Benjani Reflects on Being Sold by Harry Redknapp on Deadline Day: A Behind-the-Scenes Account
It’s transfer deadline day when Harry Redknapp’s name is in the headlines.
The former Premier League manager was well-known for his impromptu interviews, striking deals for various players as the transfer window drew to a close.
One of Redknapp’s most infamous moves involved transferring Portsmouth‘s star forward Benjani Mwaruwari to Manchester City on deadline day in January 2008 – the year Portsmouth clinched the FA Cup, only to face severe financial difficulties that led them to descend the EFL ranks.
Before that, Portsmouth had already confirmed the signing of Benjani’s successor, Jermain Defoe, after accepting a £7.6 million bid for the Zimbabwean striker.
New details surrounding one of the most peculiar transfer stories in recent memory have emerged.
Redknapp shared with the BBC that Sven-Goran Eriksson, then the manager of Man City, had made an offer that was “impossible to turn down”.
As a result, he sent Benjani to Southampton airport, but things quickly spiraled out of control.
The Portsmouth manager received updates that Benjani had not yet arrived at Manchester airport, with some reports suggesting he missed two flights and a third was cancelled.
Redknapp recounted to the BBC that he called Benjani, urgently asking what on earth was going on.
Benjani was still at the airport, expressing uncertainties about the transfer.
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For the first time, Benjani has revealed what actually occurred on that memorable deadline day, stating, “I’m the only person who knows the real story”.
He added: “Before this interview, I’ve always had so many questions about that day.
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“The flight? Delayed. I didn’t have a charger for my phone, so it was dead!”
He recounted how both Portsmouth and Man City were “trying to locate” him, asserting that he had not fallen asleep at the airport and indeed wanted to join City!
He further explained: “I had made the choice; I wanted to transfer!”
Benjani ultimately reached Man City’s training base at 11:10 PM, with just moments left to complete the transfer.
He remembered: “It was five minutes to midnight, everything was chaos. The fax machine malfunctioned, only a few documents got sent, and the rest were [lost].”
The transfer was officially finalized on February 5, 2008, for a fee of £3.87 million, with potential bonuses raising the total to the initially stated £7.6 million.
Just five days later, Benjani scored his first goal for Man City, netting the match-winner against Manchester United in the Manchester derby.
Following spells with Sunderland and Blackburn, Benjani made a brief return to Fratton Park in 2011 and ultimately concluded his career with South African clubs Chippa United and Bidvest Wits.
He now works as a youth coach at the Plymouth Argyle Academy.