Steve Bruce Signings

Steve Bruce is Hull City’s most successful manager, his record includes two promotions to the Premier League and the club’s first ever appearance in an FA Cup final. However he was also the most backed manager in terms of player expenditure and some fans claim he wasted millions of pounds on poor signings. Despite spending nearly £40m in the summer of 2014 the club got relegated from the Premier League. Let’s look at all Bruce’s transfers in detail…

(The following figures are transfers fees only as quoted in the press. This does not take into account signing-on fees, loan fees or wages)

2012/13 Championship - Fee In (Fee Out)

Nick Proschwitz - £2,575,000 (Free transfer)
Robbie Brady - £2,000,000 (£7,000,000)
David Meyler - £1,500,000
Stephen Quinn - £250,000 (Released)
George Boyd - £100,000 (£3,000,000 )
Abdoulaye Faye - Free (Released)
Sone Aluko - Free (Released)
Alex Bruce - Free
Eldin Jakupovic - Free

Total = £6,425,000

2013/14 Premier League - Fee In (Fee Out)

Shane Long - £7,000,000 (£12,000,000)
Nikica Jelavic - £6,500,000 (£3,000,000)
Tom Huddlestone - £5,250,000
Curtis Davies - £2,250,000
Ahmed Elmohamady - £2,000,000
Yannick Sagbo - £1,500,000 (Released)
Allan McGregor - £1,200,000
Maynor Figueroa - Free (Released)
Steve Harper - Free (Released)
Danny Graham - Loan (Ended)

Total = £25,700,000

2014/15 Premier League - Fee In (Fee Out)

Abel Hernández - £9,500,000
Jake Livermore - £8,000,000
Robert Snodgrass - £7,000,000
Michael Dawson - £3,500,000
Mohamed Diamé - £3,500,000 (£4,500,000)
Andrew Robertson - £2,850,000
Dame N’Doye - £2,600,000 (£2,200,000)
Harry Maguire - £2,500,000
Tom Ince - £2,000,000 (£4,750,000)
Hatem Ben Arfa - Loan (Ended Early)
Gaston Ramirez - Loan (Ended)

Total = £37,950,000

2015/16 Championship - Fee In (Fee Out)

Moses Odubajo - £3,500,000
Amada Diomande - £1,700,000
Shaun Maloney - £1,500,000
Sam Clucas - £1,300,000
Dusan Kuciak - £250,000
Ryan Taylor - Free (Released)
Chuba Akpom - Loan (Ended)
Issac Hayden - Loan (Ended)

Total = £8,250,000

Forwards

Of all Bruce’s signings Nick Proschwitz looks to be the biggest waste of money, the lanky German never hit the heights in the Championship despite helping the club to promotion. Yannick Sagbo was a willing worker but lacked Premier League quality although he did contribute in the FA Cup run and only cost a moderate fee. Danny Graham was also tried as a front man but failed to sparkle.

Nikica Jelavic was hampered by injuries during his stay but still remains Hull City’s leading goalscorer in the Premier League, he formed a promising partnership with Shane Long before the latter was sold to Southampton at profit. Long’s replacement Abel Hernandez, a club record £9.5m signing, took time to settle but his 20 goals in the Championship were invaluable as the club bounced back to the Premier League via the playoffs.

Midfielders

Hatem Ben Arfa and Gaston Ramirez were brought in to provide much needed creativity, which they showed in glimpses but didn’t deliver anywhere near value for money. Both were only loan signings but on big wages. After supposedly turning down Inter Milan Paul Ince didn’t live up to his own hype but the club ended up getting their money back when he was sold due to a release clause.

Robert Snodgrass suffered a long term injury soon after signing but has now started to pay back his fee with some match winning performances. Jake Livermore’s problems off the field are well documented but on the field can always be relied upon. Tom Huddlestone continues to blow hot and cold but provides a calming influence at the heart of the team.

Defenders

All the defenders Bruce has signed, barring Ryan Taylor, have proved to be astute signings. Moses Odubajo was unlucky to be injured in pre-season after impressing at right back in the Championship.

Goalkeepers

Dusian Kuciak recently questioned why the club signed him having yet to make a league appearance, Eldin Jakupovic has been inspiration at times and the experienced Alan McGregor looked to be back to his best before serious injury.

All Transfers - Fees In (Fees Out)

Total = £78,325,000 (£36,450,000)

At time of writing 18 of Bruce signings are still at the club and continue to contribute to the teams success. Players like Davies, Elmohamady and Meyler have paid back their transfer fees in spades while the recent transfer inflation makes some of Bruce’s other signings e.g. Clucas, Robertson, Maguire look very good value for money indeed.

So in conclusion Steve Bruce spent a total of £78m on players of which the majority have been a success, every manager has signings they regret but Bruce must have fewer than most.

Originally published at www.allamout.co.uk on October 9, 2016.