25m. It's incredible to think Arsenal got him for nothing.
