The world transfer record hasn’t just been broken this year – it’s been smashed, crunched and left for dead. But how often has a world record transfer actually led to the hoped-for success? Angus Livingston examines the world record transfers since 1990 and what they meant for the players and their new clubs.

Barely three years ago, young Australia international James Holland was kicking balls around in the Victorian Premier League, yet incredibly nowadays he’s on the verge of UEFA Champions League football. Needless to say, it’s been a rapid rise for the Sydney-born youngster.

While planning for the A-League was in its infancy, the fate of a Melbourne-based outfit was long considered to be the potential weak link. But any concern was quickly erased as the Victory went about building the biggest legion of fans in the league. Half a decade on, enter Melbourne Heart, the club looking to usurp the Victory’s dominance in the southern capital.