He may be worth ‘£50m’ in today’s currency, and Charlton Athletic won the jackpot with the Ipswich Town purchase.
After Charlton remained in the top division for the next three seasons, the midfielder’s original fee of £750,000, which he received from Ipswich Town in the summer of 2003, increased to £900,000. The Addicks benefited from acquiring a few Tractor Boys players at that time. For example, defender Hermann Hreidarsson had moved from Portman Road to The Valley the season before, and striker Darren Bent had done the same in a £3 million transfer a few years later.
When Holland first arrived in SE7, Alan Curbishley selected him captain. Over the course of his six-year tenure, Holland led the team out more than 200 times and helped the team finish in seventh place in the Premier League in his first season. A midfielder with Holland’s skill level who would also be considered a homegrown talent for Premier League clubs would undoubtedly fetch a high transfer fee in the present era. Sam White, a Charlton Athletic supporter, was asked by Football League World how much he believes Holland would be worth in his prime if he were still playing for the Addicks in the Premier League.
“That’s a good question actually,” said Sam. “I believe the Charlton team would be worth a lot of money with today’s money and style, even though they were unfashionable and nothing spectacular in the early Premier League years. “Matty Holland had the ability to ping amazing passes and long balls, but he also controlled the midfield and disrupted play.
“I mean, you’re certainly looking at between £30-£40 million and possibly £50 million, and I think he was taken for granted for having been in the Premier League for so long. “He was quite athletic, resilient, and had a lot of stamina, as evidenced by the fact that I believe he ceased playing in his mid to late thirties. Holland’s wide range of passing and long-range shooting were complemented by hard effort and dedication, which would make him a useful asset if he were to play for Charlton in the Premier League today.
Holland’s leadership was another crucial quality that would make him an expensive player if he were available on the current transfer market. After leaving West Ham United as a young player, the midfielder played permanently for AFC Bournemouth, Ipswich Town and Charlton Athletic, where he led each team. After scoring against Cameroon in the tournament’s opening match, Holland—who also earned 49 caps for his nation—led the Republic of Ireland to the Round of 16 at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Another reason Holland would have probably demanded a high transfer fee in today’s market is that he played until he was 35. Given his committed style of play, exceptional leadership abilities, remarkable skill with the ball, longevity, and homegrown status, Charlton could have sold him for a hefty seven-figure price in today’s market, especially since he assisted the team in finishing seventh in the top flight at the age of thirty.
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