On 1 September 2013, Gareth Bale completed his blockbuster move from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid.
The 24-year-old signed a six-year contract after Madrid reportedly paid a world-record fee of around £85 million. Bale left Spurs following a remarkable season in which he scored 26 goals across all competitions and won both major PFA Player of the Year awards.
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Any doubts about whether the Welshman could handle the pressure were soon answered. He scored on his La Liga debut against Villarreal before producing two defining moments during his first campaign.
Bale raced past Barcelona defender Marc Bartra to score the winner in the Copa del Rey final, then struck in extra time as Madrid defeated Atletico Madrid to claim their long-awaited 10th European crown.
His most memorable contribution arrived four years later. Bale came off the bench to score twice against Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final, including a spectacular overhead kick.
Despite injuries and a difficult relationship with sections of the Spanish media, Bale left Madrid with five Champions League titles. He scored 106 goals in 258 appearances during one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.
Exactly 12 years after Bale’s move, Alexander Isak completed his own record-breaking transfer.
Liverpool paid Newcastle United £125 million for the Sweden striker, making him the most expensive signing in British football history. Isak signed a long-term contract and inherited the No 9 shirt at Anfield.
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He arrived after scoring 62 goals in 109 matches for Newcastle. His final campaign at St James’ Park produced 27 goals across all competitions, including one against Liverpool in the League Cup final as Newcastle ended a 70-year wait for a domestic trophy.
Isak’s first season on Merseyside was disrupted by fitness problems and a fractured fibula suffered while scoring against Tottenham Hotspur in December. He ended the campaign with four goals in 22 appearances.
Bale’s legacy in Madrid has already been secured. Isak’s Liverpool story, meanwhile, is still being written.
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