The big money Sheffield United signing who only played 45 minutes for the club

Sheffield United broke their transfer record this week when they bought John Egan from Brentford for an undisclosed fee in excess of £4million.

But Egan isn't the first John to become an expensive Blades' signing after they brought John Ebbrell to the club in 1997 for £1.2million.

United fans will be hoping Egan has a much longer career at Bramall Lane however, as Ebbrell only played 45 minutes for the club.

Then-Blades manager Howard Kendall signed Ebbrell from Everton after ten years at Goodison Park, where he made 207 appearances for the Toffees.

But his career in Sheffield was blighted by an ankle injury that he picked up at Everton and never fully recovered from, despite numerous surgeries.

Ebbrell's one Blades appearance came in a 2-0 win over Reading in March 1997, when he caused Royals defender Paul Bodin to score an own goal before being forced off with injured ribs.

After two more years fighting injury, Ebbrell retired with just the one United appearance to his name and returned to Everton to take up a coaching role in their academy as assistant manager of the under-23 squad.

It's fair to say that it was not the best £1.2million Sheffield United has ever spent.