David O’Leary proven spectacularly wrong as Leeds United completed big-money deal in 2001

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Leeds United’s big-spending tipped over into excess on this day in 2001, as David O’Leary added another big-name signing to his Premier League squad.

Daniel Farke’s under-fire strikers scored twice at Etihad in a heartbreaking defeat against Manchester City, as Leeds continue to battle against relegation from the Premier League.

25 years ago today, Leeds paid a huge fee to sign a player they would later sell to Man City, as Robbie Fowler joined the Whites from Liverpool on an £11 million deal.

Peter Ridsdale was spending freely in the early 2000s as Leeds attempted to establish themselves as one of the leading forces in English football.

However, their manager, David O’Leary, would later be made to eat his words on Fowler, as he left Leeds, with the club in financial turmoil after an unhappy spell.

Robbie Fowler signed for Leeds United in 2001

For a period in the mid to late 1990s, Robbie Fowler showed that he was one of the best finishers in England through his prolific form for Liverpool.

However, a mixture of injury and off-field scandal meant that some of his shine had been lost by the turn of the millennium, as his time at Anfield came to an end.

With Michael Bridges ruled out with a long-term injury, O’Leary was desperate to strengthen his attacking options, and Fowler was identified as the right man to take Leeds to the next level, as Ridsdale agreed an £11 million deal, despite suggestions that Leeds were overpaying for the striker.

Speaking to the Independent as Fowler was unveiled, O’Leary brushed off suggestions that Leeds had overpaid for Fowler: “Maybe [Liverpool] know something I don’t,” O’Leary said.

“Liverpool may be proved right to let him go, but I don’t think it’s a gamble. I’ve got to raise the quality. I’m trying to bang Leeds into a top-three club, year in, year out. Robbie Fowler adds to that.”

Just over two years later, Fowler left Leeds for just £6 million, although only £3 million was paid up-front, having failed to live up to expectations in an underwhelming spell at Elland Road.

Leeds United paid a big price for Robbie Fowler deal

Fowler’s arrival at Elland Road was just one of several exorbitantly priced deals that Ridsdale agreed during his time as Leeds chairman.

The former Liverpool man was offloaded in a cut-price deal, which saw Leeds continue to pay a significant proportion of Fowler’s salary for several years after he left Leeds.

According to former Leeds chairman Professor John McKenzie, via the Evening Standard, Leeds were liable for £500,000 of Fowler’s annual salary for several years after the England international left the club.

City managed to secure Fowler for a bargain price, paying just under £10,000 a week for the striker for the duration of his three-and-a-half-year contract.