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Sol Campbell ditched Tottenham Hotspur for bitter arch-rivals Arsenal on a free transfer in July 2001.
Former Tottenham Hotspur chairman Alan Sugar has reignited discussions surrounding one of the most contentious transfers in Premier League history, branding Sol Campbell’s 2001 move to Arsenal as “one of the nastiest crimes you can commit.”
The transfer, still a sore spot for Spurs fans, saw the club captain leave on a free transfer to their bitter North London rivals under the Bosman ruling.
The dramatic transfer was revealed in a surprising fashion. Media personnel had gathered at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground for the unveiling of goalkeeper Richard Wright, who had joined from Ipswich Town.
Unexpectedly, Sol Campbell, widely regarded as one of the world’s finest center-backs at the time, walked into the room.
Despite speculation about his next move after his Tottenham contract expired, Campbell’s decision to join Arsenal blindsided fans and the Spurs hierarchy alike. Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger’s discreet negotiations sealed the deal, delivering a massive blow to their North London rivals.
Campbell’s transfer was especially painful for Tottenham as it exploited the Bosman ruling, which allows players to leave for free at the end of their contracts.
Speaking on a Sky Sports feature, Sugar revealed his frustration with the situation and how the Spurs management team underestimated the possibility of losing Campbell.
"To do what he did was one of the nastiest crimes you can commit in Premier League history,” Sugar remarked.
“I knew he might leave, but George Graham and David Pleat told me, ‘It’s just a game he’s playing; he will sign.’ I kept saying, ‘You don’t understand the Bosman ruling. He can go for free when his contract is up.’”
The free transfer not only deprived Spurs of one of their most valuable assets but also added insult to injury by strengthening their fiercest rivals. Campbell became the first player since Pat Jennings to make the controversial switch from White Hart Lane to Highbury.
Despite the uproar, Campbell has stood by his decision, emphasizing the success he achieved during his time at Arsenal.
"My time at Arsenal was very successful. It was an amazing time there—I won a lot, broke records, and played with amazing players,” Campbell stated. “It’s time to move on. Allow me to live and do what I want to do, whether in football or outside of it.”
Campbell’s transfer remains one of the most controversial moments in English football. While Spurs fans still view it as an unforgivable betrayal, Arsenal supporters regard it as a masterstroke by Wenger that helped solidify their dominance in the early 2000s.
For Sugar, however, the wounds are still raw. The transfer epitomises the emotional and competitive stakes of football, where decisions off the pitch can resonate for decades.
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