Despite the recent downfall, Manchester United are still one of the most prominent clubs in the world, and for a good reason.

Throughout the club's illustrious history, many of the world's most notable players have worn the coveted red kit.

Let's take a look at the five best Manchester United transfers in the Premier League era.

David de Gea

Based on David de Gea's performances in the 2020/21 season, one would wonder why he is even on this list.

However, the Spaniard was Man United's saviour on more than one occasion throughout 2021/22, re-establishing himself as an indispensable figure between the sticks.

From Peter Schmeichel to Edwin van der Sar, the Red Devils have had some of the finest Premier League goalkeepers on their payroll over the past three decades.

Despite a lack of titles - unlike his predecessors - de Gea will go done as one of the best pieces of business down the final stretch of Sir Alex Ferguson's trophy-laden tenure.

Brought in from Atletico Madrid for around £22.5m in 2011, the 31-year-old remains the only Man United player to have won three successive Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year awards.

That speaks enough of his performances at Old Trafford.

Read Also: Who is Sasa Kalajdzic? Ronaldo's potential successor at Manchester United

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo swapped Sporting Lisbon for Man United for a fee of £17m in the summer of 2003 after impressing Ferguson in a pre-season friendly.

Little did Ferguson know the Portuguese ace would go on to win the Red Devils three consecutive Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2007/08.

A true force to be reckoned with, Ronaldo established himself as a nightmare for defenders in England's top division before ultimately winning the first of five Ballon d'Or awards in 2008.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, the former Real Madrid talisman has a special place in the hearts of Man United supporters despite spending his best years in La Liga.

Read Also: Cristiano Ronaldo to turn down €275m offer to join Saudi Arabian club

Nemanja Vidic

"Nemanja, he comes from Serbia, he'll f***ing murder ya" stands for one of the most iconic chants at Old Trafford, and it was used to describe Nemanja Vidic's out-of-this-world showings for Man United.

Plucked out from obscurity, the former centre-back went from strength to strength since joining United from Spartak Moscow in 2006 to become one of the greatest defenders the Premier League has ever seen.

Vidic is one of just four players to have won the Premier League Player of the Season award twice, and you have to consider he made it as a centre-half.

The thought that Man United paid Spartak £7m to land the Serb and 13 years on, they splurged ten times that figure to acquire Harry Maguire makes a large portion of the Theatre of Dreams fanbase sick.

Rio Ferdinand

When Ferguson shells out upwards of £40m to sign a player, you know he has to be an absolute world-class.

Who better than long-serving defensive stalwart Rio Ferdinand to serve as an example for this thesis.

Man United forked out a small fortune to take the English star away from Leeds United in 2002, which remains one of the best pieces of business the club has ever made until today.

Ferdinand and Vidic forged arguably the most formidable centre-back pairing in Premier League history, providing a backbone for the Red Devils' immense domestic and continental success for a decade.

Read Also: Wayne Rooney: 10 quotes to explain the English legend's managerial style

Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney had already been a star in the making by the time he made his switch from Everton to Man United in 2004.

Ferguson had his reasons when he decided to make the record-time England national team goalscorer the most expensive teenager in football history.

Not only had Rooney won everything there was to win at Old Trafford, but he waved goodbye to the always-demanding Man United faithful as the club's all-time top-scorer.

In 13 seasons at United, he tallied a staggering 253 goals and 146 assists in the coveted red jersey, nailing his name down in the Theatre of Dreams history books.

Tag: Rio Ferdinand

Manchester United's best signings in the Premier League era

"Talk to board. Don't talk to the public:" Ferdinand slammed Rangnick for "airing dirty laundry"

'Rio comments on things he doesn't know!': Man United coach Solskjaer hits on Ferdinand over Ronaldo saga