sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Sir Alex Ferguson's Four Biggest Transfer 'Errors' at Man Utd

Home> Football> Football News> Man Utd

Published 06:00 26 Nov 2025 GMT

Sir Alex Ferguson's Four Biggest Transfer 'Errors' at Man Utd

One of the names mentioned was Ferguson's worst-ever signing.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has previously named some of his biggest transfer errors, with Eric Djemba-Djemba featuring alongside his worst-ever signing.

As United lingered in the relegation zone following a torrid start to the campaign, Ferguson took over in November 1986, just hours after Ron Atkinson was dismissed from his post at Old Trafford.

The Scot, who had left Aberdeen after winning three Scottish league titles, brought in several players who would play key roles under his leadership, including Brian McClair, Mark Hughes and Steve Bruce.

As well as becoming the inaugural Premier League champions, United dominated English football for years to come, lifting 12 league titles before Ferguson retired in 2013 with 38 trophies to his name.

Advert

During that time, Ferguson was known as a successful operator in the transfer market.

Sir Alex Ferguson won 13 Premier League titles during his 26-year reign. Image credit: Getty
Sir Alex Ferguson won 13 Premier League titles during his 26-year reign. Image credit: Getty

He often signed players off the back of promising performances in major international tournaments, although some didn't work out how he would have hoped. Case in point, Eric Djemba-Djemba.

Djemba-Djemba signed for United from French club Nantes in 2003, just months after winning an Africa Cup of Nations medal with Cameroon.

On his arrival, Ferguson said he had tracked the player for months and was confident he was capable of making an impact at Old Trafford.

"In the last few months he has shown his development playing in a very good Cameroon team, and he looks like a Manchester United player in every sense," said the Scot.

Unfortunately for the midfielder, he struggled to make much of an impact at United and, after failing to establish himself as a first-team regular, he was sold to Aston Villa in January 2005 for just £1.5 million.

Such was his lacklustre impact, Ferguson mentioned Djemba-Djemba while discussing some of his personal transfer errors, which also included Kieran Richardson, William Prunier and Ralph Milne, as per The Guardian via Alex Ferguson: My Autobiography.

Sir Alex Ferguson named Ralph Milne as his worst signing

Milne, who joined United from third division side Bristol City in 1988 for £170,000, had played a significant role in Dundee United's rise under the no-nonsense management of Jim McLean.

He scored four goals as the Scottish club reached the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1983-84, but four years later, Milne was past his best after being called out for a lack of effort.

In fact, after struggling in his first season at Old Trafford, he was soon dropped to the reserves in 1989 and played his last professional game for United aged just 28.

Speaking at an event in 2009, Ferguson would admit: "My worst signing? Ralph Milne. I only paid £170,000 but I still get condemned for it."

Featured Image Credit: Getty Images

Topics: Man Utd, Sir Alex Ferguson, Premier League, Transfers, Manchester United, Manchester United Transfer News & Rumours

Jack Kenmare
Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is the Senior Journalist for SPORTbible, one of the world’s biggest social publishers. He specialises in long-form feature writing and has an encyclopedic knowledge of Football Manager wonderkids from 2005 to the present day. He has a BA (Hons) in Journalism and News Practice.

X

@jackkenmare_

Recommended reads

Ranking the top 10 best golfers of all time as Nicklaus v Woods GOAT debate settledGetty ImagesDavid Munyua and Peter Wachiuri interview: 'We wish for major PDC players to come and visit Kenya'Getty / Instagram/@wachiuridartsMark Selby lifts lid on backstage talks over Crucible as landmark agreement reachedGettyBarry Hearn sends message to Ronnie O'Sullivan over snooker future as Crucible prediction madeGetty

Advert

Choose your content:

14 mins ago
an hour ago
10 hours ago
13 hours ago
  • Getty Images
    14 mins ago

    Premier League cult hero retired from football aged 29 immediately after World Cup match

    In 2006 a Premier League cult hero retired from football at the age of 29 after the World Cup.

    Football
  • Getty
    an hour ago

    'Like a Benny Hill sketch' - Man Utd's disastrous 2013 transfer window

    Manchester United went after some of the world's best players in the summer of 2013. They ended up with Marouane Fellaini.

    Football
  • Getty
    10 hours ago

    Barcelona could hand Real Madrid an unthinkable El Clásico nightmare

    The La Liga giants will be praying this doesn't happen.

    Football
  • Getty
    13 hours ago

    Why Liverpool fans refused to wave Anfield flags vs Fulham

    The Kop looked very different ahead of the Premier League clash.

    Football
  • QUIZ: Can you name Sir Alex Ferguson's top 50 most expensive Man Utd signings
  • What Sir Alex Ferguson did after player knocked on his door asking for a trial
  • What happened to the five players on Sir Alex Ferguson's leaked Man Utd transfer list
  • Furious Sir Alex Ferguson Demanded Premier League Investigate Spurs Transfer