On this day: Leeds United sign Rio Ferdinand

By Liam Apicella, Features Editor | 23 November 2014

Fourteen years ago today, former England captain Rio Ferdinand agreed a British-record switch from West Ham United to Leeds United.

Having risen through the ranks alongside the likes of Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick and Joe Cole at West Ham United before becoming a mainstay in the defence of Manchester United's finest triumphs in recent years, it's sometimes easy to forget that Rio Ferdinand actually played for another club between those stints.

It was a big move as well, which was finalised back on this day in the year 2000.

Rio Ferdinand of Leeds United fires himself up during the FA Carling Premiership match against Liverpool played at Anfield on April 13, 2001 © Getty Images

At the age of 22, it would perhaps be fair to suggest that Ferdinand's talent had outgrown West Ham. The East Londoners had fought off interest in his services during the summer, but when Leeds came calling for the England international with a bid of £18m, it was impossible to reject such an offer.

The switch suited both Leeds, who were keen to bolster their defence to mount serious challenges in the Premier League and Champions League, and Ferdinand, with the player himself having admitted in his recent autobiography #2Sides that he needed to get out of London.

"It wasn't until I went to Leeds that my attitude began to change and mature - and my game really started to improve. I have to thank David O'Leary, the Leeds manager, for helping me," he wrote.

"When I decided to leave West Ham, Chelsea wanted me but I realised I needed to leave London. I had to get away from the bright lights and all the invitations to nightclubs I found so hard to refuse.

"When I met the chairman, Peter Ridsdale (Leeds chairman), he talked about money and I wasn't listening. I was sitting there thinking, I don't really care about the money, I'm sure it will be more than enough. [O'Leary] promised to make me a better footballer."

Now Britain's most expensive footballer, having eclipsed the £15m that Newcastle United paid to sign Alan Shearer from Blackburn Rovers, and also the world's priciest defender, Ferdinand helped Leeds to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League and even scored during the quarter-final win over Deportivo La Coruna.

Then, in August 2001, he was made captain of the club by O'Leary, but the financial troubles soon took hold at Elland Road, and Ferdinand left for rivals Man United during the summer of 2002, just 18 months after his arrival.

In all, Ferdinand made 73 appearances for the Yorkshire-based outfit, in which he scored three goals.