Hull City struck gold with Man United transfer - they made 26x profit | OneFootball

James Chester helped Hull City reach the Premier League and the FA Cup final before making a healthy profit when they sold him to West Brom

In January 2011, Hull City, who were residing in the Championship's mid-table, took a risk by signing a largely unknown 21-year-old centre-back from Manchester United. Over four years later, he would bank the Tigers over £7.5 million in profit.

James Chester performed admirably in his first lengthy loan move away from Old Trafford, having joined League One side Carlisle United. The Cumbrian side rounded out the first half of the season in the league's bottom half, but their 24 goals conceded in 21 games were the fourth best in the division.

Therefore, Hull swooped in for his services permanently, bringing in the young defender for a fee in the region of just £300,000.

Even if Chester turned out to be a failure, it likely wouldn't have been the worst transfer in the world due to the nominal fee. As it turned out, though, some of the Tigers' best days in recent history came with the former Manchester United man in their backline.

Championship Promotion and FA Cup final goals: James Chester's career at Hull City

Chester was immediately thrown into the Hull side upon his arrival at the club, starting in all 21 Championship games he was available for. The Tigers lost five times during that run, and conceded just 22 goals - the third-lowest in the league.

Ultimately, being solid in defence was how Hull set up under Nigel Pearson, Nick Barmby and then Steve Bruce during Chester's first two-and-a-half years at the club. Hull's goals against tally was bettered only by league winners Reading in 2011/12, and Cardiff City, Brighton and Leicester City in 2012/13.

During those two seasons, Chester was a stalwart in the Hull back line, missing just two games in either season, and under Bruce in the 2012/13 campaign, the Tigers secured promotion back to the Premier League after three seasons away.

Unfortunately, Chester wasn't able to be as reliable week in, week out, whilst Hull were in the Premier League. The Welshman's first season in the top flight was interrupted on two occasions by a hamstring injury, but the club managed to stay up regardless of him missing 14 league games.

More importantly, that year, however, Hull reached the 2014 FA Cup final against Arsenal. Chester's fourth-minute goal sent Tigers fans into delirium, and his centre-back partner, Curtis Davies, doubled their lead four minutes later.

They weren't able to bring home the silverware, losing in extra time, but it rounded off a successful first season back in the top flight, and Arsenal's top-four finish confirmed a place in the UEFA Europa League qualifying stages next season, anyway.

Unfortunately, it all proved too much for Hull in 2014/15. They went out in continental qualifying on away goals to KSC Lokeren, and were relegated at the end of the season after losing three of their final four, including one at home to Burnley, who finished below them in 19th.

Chester, after yet another season where he missed a hatful of games (15 in the league this time round), saw his future in the Premier League still, and thus concluded his time at the then-KC Stadium.

Hull City earned a good profit from the James Chester sale

Steve Bruce was resigned to the fact that he was going to lose players upon Hull's relegation, and Chester departed with his best wishes after an £8 million move was agreed with West Brom.

Despite signing him on a four-year deal for a decent amount of money, Chester was hardly used by Tony Pulis at The Hawthorns, playing just 13 times in the Premier League and being left on the bench on 24 separate occasions.

He'd be on the move again the following summer, signing for Aston Villa, where he once again became one of the second tier's better defenders, never playing in the Premier League again in his career.

In the end, Chester played the most games in his career for Hull and arguably played his best football in East Yorkshire as well.

For the Tigers, not only did they end up getting a solid centre-back on the cheap, but they managed to turn an incredible profit on him as well.