#7 Edin Dzeko - €37.00 million
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There is no doubt that Edin Dzeko has played a crucial role in Manchester City’s recent success, particularly the two Premier League title triumphs in 2012 and 2014. Often overshadowed by that Aguero moment, it is sometimes forgotten that it was Dzeko’s 90th-minute header that actually kick-started the hopes of an unlikely comeback.
But despite this, the Bosnian international divides opinion amongst the City supporters quite like no other due to his wild fluctuations in form. At his best, he is on par with any other centre-forward in the world, a world beater. At worst, he can be a total liability.
After heavy speculation during the January transfer window of 2011, Roberto Mancini, the Manchester City manager confirmed that the club had agreed a deal to sign Wolfsburg’s then top league goal scorer, Edin Dzeko. The transfer fee broke the Bundesliga record departure fee, Bosnian record transfer fee and was the highest amount paid for any player from ex-Yugoslavia at that time.
Setting up Yaya Toure on his debut, Dzeko scored his first goal in an FA Cup tie at Notts County to secure a replay, a tournament City ended up winning, ending a 35-year trophy drought.
An incredible four goals in a 5-1 thrashing of Spurs at the White Hart Lane, a brace in the 6-1 humiliation of rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford, a crucial winner away at Blackburn Rovers – Dzeko became renowned as the scorer of “heavy goals”, stepping up when needed the most.
Following the signing of Wilfried Bony, an out-of-form Dzeko’s place in the squad came under apparent threat after a string of 15 consecutive matches without scoring a goal. Loaned out to AS Roma by Manuel Pellegrini in 2015, Dzeko ended up signing for the Italian club permanently once the buy-back clause in his contract was activated.
