Wayne Rooney signed for Manchester United from Everton for £25.6million on this day in 2004. He went on to make 559 appearances, scoring 253 goals in a 13-year period at the club.
After breaking goalscoring records for Liverpool Schoolboys, the Croxeth forward made his debut for Everton at the age of 16 in a Premier League match against Tottenham.
His first senior goals came against Wrexham in the league cup a few weeks later, but he got his first league goal, netting the winner against Arsenal just five days shy of his 17th birthday.
The goal was a screamer, with Rooney delicately controlling the ball 30-yards-out before looking up and curling it into the top corner with a little help from the crossbar.
It was a sensational first goal and introduced the 16-year-old to the world of football. He went on to score 17 goals in 77 games for Everton over two seasons before leaving for United whilst still only 18.
The transfer was a huge statement of intent from United, with Rooney's signing becoming the highest ever transfer fee for a teenager at the time.
When his transfer was announced, Sir Alex Ferguson said: "I am very excited, I think we have got the best young player this country has seen in the past 30 years. Everyone is delighted by this signing."
His debut couldn't have gone any better, with Rooney scoring a memorable hat-trick in the Champions League fixture against Fenerbahçe. He won the PFA Young Player of the Year award in his first season with United and got the most league goals for the club, with 11.
The next few years of his career were a combination of controversy and brilliance, with Rooney in the papers as often for his off-field exploits as for his on-field displays.
On the pitch, his drive and desire helped United to five Premier League titles in seven years, alongside one Champions League and one FIFA Club World Cup.
The 2009/2010 season was a particular highlight, with the then 25-year-old Rooney scoring 26 goals in 32 games - a record he only bettered in the 2011/2012 season with 27 goals in 34.
Goalscoring was far from the only quality Rooney brought to a team, with his creativity and vision the main factor behind him often playing deeper behind the striker, or later in his career, in a midfield role.
Despite this, he still managed to score 183 goals in 393 Premier league appearances for United, with a Premier League record of 12 consecutive seasons scoring 10 or more goals.
Rooney also has the most Premier League away goals with 93, and finished his United career with 137 assists.
There were memorable goals, like his lob from near the halfway line against West Ham and the bicycle kick against City to seal a famous derby victory for United.
However, the goal that sums Rooney up for most is the explosive volley against Newcastle in his debut season for United in 2005. As the ball was played forward, Rooney only seemed interested in arguing with the ref.
But when the ball was headed in his direction, he burst into action, hitting the volley from 25 yards with so much ferocity it seemed like he was attempting to kick out the anger boiling inside.
Rooney was known for his temper and was sent off a few times in his career, most notably for England in 2006. But when he managed to channel his rage into his football he was unplayable.
Despite the success Rooney achieved for both United and England, he was often criticised, especially when he handed in transfer requests towards the end of the 2010/2011 season and the beginning of the 2012/2013 campaign.
Rooney stayed at the club both times before eventually leaving to go back to his first team, Everton in 2017.
There is a small feeling that Rooney could have achieved even more with the club if he'd applied himself, with his dislike for the gym noted by former United fitness coach, Mick Clegg.
He said: 'Wayne didn't see the importance of the gym really. He'd say, "I'm here to play football". I always wish I could have pushed Wayne that bit further.”
It's hard not to wonder what Rooney could have achieved if he had worked as hard as his former teammate, Cristaino Ronaldo.
However, Rooney broke records for United and England, and couldn't have won trophies more revered than the Premier League and Champions League for his club.
Instead of thinking about what Rooney could have achieved if he pushed himself more, it makes more sense to celebrate the incredible career he had whilst at United.
Rooney finally left the club in 2017, switching Manchester to Merseyside, signing for his first club, Everton. He still still managed 10 goals for Everton that season before moving to DC United in the MLS in 2018.
Recently, it was announced that Rooney will be coming back to Englsih football when he becomes player-coach for Championship club Derby County in January 2020.
Rooney was a massive statement of intent for United when he was signed 15 years ago today, and he delivered, breaking the club's goalscoring record and contributing to six Premier Leagues and one Champions League.
He's still set the standard for United youngsters to follow on the pitch.