United smashed the record amount paid out for a player three times in their Championship season (2007/08). Previous to this, the record stood at £175,000, the amount Brian Laws agreed to pay Bristol City for Steve Torpey in 2000.
Three signatures, including two members of Sheffield United reserves, who both arrived for £200,000 saw the record smashed twice in a matter of weeks.
The record fee to date was decided by tribunal, when Scunthorpe were ordered to pay up to £425,000 for the Stoke City reserve. The eventual fee paid to Stoke was £335,000 with Paterson moving on at the end of the 2007/08 campaign for £1,000,000 to Burnley.
Martin Paterson Stoke £335,000 2007
Kevan Hurst Sheffield United £200,000 2007
Jonathan Forte Sheffield United £200,000 2007
Steve Torpey Bristol City £175,000 2000
Paul Hayes Barnsley £140,000 2007
United's record sale was Billy Sharp, who joined Sheffield United, the club from whom he joined back in 2005 for £2,000,000. Sharp rejoined his childhood heroes after firing United to promotion from League One, and writing his name in the record books with 32 goals in the Iron's promotion season.
Martin Paterson, who joined United to fill the void that Sharp left in 2007 left in the summer of 2008 for £1,000,000, with the figure possibly rising to £1.3million based on appearances.
Other notable fees recieve include the £350,000 Aston Villa paid for defender Neil Cox in 1991- they also threw in some seats which were in use at Glanford Park until the 2007/08 season, when they were replaced.
Billy Sharp Sheffield United £2,000,000 2007
Martin Paterson Barnsley £1,000,000 2008
Andy Keogh Wolves £600,000 2007
Neil Cox Aston Villa £350,000(plus some seats) 1991
Chris Hope Gillingham £250,000 2000