WITH August almost upon us, the summer transfer window is hotting up as clubs and managers look to get their business done ahead of the new season.
Many Irish players could be involved in the mayhem as the market draws to a close, with the futures of Jeff Hendrick, Robbie Brady and Wes Hoolahan still up in the air amid rumours of bids from various clubs.
But have you ever wondered which Irish players have cost the biggest fees down the years? Here, we examine the most expensive players from the Emerald Isle to have transferred in English football.
Robbie Keane - £19m
Robbie Keane arrived at Liverpool in 2008 (Picture: Getty)Robbie Keane has been the subject of seven transfer fees during his career, all of which have amounted up to a reported £88m. The highest of those fees was the £19m Liverpool paid in 2008 to prize him away from Tottenham Hotspur. However, remarkably, the Merseyside giants sold him back to Tottenham six months later for a fee in the region of £16m after add-ons. The Irish record goal-scorer is now currently plying his trade in the MLS with LA Galaxy after being let go by Tottenham in 2011 for £2.6m which stands as the last fee paid for the Tallaght native. Even so, Keane’s £88m transfer fee accumulation makes him the second costliest footballer in British and Irish football.
Damien Duff - £17m
Damien Duff was signed by Chelsea in 2003 for £17m (Picture:Getty)Like Keane, Damien Duff spent most of his career in the English Premier League with various clubs such as Fulham, Blackburn and Newcastle. However, it was at Chelsea where the Dubliner got his breakthrough chance at the big time as the then Blues manager, Claudio Ranieri, paid Blackburn £17m for his services - a fee which makes him the second most expensive Irish player ever. Duff went on to win two Premier League titles and a League Cup with Chelsea between 2003 and 2006 but is now retired after a short stint with League of Ireland side Shamrock Rovers.
James McCarthy - £13m
James McCarthy was signed by Everton for in 2013 (Picture:Getty)When James McCarthy moved to Everton for £13m on deadline day in 2013, the Scottish-born midfield battler became the third most expensive Irish player ever. Whilst still developing at only 25 years old, don’t be surprised to see this fee bettered some day if McCarthy looks to move on from Everton in the future.
Shane Long - £12m
Shane Long is the fourth most expensive Irish footballer ever (Picture:Getty)Six months after McCarthy’s big money move to Everton, Shane Long then had one of his own as he was sold to Southampton from Hull City in January 2014 for £12m. Many eyebrows were raised at the size of Long’s transfer fee, as he became the fourth most expensive Irish player of all time, but the Tipperary native’s fine form has since put those doubts to bed. Long looked like possibly being the subject of a mega transfer this summer after reported interest from Liverpool left Southampton asking for a rumoured £25m. However, news of Long’s recently signed four-year contract extension has since muted talk of him leaving the south coast.
Robbie Brady - £7m
Robbie Brady's moved from Hull to Norwich (Picture: Getty)After being relegated with Hull City in 2015, Robbie Brady moved to newly promoted Norwich City for £7m, becoming the fifth the most expensive Irish player ever. Norwich City have since been relegated, which has sparked rumours that Brady could move on once again and with the club demanding upwards of £15m-£20m for the Dubliner’s services, so we could well see Brady become the second or third most expensive Irish footballer by the end of the summer window.
