The first £10,000 player - David Jack
In 1928 David Jack smashed the previous transfer record of £6,500. Arsenal’s Herbert Chapman negotiated the deal with Bolton Wanderers’ representatives in a hotel bar. He stayed sober himself while getting the Bolton representatives intoxicated. They came to an agreement to sign the forward for what Chapman considered an affordable price, at £10,890.
Football ran in David Jack’s blood - his father and both his brothers were also footballers. Before becoming the first £10,000 player, Jack had already written his name in the history books in 1923 by being the first player to score at Wembley.
Jack scored 124 goals in 208 games for Arsenal, where he still holds a place in the top 10 all time best goalscorers for the club.