Five of the Best Bosman Transfers

1. Sol Campbell (Tottenham to Arsenal, 2001)

In probably the most controversial Bosman-transfer in English football history, Tottenham central defender Sol Campbell made the short move across North London to arch-rivals Arsenal in the summer of 2001. After more than 250 appearances at White Hart Lane, Campbell made the move in order to play Champions League football, despite having previously stated that he would never played for Arsenal. The move didn't help Campbell win any popularity contests, but he enjoyed immediate success at Highbury, winning the Premier League and FA Cup in his first season. He starred in Arsenal's unbeaten season of 2003/04, won the FA Cup again in both 2003 and 2005 and scored in the Gunners' Champions League final defeat to barcelona in 2006. After five seasons at Arsenal, he moved on to Portsmouth in time for the 2006/07 season.

2. Steve McManaman (Liverpool to Real Madrid, 1999)

Despite turning down a move to Barcelona two years previously, Steve McManaman made the move to Real Madrid in the summer of 1999 on a Bosman-free after 12 years at Liverpool. He became only the second English player ever to play for Real Madrid and soon became a hit with the Bernabeu faithful. In his first season, he established himself in the team and scored in the 2000 Champions League Final in Madrid's 3-0 win over Valencia, thus becoming the first Englishman to win the Champions League with a foreign club. The winger followed this up with more Champions League success in 2002, as well as La Liga winners medals in 2001 and 2003, which helped make him the most decorated English footballer, in terms of trophies won, to have played overseas.

3. Michael Ballack (Bayern Munich to Chelsea, 2006)

Michael Ballack arrived at Chelsea following trophy-laden spells at Byaern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen, although will perhaps be remembered for the 2002 season in which he lost both the Champions League and World Cup Final, as well as finishing second in the Bundesliga. His record of being a valiant runner-up continued in the Premier League, when Chelsea finished second in the Premier League, and also lost the Carling Cup and Champions League finals in 2008. Despite this, he has cemented his place in the Chelsea midfield, scoring some crucial goals in the past few seasons, making more than 75 appearances for the Blues.

4. Brad Friedel (Liverpool to Blackburn, 2000; Blackburn to Aston Villa, 2008)

American stopper Brad Friedel has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, and has enjoyed two Bosman-free transfers during his time in England, first moving from Liverpool to Blackburn in 2000, before moving on to Aston Villa in 2008. He has consistently kept clean sheets wherever he has been, and was man of the match in Blackburn's 2002 Carling (then Worthington) Cup final win over Tottenham. Friedel's consistency and reliability continued at Villa Park, where he has continued his incredible record run of almost 200 consecutive Premier League appearances.

5. Michael Owen (Newcastle to ?, 2009)

Newcastle striker Michael Owen is set to become one of the most high-profile Bosman-rule transfers of all time when he moves on this summer. In what has been some fall from grace for the former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker, Owen currently finds himself without a club for the 2009/10 season following Newcastle's relegation. But he has the quality and talent to grace any top flight side, and he is sure to repay any club that shows faith in him. Just where he will end up remains a mystery, but next season may well be his chance to make himself the best Bosman-signing of all time.

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