Down the years, a large number of players have signed for clubs for minimal fees whilst other teams somehow manage to waste fortunes searching for the right type of player.

Despite the heavy investment from foreign owners in the past decade, it has become a delightful sight to see a player sign for a near-nothing price and prove his weight in gold within a short space of time.

Take Everton's Seamus Coleman, for example, who was once picked up from Sligo Rovers by David Moyes for a mere £60k. He's now seen as one of Europe's top attacking full-backs and a key member of the Toffees' starting Xi.

Earlier this week, the Ireland international turned 28 years of age. So to celebrate his birthday, we at Football FanCast have created this select XI composed entirely of the Premier League's best bargain buys.

Here's 11 players that make up our bargain team of the Premier League era.

Joe Hart

Slovenia v England - 2018 World Cup Qualifying European Zone - Group F

 

Signed from Shrewsbury for £650k in 2006, not many but Stuart Pearce expected Hart to blossom into the goalkeeper he turned out to be.

Hart's contribution for City over a decade has proved almost invaluable and despite his controversial departure in the summer, few could argue with his impact at the club.

Pearce did not do much right during his time as City boss. But signing Hart was certainly the best thing he did for City during his two-and-a-half-year stay at Eastlands.

Seamus Coleman

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Signed by David Moyes in 2009 for just £60,000, Seamus Coleman has become one of the best full-backs to ever represent Everton.

Still only 28 years-old, the Republic of Ireland international has been sensational for the Toffees during his 7 year stay at Goodison Park.

Coleman would be argued as one of the league's most underrated players and only for the colour of his passport, it's most probable he would have made a move away from Goodison sooner to bigger pastures.

Nemanja Vidic

Vidic 1

 

Has a Manchester United defender ever contributed to the club's success as much as Nemanja Vidic? The central defender almost signed for Liverpool just six months earlier in 2005, but Vidic opted for Old Trafford when United came calling.

Vidic was the keystone to United's success and would have gained more plaudits had Cristiano Ronaldo not been in the same United team. Vidic and Fernandind's partnership could be argued as the best central-defensive partnership in Premier League history - not bad for a £7million fee.

Vincent Kompany

kompany

For that goal alone, have Manchester City ever spent £6.7million better than on Vincent Kompany in 2008? Signed from Hamburg when Mark Hughes was manager, Kompany was deemed the 'next big thing' before a devastating knee injury in 2007 occurred.

Many clubs were turned off Kompany, including Barcelona and Arsenal, but Hughes took a chance on the Belgian and what a signing he's proved to be. Kompany is City's most successful ever captain, having won two Premier League titles, an F.A. Cup and Capital One Cup trophies.

Patrice Evra

evra

 

His debut for United came in a 3-1 defeat in the Manchester derby. Alex Ferguson subbed the former Monaco left-back at half-time and fans were scratching their heads wondering what Sir Alex had just wasted £5.5million on.

Six months later, Evra had settled into life in England by learning the language and adapting to the culture. He quickly became an integral part of the team and proved his weight in gold winning everything he could possible win at Old Trafford. He left in 2014 after 8 years at United and remains one of the club's greatest ever defenders.

Roy Keane

Roy Keane

 

Roy Keane and Manchester United were a match made in heaven when Sir Alex Ferguson forked out a minimal £3.2million in 1993. The Nottingham Forest midfielder was relegated with Brian Clough at the end of the inaugural Premier League campaign and his leadership caught the eye of United.

Keane scored two goals on his home debut against Sheffield United in August 1993 and twelve years later, he left with every major honour under his belt. He may have recently fallen out with Sir Alex but no one could deny Keane's impact at Old Trafford.

Patrick Vieira

patrick-vieira

 

The greatest midfielder in Premier League history, Patrick Vieira had it all. Arsene Wenger's first signing in 1996, many questioned Vieira's ability after he struggled to adapt to life in England.

Once Vieira got going there was no stopping the French international. Arsenal have still struggled to replace Vieira since the former AC Milan midfielder left in 2005.

Gareth Bale

Wales v Northern Ireland - EURO 2016 - Round of 16

 

In 2007, Tottenham paid an initial £7million fee for a Welsh left-back from Southampton. Six years later, that "left-back" moved to Real Madrid for a world-record fee after becoming the finest player on the planet.

Bale was switched to a left-winger by Harry Redknapp in 2010 when the club became short on numbers.

He destroyed opposition defences for three years at Tottenham after that and a move to Real Madrid occurred in 2013.

The Welsh international has become an even better player in Spain and doesn't look like returning to England anytime soon.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid - UEFA Champions League Final

 

At 17 years old, Ronaldo was close to joining Arsenal before Arsene Wenger was unwilling to pay the £12.75million fee requested by Sporting Lisbon. United moved in and secured the services of the Portuguese winger instead.

Ronaldo was incredibly raw at United until the 2006-2007 season saw him blossom and become one of the best players in the world. The season after. Ronaldo scored 42 goals and just 12 months later a move to Real Madrid occurred.

United made a £67.25million profit on Ronaldo and his contribution proved invaluable.

Nicolas Anelka

Nicolas Anelka

Nicolas Anelka cost Arsenal just £500k and for anyone not old enough to remember him as a teenager, then you can only be pitied.

Anelka was absolutely sensational and had blistering pace which was not seen in the Premier League at the time. He was a key member in Arsenal's double winning season of 1997-1998.

He moved to Real Madrid in 2000 for £23million before he joined nearly every club in Europe. Anelka was absolutely devastating and potentially the best teenage footballer ever seen in the Premier League.

Christian Benteke

Benteke

In the modern era, finding someone who can score more than 15 goals in a season is a rarity. Finding one for just £6million is sensational business.

Benteke was signed from Belgian side Genk for £7million in 2012 by Aston Villa and he proved his worth within a matter of months.

Benteke was sold onto Liverpool in 2015 for £32.5million and his departure was felt at Villa. The club were relegated the season after his departure.