Grading ALL of Man Utd’s Central Midfield Signings Since Carrick

Since Michael Carrick joined Manchester United in 2006 from Tottenham Hotspur, the Red Devils have signed a number of top central midfielders – but who have been the best of the bunch?

Today, that’s what we’ll be aiming to find out, as we give each of United’s central midfield signings since 2006 an official Essential Football grade.

For the purposes of this list, we’ll only be looking at players who United paid a fee for to sign on a permanent basis. Free transfers, loan signings and academy graduates promoted to the senior team will not be considered.

Furthermore, we will only be looking at natural central midfielders and defensive midfielders in this list – as such, superstars such as Bruno Fernandes won’t be included, even if he has spent some time as a central midfielder for United recently.

Owen Hargreaves – D

Normally, a player of Owen Hargreaves’ quality would receive a much higher grade, but his injury record at United was absolutely appalling. He made just 27 Premier League appearances for the Red Devils over the course four years, scoring two goals.

An excellent player on his day, Hargreaves’ fitness held him back to an immense degree. Alex Ferguson famously branded him as one of his most ‘disappointing’ signings during his reign at Old Trafford.

Anderson – D

Another player who often struggled with fitness, Anderson at least managed to make over 100 Premier League appearances for United – though, for many, this was over 100 too many.

Anderson came to United with plenty of hype, but he largely failed to live up to it outside of a few flashes of brilliance.By the time he left the club in 2015, most were glad to see the back of him.

Marouane Fellaini – C

Marouane Fellaini was put into an unfortunate position. After a summer of so much promise, David Moyes was forced to sign him as a late panic buy, without really factoring where he would fit into his United squad.

Technically limited and defensively slack, Fellaini nontheless made up for it with his physicality and peerless aerial ability. Sadly, at the time he was brought in, United fans had expected much, much more.

Ander Herrera – A

Ander Herrera is the only player in our list to receive top marks – in fairness, United’s transfer dealings have been largely lacklustre in the last 15 years, but this cannot be said of the former Spanish international.

A tenacious, talented midfielder with an eye for goal, Herrera won the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Europa League during his Old Trafford spell.