The 5 most controversial transfers in British football history

#4 Micheal Owen (Newcastle United to Manchester United, free)

When Newcastle United were relegated for the first time in 15 years, Micheal Owen, who spent four years in Tyne-side, was released after he refused to sign a new contract. He was rumoured to have had no offers because of his injury record in the couple of seasons before that.

Manchester United made a surprise move for Owen, who joined them on a pay-as-play deal. The transfer in one shot left Liverpool fans, who considered Owen a legend, furious. He was a huge component of the Liverpool team from 1996 to 2004, before he joined Newcastle in 2005. The transfer to United tarnished his reputation among Liverpool supporters. Despite Owen having tried to play down his United career to Liverpool fans, his choosing of Manchester United blackened him to them.

Since then, he has regained a little bit of respect but the adulation that he enjoyed at The Kop is long gone.

Owen in a pre-season game