In a world where soccer transfers are now worth millions, it’s hard to imagine a time when players were traded for food, paint, or other unusual items. Here, we present 11 of the strangest player transfers in football history.
Kenneth Kristensen – Sold for his weight in shrimp
Photo: Private
Kristensen made headlines when he transferred from Vindbjart to Floey in Norway, with the club paying his weight in shrimp. Vindbjart received 150 pounds of shrimp.
Zat Knight – Traded for 30 tracksuits
Photo: Wiki Commons
When Knight moved from Rushall Olympic to Fulham, his club received 30 tracksuits as payment. Functional, yet hardly what you’d expect in a transfer deal.
This Uruguayan player transferred from Central Español to Rentistas for 550 steaks. To sweeten the deal, the steaks were delivered weekly in portions of 25.
Gary Pallister – Sold for a set of jerseys, a bag of balls, and a goal net
Photo: Youtube
Pallister’s move from Billingham Town to Middlesbrough wasn’t sealed with cash but with a set of jerseys, a bag of balls, and a goal net.
Marius Cioara – Sold for 15 kilograms of sausages
Photo: Private/Shutterstock.com
Cioara’s transfer from UT Arad to Regal Hornia in Romania cost the receiving club 15 kilograms of sausages. He retired the very next day, and the club demanded the sausages back.
Franco Di Santo – Traded for two goal nets and 40 liters of paint
Photo: Wiki Commons
Di Santo’s move to Audax Italiano in Chile was completed for two goal nets and 40 liters of paint.
Ian Wright – Sold for a set of weights
Photo: gtphotography.org / Shutterstock.com
Before becoming a Premier League legend, Wright moved from Greenwich Borough to Crystal Palace. The transfer fee? A set of weights.
