Return to sender: Chris Samba and other quick return transfers

This week, QPR’s record signing Christopher Samba completed his move back to Anzhi Makhachkala. The Congolese centre-back only joined Rangers in January, having left Anzhi for £12.5 million. The return fee represented a £500,000 loss for QPR. Samba’s quick return to his former club is unusual but not uncommon. Here are a few examples of players leaving their clubs, only to return a short time later:

Robbie Keane

Tottenham – Liverpool – Tottenham

The Republic of Ireland striker has turned out for quite a few clubs in his career, including two spells at Tottenham. Keane had netted double figures in the Premier League for six consecutive seasons in Tottenham’s colours. This form provoked interest from Liverpool in July 2008.

The Irishman said he had ‘been a Liverpool fan all my life’ and ‘couldn’t be happier’ when he completed his £20.3 million move to Anfield later that month. However, his stay at Liverpool was to be short-lived. Keane netted just five Premier League goals for the Reds before Spurs moved to re-sign him in February 2009. The return fee was £12 million (possibly rising to £16 million with add-ons), a massive financial loss for Liverpool.

Younes Kaboul

Tottenham – Portsmouth – Tottenham

Younes Kaboul was just 21 years old when he became a Tottenham player for the first time in July 2007. His inexperience showed a few times that season, and perhaps contributed to Spurs agreeing to sell the centre-back to Portsmouth in August 2008. Kaboul started to realise his potential for Pompey, scoring for them against Italian giants AC Milan in the UEFA Cup.

His improved performances courted interest from many clubs as Portsmouth’s financial position weakened. It was Tottenham who sealed his signature in January 2010 for an undisclosed fee. Portsmouth reportedly still owed Tottenham for the original transfer at the time, ensuring a smooth return to White Hart Lane.

Steven Pienaar

Everton – Tottenham – Everton

David Moyes had a knack for finding quality players for knockdown prices during his tenure at Goodison Park. The £2 million capture of Steven Pienaar in the summer of 2007 proved it. The winger was much-loved at Everton, and his skill persuaded both Chelsea and Tottenham to move for him. Pienaar elected to move to Spurs in January 2011. Unfortunately his time at Tottenham was blighted by injuries. Everton took the South African back on loan twelve months later, before making the move permanent last summer.

Ian Rush

Liverpool – Juventus – Liverpool

The final example, and the first that doesn’t include Tottenham! Ian Rush had already cemented his place in Anfield folklore when he agreed to join Juventus in July 1986. Rush actually stayed at Liverpool for another season on loan before heading to Turin. It was a new challenge for the striker, who looked to test himself against the best defences Italy had to offer. The Welshman struggled to adapt to the Italian style of play, scoring just seven league goals. Ian Rush made his return to Liverpool a year later in August 1988.