Top 10 Manchester United signings of the Alex Ferguson era

talkSPORT ranks Ferguson's 10 best signings across his 27 years at Manchester United, from Liam O'Brien to Wilfried Zaha.

talkSPORT's chief football correspondent Alex Crook has compiled a definitive list of Sir Alex Ferguson's top 10 signings during his legendary 27-year tenure at Manchester United. The ranking spans from Ferguson's first permanent signing, Liam O'Brien in November 1986, through to Wilfried Zaha in January 2013.

The list highlights several transformative acquisitions that shaped United's dynasty. Robin van Persie's £22.5m arrival from Arsenal proved crucial in Ferguson's final season, scoring 30 goals in all competitions and winning the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award as United claimed their 13th Premier League title. Jaap Stam's 1998 signing from PSV Eindhoven, though brief, is listed among Ferguson's greatest acquisitions—the manager later cited selling Stam as one of his biggest regrets. Rio Ferdinand's £30m transfer from Leeds in 2002 established him as one of Europe's finest defenders, forming a legendary partnership with Nemanja Vidic that anchored the 2008 Champions League-winning side.

Other notable inclusions feature Denis Irwin, signed from Oldham as a relatively low-budget arrival who became arguably the second-best left-back of the Premier League era, and Steve Bruce, whose dramatic double against Sheffield Wednesday in 1993 secured the title and ended United's 26-year wait for the championship.