We’ve worked out the top 25 based on profit from transfers, longevity and how much Posh success they enjoyed.
Some big names have missed out altogether. No current players were considered, apart from one who was a roaring succes first time around.
Let us know what you think. Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony and co-owner Dr Jason Neale have offered their opinion on who represented the best value.
Here’s our list, delivered naturally in reverse order...
17. 9th: TONY ADCOCK
Cost: £30k. Sold for: £30k. Adcock was a genius on the pitch for Posh. He played with the vision and poise of Teddy Sheringham and formed a lethal strike partnership with Ken Charlery and then Tony Philliskirk (unlucky not to be on this list). Posh robbed their cash-strapped Cobblers neighbours to sign Adcock in January, 1992 and he was oustanding as the club sealed promotion to the second tier a few months later. He then top scored in two Championship seasons (including the club's best-ever Football League finish of 10th) before Posh got their money back with a sale to Luton in 1994.
18. 8th: GEORGE BOYD.
Cost: £265k. Sold for: An undisclosed loan fee. One of the all-time Posh greats who, ironically, would have been even higher in the list if he'd been sold to either Ipswich or Nottingham Forest when those clubs had the chance! Instead he stayed at Posh until leaving for Hull for a loan fee and doubtless a couple of handy add ons. Boyd was signed from Stevenage for a then non-league football record transfer fee in 2007 and was a superb wide player in back-to-back promotions under Darren Ferguson's management as well as a third promotion in 2010-2011. He racked up 322 Posh appearances and scored 76 goals and still had time to enjoy a decent career in the Premier League while winning a couple of Scotland caps.
19. 7th: IVAN TONEY
Cost: £350k. Sold for: £10 million (eventually). Posh co-owner Dr Jason Neale nominated Toney as the best value Posh signing as his sale 'secured the future of the Academy for the next few years and beyond'. Certainly his sale fee to Brentford, once he's played for England and top scored in the Premier League, is a staggering return on the investment required to bring him to Posh from Newcastle United. Should he be higher in this list? Maybe, but he didn't help Posh to promotion, although Covid and the EFL were to blame for that.
20. 6th: TERRY BLY
Cost: £1k. Sold for: £10k. How Posh tempted goal machine Bly (pictured left with fellow legends George Boyd and Tony Adcock) to London Road from Norwich City soon after he'd helped the Canaries to an FA Cup semi-final remains a mystery, but his goalscoring exploits in an exciting Fourth Division title-winning side are incredible. He scored 52 goals in that 1960-61 season (still a divisional record) and claimed 87 goals in 101 Posh appearances before Coventry City paid a big fee (for the time) for him in 1962. That Posh team were the original club entertainers and delivered great joy to some huge crowds so Bly, and others like Peter McNamee, represented fantastic value.