Premier League 2026-27

[nrico2006]

On cold reflection the only highest rank (Ballon D'Or territory) player who joined an EPL team whilst hitting his peak years was Dennis Bergkamp.

Who flopped at Inter and they wanted rid of him. Arsenal didn't swoop.

He *became* a world class player, but he moved as a damaged goods/rebuild his career player. Same with Henry from Juventus

Bergkamp:

1992: 3rd in Ballon D'Or when at Ajax

1993: 2nd in Ballon D'Or when at Inter

1995: joined Arsenal and spent a decade there, finishing 4th and 8th in the Ballon D'or awards.

I'm sure of course you'll have your own criteria for world class. Or you could just admit you got this one wrong.

Ozil was ranked higher in the year before his move to Arsenal than Bergkamp was. Donnarumma was too. Both were approaching their peak years also.

[Armagh18]

Sanchez and Ozil would have been ranked very highly when they went to Arsenal. Hazard was considered future Ballon D'or potential.

Pogba was rated as one of the best in the world when he went to United, Di Maria was definitely in that bracket of one of the best in the world (outside the 2 aliens) at the time although Madrid wanted rid for next new toy.

In terms of players doing well post Madrid, not too many outside Sneijder and Robben? Varane and Casemiro were good at times for United but best years were definitely behind them.

[Baile Brigín 2]

On cold reflection the only highest rank (Ballon D'Or territory) player who joined an EPL team whilst hitting his peak years was Dennis Bergkamp.

Who flopped at Inter and they wanted rid of him. Arsenal didn't swoop.

He *became* a world class player, but he moved as a damaged goods/rebuild his career player. Same with Henry from Juventus

Bergkamp:

1992: 3rd in Ballon D'Or when at Ajax

1993: 2nd in Ballon D'Or when at Inter

1995: joined Arsenal and spent a decade there, finishing 4th and 8th in the Ballon D'or awards.

I'm sure of course you'll have your own criteria for world class. Or you could just admit you got this one wrong.

What happened in 1994?

[thewobbler]

He scored 3 goals in 5 games at the World Cup?

Jesus f**king Christ the man was a record transfer fee for an English club when he arrived.

[tiempo]

Garnacho comes on for Villa, a journeyman at 22yo, blew his big chance the idiot

[nrico2006]

On cold reflection the only highest rank (Ballon D'Or territory) player who joined an EPL team whilst hitting his peak years was Dennis Bergkamp.

Who flopped at Inter and they wanted rid of him. Arsenal didn't swoop.

He *became* a world class player, but he moved as a damaged goods/rebuild his career player. Same with Henry from Juventus

Bergkamp:

1992: 3rd in Ballon D'Or when at Ajax

1993: 2nd in Ballon D'Or when at Inter

1995: joined Arsenal and spent a decade there, finishing 4th and 8th in the Ballon D'or awards.

I'm sure of course you'll have your own criteria for world class. Or you could just admit you got this one wrong.

What happened in 1994?

He wasn't ranked in 1994.

[Baile Brigín 2]

On cold reflection the only highest rank (Ballon D'Or territory) player who joined an EPL team whilst hitting his peak years was Dennis Bergkamp.

Who flopped at Inter and they wanted rid of him. Arsenal didn't swoop.

He *became* a world class player, but he moved as a damaged goods/rebuild his career player. Same with Henry from Juventus

Bergkamp:

1992: 3rd in Ballon D'Or when at Ajax

1993: 2nd in Ballon D'Or when at Inter

1995: joined Arsenal and spent a decade there, finishing 4th and 8th in the Ballon D'or awards.

I'm sure of course you'll have your own criteria for world class. Or you could just admit you got this one wrong.

What happened in 1994?

He wasn't ranked in 1994.

Because he had a carcrash of a club season and got punted.

I'm not disputing his quality, but he failed at Inter. So he wasn't a transfer I'm asking about.

