Shock switches: 10 of the most stunning transfer moves

Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano
Regarded as two of the most promising players in South America at the time, both Tevez and Mascherano amazingly arrived at Upton Park, with even the former West Ham United boss Alan Pardew unable to believe such a double swoop had materialised.

Tevez went on to keep the club in the top flight single handedly, while his Argentina international teammate endured a more troublesome spell in east London. However, both eventually departed, leaving ongoing legal problems over third-party ownership behind them.

Sol Campbell
Former England international Campbell had spent his whole career at Tottenham and was huge hit with the White Hart Lane faithful. However, that swiftly turned sour in the 2000/01 campaign when he stunningly joined bitter north London rivals Arsenal, after 255 Premier League outings for Spurs.

Radamel Falcao
In the summer of 2014, Manchester United had just finished in the season in seventh position and Radamel Falcao was still regarded as one of the world’s most deadly finishers.

Although, the tables quickly tuned as the Colombian shockingly arrived at Old Trafford on loan, but failed miserably in his pursuit to be a success in England, while United went on to return to the top four places.

Eric Cantona
Possibly one of the worst decisions ever made in football management came when former Leeds United boss Howard Wilkinson agreed to let Eric Cantona join the Red Devils in 1992.

At that point Leeds were the reigning English champions and the Frenchman was their talisman, but a £1.2m move directly across the Pennines kicked off a decade of dominance at Old Trafford.

Mo Johnstone
The rivalry between Celtic and Rangers transcends just matters on the pitch. This was brutally highlighted when Johnston became Graeme Souness’ first signing as Gers boss in 1989, having formerly been a Celtic hero, and a proud Catholic, causing fury among both sets of fans.

Such was the depth of disgust, the former Rangers kitman reportedly refused to work for him, making Johnston arrange his own playing attire.

Andy Carroll
During the January transfer window in 2011, football lost its marbles completely, with Chelsea playing a whopping £50m for Fernando Torres, while former Newcastle United frontman Carroll arrived at Anfield for £35m.

Having sold Torres to the Blues, the Reds were in desperate need of a striker, any striker, anyone. Carroll was the man bizarrely chosen after just half a season of Premier League football with the Toon, but he ultimately scored six goals in 26 outings before leaving for West ham United.