Then there are others who have provided real value at a cost – or massively increased in standing in their time at Fratton Park.
You’ve been nominating your biggest Pompey bargains of all time – here’s who you came up with.
1. Linvoy Primus
Arrived on a free from Reading in 2000 - and went on to become a Pompey legend across 219 appearances and nine years at Fratton Park. Photo: John Peters
2. Guy Whittingham
Corporal Punishment bought himself out of the army for £450 and went on to bag 99 goals for the Blues - including 42 league strikes in 1992-93 season. Photo: Getty Images
3. Lassana Diarra
One of the most talented players to ever play for Pompey. Paid Arsenal £5m in 2008 and he went to Real Madrid for £20m a year later. Photo: ADRIAN DENNIS
4. Lee Bradbury
Another army man who later went to Manchester City for what was then a whopping £3.5m fee. Photo: NationalWorld