[Milltown Row2]

Salah's first move to PL wasn't successful either

[Captain Obvious]

First Premier League game of this new season I've sat down to watch. A borefest of a 1st half where Arsenal and Aston Villa between them didn't have a shot on target. I didn't waste my time to watch the 2nd half.

[thewobbler]

On cold reflection the only highest rank (Ballon D'Or territory) player who joined an EPL team whilst hitting his peak years was Dennis Bergkamp.

Who flopped at Inter and they wanted rid of him. Arsenal didn't swoop.

He *became* a world class player, but he moved as a damaged goods/rebuild his career player. Same with Henry from Juventus

Bergkamp:

1992: 3rd in Ballon D'Or when at Ajax

1993: 2nd in Ballon D'Or when at Inter

1995: joined Arsenal and spent a decade there, finishing 4th and 8th in the Ballon D'or awards.

I'm sure of course you'll have your own criteria for world class. Or you could just admit you got this one wrong.

What happened in 1994?

He wasn't ranked in 1994.

Because he had a carcrash of a club season and got punted.

I'm not disputing his quality, but he failed at Inter. So he wasn't a transfer I'm asking about.

I guess Maradona to Napoli wasn't a big transfer either then .

[tiempo]

Arsenal defence strikes again
What a team

[93-DY-SAM]

On cold reflection the only highest rank (Ballon D'Or territory) player who joined an EPL team whilst hitting his peak years was Dennis Bergkamp.

Who flopped at Inter and they wanted rid of him. Arsenal didn't swoop.

He *became* a world class player, but he moved as a damaged goods/rebuild his career player. Same with Henry from Juventus

Bergkamp:

1992: 3rd in Ballon D'Or when at Ajax

1993: 2nd in Ballon D'Or when at Inter

1995: joined Arsenal and spent a decade there, finishing 4th and 8th in the Ballon D'or awards.

I'm sure of course you'll have your own criteria for world class. Or you could just admit you got this one wrong.

Maybe I'm missing something here, but you have to finish in the Ballon D'or top 3 every year to be considered
World class?

[AustinPowers]

First Premier League game of this new season I've sat down to watch. A borefest of a 1st half where Arsenal and Aston Villa between them didn't have a shot on target. I didn't waste my time to watch the 2nd half.

You might have to reconsider  paying that monthly  *ahem*  sky sports package .

[Baile Brigín 2]

On cold reflection the only highest rank (Ballon D'Or territory) player who joined an EPL team whilst hitting his peak years was Dennis Bergkamp.

Who flopped at Inter and they wanted rid of him. Arsenal didn't swoop.

He *became* a world class player, but he moved as a damaged goods/rebuild his career player. Same with Henry from Juventus

Bergkamp:

1992: 3rd in Ballon D'Or when at Ajax

1993: 2nd in Ballon D'Or when at Inter

1995: joined Arsenal and spent a decade there, finishing 4th and 8th in the Ballon D'or awards.

I'm sure of course you'll have your own criteria for world class. Or you could just admit you got this one wrong.

Maybe I'm missing something here, but you have to finish in the Ballon D'or top 3 every year to be considered
World class?

The Ballon was raised because he won f**k all

[Baile Brigín 2]

On cold reflection the only highest rank (Ballon D'Or territory) player who joined an EPL team whilst hitting his peak years was Dennis Bergkamp.

Who flopped at Inter and they wanted rid of him. Arsenal didn't swoop.

He *became* a world class player, but he moved as a damaged goods/rebuild his career player. Same with Henry from Juventus

Bergkamp:

1992: 3rd in Ballon D'Or when at Ajax

1993: 2nd in Ballon D'Or when at Inter

1995: joined Arsenal and spent a decade there, finishing 4th and 8th in the Ballon D'or awards.

I'm sure of course you'll have your own criteria for world class. Or you could just admit you got this one wrong.

What happened in 1994?

He wasn't ranked in 1994.

Because he had a carcrash of a club season and got punted.

I'm not disputing his quality, but he failed at Inter. So he wasn't a transfer I'm asking about.

I guess Maradona to Napoli wasn't a big transfer either then .

At the time nobody outside Naples even noticed.