Manchester United

Ranking every player Manchester United have signed on transfer deadline day: Rooney takes top spot, Ronaldo in fifth place

Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov playing for Manchester United. TEAMtalk montage.

While clubs always want to get their business done early, Manchester United have a long history of completing last-ditch signings in the transfer window.

United have signed Altay Bayindir from Fenerbache on transfer deadline day in 2023 and are also working on deals for Sergio Reguilon and Sofyan Amrabat.

We’ve looked at the 13 players United have previously signed on transfer deadline day and ranked them from worst to best.

Note: we’ve only included deals from the summer transfer windows and not the January transfer windows.

13. Saidy Janko

Janko joined United from FC Zurich in 2013 and won the Denzil Haroun Reserve Player of the Year award in his debut season.

But his one first-team appearance for United was an unhappy one as he was subbed off at half-time in a 4-0 loss at MK Dons in the EFL Cup.

The right-back had a loan spell at Bolton in the second half of the 2014/15 season and then joined Celtic on a permanent deal.

12. Regan Poole

After making his Newport County debut at the age of 16 in 2014/15, Poole joined United in a £100,000 deal a few months later.

The defender made just one first-team appearance for United, coming off the bench in a 5-1 win over FC Midtjylland in February 2016.

He spent time on loan at Northampton Town and Newport County before being released at the end of the 2018/19 season.

11. Radamel Falcao

Once regarded as one of the best strikers in the world, Falcao was brought in from Monaco on a season-long loan deal in 2014.

But the former Colombia international failed to live up to expectations at Old Trafford and scored just four goals in 29 appearances in 2014/15.

United unsurprisingly decided not to take up the £43.2million option to buy Falcao, who then spent the 2015/16 season on loan at Chelsea.

10. Alex Telles

One of three deadline day signings in 2020, Telles starred for Porto in the Primeira Liga before joining United in a £13.6million deal.

The Brazil international registered one goal and eight assists in 50 appearances for the club but failed to usurp first-choice left-back Luke Shaw.

He spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Sevilla and then joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr in a £4million deal.

9. Facundo Pellistri

Pellistri played under former United striker Diego Forlan at Uruguayan side Penarol before moving to Old Trafford in a £9million deal in 2020.

The winger had two loan spells at Deportivo Alaves and finally made his senior United debut in January 2023 – two years and three months after joining the club.

While he’s shown glimpses of his talent in cameo appearances, the 21-year-old is yet to establish himself as a first-team regular at Old Trafford.

8. Edinson Cavani

After leaving Paris Saint-Germain in 2020, Cavani joined United as a 33-year-old free agent amid doubts from some whether he could make an impact on the Premier League.

The Uruguay international silenced his critics and scored 17 goals in all competitions in his debut season, including a stunning 40-yard lob against Fulham.

But Cavani struggled with a series of fitness problems during a difficult second season at Old Trafford, and he was released in the summer of 2022.

7. Daley Blind

Having worked with Blind at the 2014 World Cup, Louis van Gaal brought the Netherlands international to Old Trafford a few weeks later.

The midfielder impressed after being converted into a ball-playing centre-back, playing a key role in United’s FA Cup and Europa League triumphs.

He fell down the pecking order during Jose Mourinho’s second season and returned to his former club Ajax in a £14.1million deal in 2018.

6. Antony

After playing under Erik ten Hag at Ajax, Antony followed the manager to United in 2022 in a deal worth an initial £81.2million.

The Brazil international hit the ground running, becoming the first United player to score in their first three Premier League appearances for the club.

But he failed to maintain that goalscoring form and finished his debut season in England with just eight goals and three assists in all competitions.

The 23-year-old winger still won the League Cup in 2022/23 and has shown signs of improvement in recent months.

5. Cristiano Ronaldo

Despite widespread speculation that Ronaldo was set to join rivals Manchester City, he ultimately completed a fairytale return to Old Trafford in 2021.

While United endured a disastrous 2021/22 season, the Portugal international still scored 24 goals in all competitions and was named in the Premier League Team of the Year.

Things turned sour in his second season following an explosive interview with Piers Morgan and his contract was terminated by mutual consent in November 2022.

4. Marouane Fellaini

The first major signing of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, Fellaini joined United in 2013 after David Moyes bought him on deadline day for a higher price than the release clause that was active earlier in the window.

“Signing Marouane Fellaini so close to the deadline that August, the club’s only major deal in a summer when we needed two or three big names, suggested that things were not running smoothly,” Ryan Giggs wrote in the Daily Telegraph in 2016.

“United had signed players late in the window before but this time was different. This time it was more of a panic.”

The midfielder had a disastrous debut season as United finished seventh in the Premier League, but he became an important player under Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho.

Fellaini made over 150 appearances for the club and came up with some important goals, helping United win the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Europa League.

3. Anthony Martial

Martial was a relatively unknown teenager when United decided to sign him from Monaco for an initial £36million on deadline day in 2015.

He well and truly announced himself to the world by coming off the bench to score a brilliant solo goal against Liverpool on his debut.

While the striker has struggled to hit the heights expected of him in recent seasons, he still has a respectable return of 88 goals and 53 assists in all competitions.

2. Dimitar Berbatov

Berbatov rejected interest from Manchester City and completed a £30.75million move to United on the final day of the 2008 summer transfer window.

His languid approach often infuriated fans but he provided plenty of memorable moments at Old Trafford, including an incredible turn to set up Cristiano Ronaldo for a tap-in against West Ham.

The former Bulgaria international also scored 56 times in 149 appearances for United, winning two Premier League titles, a League Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

1. Wayne Rooney

There was only ever going to be one winner.

After starring for England at Euro 2004, Rooney left boyhood club Everton and completed a £27million move to United on transfer deadline day.

He enjoyed 13 trophy-laden seasons at Old Trafford, winning five Premier League titles, three League Cups, an FA Cup, the Champions League, the Europa League and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Rooney also replaced Sir Bobby Charlton as United’s all-time leading goalscorer after netting 253 goals in 559 appearances in all competitions.

READ MORE: The 10 biggest Manchester United transfers of all time: Rasmus Hojlund takes sixth spot after £64m move

Manchester United Wayne Rooney Cristiano Ronaldo Antony

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