Leroy Lita to Thailand, Colin Kazim-Richards to Corinthians, Edgar Davids to Barnet? The eight most bizarre transfers ever
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THIS past week has seen two of the most downright bizarre transfers in the history of football.
First of all there was former Sheffield United, Fenerbahce and Blackburn Rovers man Colin Kazim-Richards, who joined Brazilian giants Corinthians, after spells at Celtic and Coritiba - also in Brazil - in 2016.
Then, when you thought things couldn't get any weirder in this fledgling January transfer window, another ex-Premier League star, Leroy Lita, upped-sticks to join Thai League side Sisaket FC.
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With that in mind, we take a look at eight of the most bizarre transfers of all time...
LEROY LITA - Sisaket FC (Thailand)
ON Saturday morning, one of the odder stories caught they eye as former Reading, Middlesbrough and Swansea forward Lita announced a move to Thailand.
The English forward had last been seen turning out for League 2 side Yeovil Town in the 2015-16 season, but was without a club in the current campaign.
Lita is now an official member of the Sisakat FC squad, with the club narrowly avoiding relegation from the Thai League last season, just three points above the drop zone.
COLIN KAZIM-RICHARDS - Corinthians (Brazil)
NOW at his 14th club, aged just 30, Kazim-Richards has somehow bagged a stunning move to Brazilian giants Corinthians.
After relatively quiet spells at Bury, Brighton and Hove Albion and Sheffield United, the English-born Turkey international made a move 'home' to Fenerbahce.
Despite dotting around Europe, including a host of Turkish sides and Celtic, he bizarrely moved to Brazilian minnows Coritiba, before the Corinthians switch.
JERMAINE PENNANT - Tampines Rovers (Singapore)
HAVING enjoyed spells at Arsenal and Liverpool it was strange enough to see Pennant jet off to Spain to turn out for Real Zaragoza.
After becoming another English export flop, he returned to join Stoke.
His somewhat premature move to the Indian Super League side Pune City was dubbed mad, but the ex-England Under-21 international topped that by joining little-known Singaporean side Tampines Rovers in 2016... A stint it's fair to say he didn't enjoy.
EDGAR DAVIDS - Barnet (England)
AJAX, AC Milan, Juventus, Barcelona and Inter Milan... Dutchman Davids turned out for a host of European giants during his distinguished career.
A 2010 move to Crystal Palace - two years after his last competitive game for Ajax - was questioned by fans, but what he did in 2012 was even more outrageous.
Despite boasting a host major trophies in his cabinet, such as the Champions League and three Serie A titles, he joined the ranks of League 2 side Barnet as player-manager... Where they promptly fell out of the Football League with a 23rd-place finish.
CARLOS TEVEZ & JAVIER MASCHERANO - West Ham (England)
NOT a soul failed to stare at the screen in utter disbelief when West Ham boss Alan Pardew announced the double-signing of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.
While not quite the household names they are today, the Argentine duo were still regarding as two of the best players in their position on the planet.
So their move from Corinthians to the Hammers back in 2005 was not just a shock but still, to this day, utterly unbelievable.
SOL CAMPBELL - Notts County (England)
AFTER 16 years in the Premier League with north London giants Tottenham and Arsenal, as well as Portsmouth, it's fair to say Campbell's move to Notts County in 2009 was reacted to with a series of raised eyebrows.
The 73-cap England international signed a whopping FIVE-year deal with the League 2 side... But lasted just three days following his debut, claiming he was a 'mug' to think the club was going places.
A sign of how odd the move was came when Campbell was playing in Premier League just a month later, rejoining former club Arsenal, before a switch to Newcastle in 2010.
JLLOYD SAMUEL - Esteghlal (Iran)
AFTER a decade with then-Premier League side Aston Villa and a four-year stint at Bolton Wanderers, it was, shall we say, surprising to see Samuel fly off to Iran.
The Prem ever-present joined Iranian side Esteghlal in 2011, where he spent three seasons.
Samuel ended his career with a second team in the nation; Paykan.
THOMAS GRAVESEN - Real Madrid (Spain)
AFTER five seasons alongside Lee Carsley in a successful central midfield pairing at Everton, it was a complete surprise to everyone when Real Madrid cam knocking for the Danish international.
In fact, the story goes the Galacticos got confused and in fact meant to sign bald pal Carsley in 2004.
Gravesen lasted just one full season in Madrid, before his move to Celtic in 2006.