It’s common knowledge that a player can start over at a new club during the transfer window, but on rare occasions, that new beginning doesn’t work out right away.
This has led to the bizarre occurrence of players transferring twice in the same window. Did you know this was even possible? Let’s take a look at some notable examples.
7. Emmanuel Emenike: Cleared of Charges and Back Again
Nigerian striker Emmanuel Emenike’s transfer saga in 2011 was both dramatic and profitable for Fenerbahce. After signing him for €9 million from Karabukspor, Emenike was embroiled in the 2011 Turkish match-fixing scandal. Fenerbahce quickly sold him to Spartak Moscow for €10 million. Cleared of all charges later, Emenike never played for Fenerbahce but made a significant impact in Russia before returning to the Turkish club two years later.
6. Benik Afobe: From Wolves to Stoke City
A more recent example is Benik Afobe’s whirlwind summer in 2018. After a successful loan spell at Wolves, which helped them secure promotion to the Premier League, the club signed him permanently for £10 million. However, within weeks, Stoke City made a £12 million bid, and Wolves agreed to the deal. The profit enabled Wolves to invest in players like Raul Jimenez, Adama Traore, and Diogo Jota.
5. Dietmar Hamann: A Profitable Day for Bolton
One of the quickest and most profitable transfers involved Dietmar Hamann in 2006. After seven years at Liverpool, Hamann joined Bolton Wanderers as a free agent. Remarkably, just a day later, he transferred to Manchester City for £400,000. This swift deal netted Bolton a tidy profit in just 24 hours.
4. Martin Demichelis: From Atletico Madrid to Manchester City
Veteran defender Martin Demichelis had an illustrious career, including stints at Bayern Munich and Manchester City. But between those clubs was a brief and bizarre episode at Atletico Madrid in 2013. Demichelis joined Atletico on a free transfer but left without making a single appearance. Seeing he was behind other center-back options, he quickly moved to Manchester City to reunite with former boss Manuel Pellegrini, all within the same transfer window.
3. Bebe: From Unknown to Manchester United
In 2010, Manchester United signed Portuguese attacker Bebe in hopes of finding the next Cristiano Ronaldo. The relatively unknown player had just joined Vitoria de Guimaraes after a stellar season in the Portuguese third tier. United, eager to avoid a price surge, activated his release clause after a blistering pre-season. Unfortunately, Bebe is now remembered as one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s worst-ever signings.
2. Emerson Royal: From Barcelona Dream to Tottenham
In a further case of Barcelona’s financial mismanagement, they signed Emerson Royal from Betis in the summer of 2021. However, the club’s dire financial situation forced them to sell the Brazilian fullback almost immediately. Tottenham Hotspur swooped in with a significant offer, and Emerson Royal found himself moving from Barcelona to London in a matter of days. The emotional turmoil for the player must have been immense.
1. Marc Cucurella: A Rollercoaster Summer
Marc Cucurella, a Chelsea and Spain left-back is a product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy. He embarked on an unusual journey in the summer of 2019 as he was initially loaned to Eibar in 2018. The Spanish club was so impressed that they exercised their option to sign him permanently for €2 million. However, Barcelona had inserted a buy-back clause of €4 million, which they activated just sixteen days later to bring him back. Remarkably, Barcelona then decided to loan him to Getafe only two days after his return. We hope the Spaniard was only renting!
Conclusion
These instances highlight the unpredictable nature of football transfers, where players can find themselves switching clubs multiple times within a single window. Whether due to financial necessities, unforeseen opportunities, or strategic decisions, these rapid transfers add another layer of excitement and intrigue to the beautiful game.
Did you know about any of these instances? Do you know of any other times it has happened? Let us know in the comments. Remember to share this article if you enjoyed it and stay tuned for more fascinating football stories.
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