6 craziest transfer hijacks in football history

Last-minute transfer drama not new with some illustrious names involved in bizarre events

- BY SHAMSEER MOHAMMED Staff Writer

After Arsenal’s recent hijack of Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace left Tottenham fans fuming, it’s worth remembering that last-minute transfer drama isn’t anything new in football.

Transfer windows are supposed to be straightforward. Player wants to move, clubs agree a fee, done deal. Yeah, right. Some of the craziest stories in football happen when everything goes wrong at the last minute.

Back in 1988, everyone thought Paul Gascoigne also known as Gazza was heading to Old Trafford. He had given his word to Sir Alex before going on summer holidays, and United fans were buzzing. Then Tottenham chairman Irving Scholar decided to mess everything up. He convinced Gascoigne to join Spurs instead, and United supporters are probably still angry about it today. Ferguson never really got over losing out on Gazza, whose career would have definitely been shaped differently under Ferguson.