MANCHESTER UNITED kept up their tradition of spending big on teenage stars in the summer transfer by bringing in Atalanta ace Amad Diallo.
The Red Devils captured the 18-year-old Ivorian winger on deadline day.
The most-expensive teenage XI in Premier League history
And Diallo is by no means the first big-money youngster to head to Old Trafford in recent years.
In fact, United absolutely dominate the list of most-expensive teenagers in Premier League history.
We’ve put together the costliest XI ever, below…
GOALKEEPER – Thibaut Courtois
Courtois joined Chelsea in 2011 but was immediately loaned to AtletiCredit: AFP
Transfer: Genk to Chelsea (2011)
Cost: £8m
ONLY 19 years old when he first joined Chelsea in 2011, Courtois didn’t make his Blues debut until 2014.
Courtois spent three seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid, before having four years in the Chelesa first-team prior to his move to Real Madrid.
RIGHT-BACK – Diogo Dalot
Dalot is the most expensive right-back in Premier League historyCredit: AFP or licensors
Transfer: Porto to Man Utd (2018)
Cost: £19m
DALOT struggled to live up to the hype following his 2018 move from Porto aged 19 – worth £20m.
He has since been loaned to AC Milan.
CENTRE-BACK – Phil Jones
Phil Jones remains one of the most expensive teenagers in PL historyCredit: Getty – Contributor
Transfer: Blackburn to Man Utd (2011)
Cost: £16.5m
SIR ALEX FERGUSON believed Jones would becomes one of the best centre-backs in the world on signing him from Blackburn in 2011.
At £16.5m he wasn’t too pricey as a 19-year-old first-teamer – but even then he’s failed to live-up to the price-tag.
Still at United nearly a decade later, Jones is expected to leave soon having been axed from the club’s Europa League squad.
CENTRE-BACK – William Saliba
William Saliba is the most-expensive teenage centre-back in PL historyCredit: Getty – Contributor
Transfer: Saint-Etienne to Arsenal (2019)
Cost: £27m
YET to make his Premier League debut, Saliba joined the club for £27m last summer at 18 and was immediately loaned back to Saint-Etienne.
Arsenal had hoped to loan him out again, but the main transfer window has closed, with only the domestic window still open.
LEFT-BACK – Luke Shaw
Luke Shaw edges Ryan Sessegnon into the left-bak spot in our XICredit: Getty Images – Getty
Transfer: Southampton to Man Utd (2014)
Cost: £33m
SHAW has failed to live up to the hype since joining United from Saints as an 18-year-old.
But the England star has been hampered by a series of injuries during his career and still has his best years ahead of him.
Shaw keeps Ryan Sessegnon – a £25m purchase by Tottenham from Fulham last year – out of the team.
CENTRE-MID – Anderson
Man Utd flop Anderson remains one of the most-expensive teenage midfielder in PL historyCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
Transfer: Porto to Man Utd (2007)
Cost: £20m
A REAL flop at Man Utd, Anderson joined as an explosive winger aged 19 and departed an underwhelming defensive midfielder.
Anderson retired in 2019 after a spell at Turkish second tier side Adana Demirspor.
He keeps John Obi Mikel – a £16.5m buy – out of the team following his move to Chelsea via Man Utd.
RIGHT-WING – Amad Diallo
Amad Diallo will officially link up with Man Utd in JanuaryCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Transfer: Atalanta to Man Utd (2020)
Cost: £37m
THE youngster, 18, won’t link up with Man Utd until January due to work permit issues.
And already there is controversy surrounding the move, with Diallo at the centre of an illegal immigrant probe over claims his ‘bogus’ father gained him false entry to Italy.
LEFT-WING – Anthony Martial
Anthony Martial is still the most-expensive teenage buy in the history of the PLCredit: Getty – Contributor
Transfer: Monaco to Man Utd (2015)
Cost: £44.5m
ALREADY the most expensive teenager in Premier League history when he joined United aged 19, Martial could prove even more expensive with add-ons potentially taking the total fee to £57.6m.
Martial has shown signs of real class at Old Trafford but has lacked consistency and is yet to justify the sky-high price-tag.
FORWARD- Wayne Rooney
Rooney proved to be one of Man Utd’s best-ever buys, despite costing £30mCredit: AFP – Getty
Transfer: Everton to Man Utd (2004)
Cost: £30m
ARGUABLY one of United’s top bargains, at just £30m in total – including all add-ons – Rooney was part of one of the club’s best-ever periods.
Rooney won five Premier League titles and one Champions League crown following his move from Everton at the age of 18.
STRIKER – Gabriel Jesus
Gabriel Jesus cost Man City just shy of £30m on signing in 2017Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Transfer: Palmeiras to Man City (2017)
Cost: £28.6m
JESUS joined Man City from Brazilian side Palmeiras in 2017 aged 19 – and helped the club to back-to-back league titles.
But he has often played second fiddle to Sergio Aguero. Despite that he’s scored 42 goals in just 103 Premier League games.
STRIKER – Fabio Silva
Fabio Silva beats Romelu Lukaku to the XI following his £35m move to Wolves this summerCredit: PA:Press Association
Transfer: Porto to Wolves (2020)
Cost: £35m
SILVA became just the latest Portuguese star to move to Molineux this summer.
In three games – two in the league – the 18-year-old is still yet to score.
But he will hope to live up to his price-tag, currently the third-most expensive teenager in Premier League history.
Premier League matches will cost £14.95 on PPV Box Office channels with Man Utd and Chelsea games among first clashes
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
