£350k Charlton Athletic transfer agreement was a QPR masterstroke - R's have two supporters to thank for delivering a cult hero | OneFootball

QPR signed this defender in a very unorthodox way, but it turned out to be a great piece of business for the R's.

When Queens Park Rangers signed Danny Shittu on a permanent deal from Charlton Athletic in 2002 for just £350,000, few would have expected that he would leave the club as a cult hero.

In hindsight, that deal now stands as one of the shrewdest pieces of business QPR managed in the early 2000s, and the club has two supporters to thank for helping make it happen.

Shittu arrived at Loftus Road during a difficult period for QPR. The club was struggling financially and were down in the Football League Second Division (now League One).

The unorthodox way that QPR signed Danny Shittu

After impressing for the club on loan during the start of the 2001/02 season, Shittu's signing was made permanent in January 2002.

His signing came about not through a traditional scouting operation or boardroom negotiation but with a boost from supporters. Fans Alex and Matt Winton played a significant part in funding the transfer and pushing for the move. Without their intervention, Shittu would likely never have pulled on a QPR shirt permanently.

The Winton brothers are well-known at Loftus Road for helping the club during their period of administration, also funding striker Doudou's wages and accomodation for the entirety of the previous season.

As fans of the club, who were wealthy in their own right, owning the Ghost fashion label, their help was invaluable in a very difficult period for the R's.

At the time, Shittu was a relatively unknown 20-year-old defender who hadn't made any appearances for Charlton Athletic before his initial loan to the R's.

But what he lacked in top-level experience, he more than made up for in physical presence, commitment, and potential. Standing at 6'3" with an imposing build, he immediately offered the kind of no-nonsense defending QPR badly needed.

Over time, he also grew into a leader at the back, becoming a key figure during Ian Holloway's rebuilding efforts. The centre-back played a pivotal role in QPR’s promotion push from the Second Division in the 2003/04 season.

Forming a solid partnership with Clarke Carlisle and later with the likes of Matthew Rose, Shittu became a cornerstone of the team. QPR finished second that year, securing automatic promotion to the Championship, which was a major turning point in the club’s trajectory.

What made Shittu stand out wasn’t just his defensive skillset. He had a cult following because of his passion and consistency. Fans responded to his honest, hard-working style of play.

He didn’t shy away from tackles, he won headers all over the pitch, and he showed visible pride in playing for the club. He even chipped in with occasional goals - nine in total during his first spell at the club, added to his appeal.

Life after QPR for Danny Shittu

After nearly five years and over 170 appearances for the R’s, Shittu eventually moved on to Watford in 2006 for a reported fee of £1.6 million - some increase on the initial £350k the R's had paid.

From QPR’s perspective, it was a significant return on their initial investment. Watford, at the time newly promoted to the Premier League, saw in Shittu the same qualities that had made him a fan favourite at Loftus Road.

Even after leaving, his connection with QPR continued. Shittu returned for a brief second stint during the 2012/13 season, although by then he was past his peak and saw limited action.

Nonetheless, fans welcomed him back as one of their own, a reflection of the strong bond he had built with the supporters.

The defender also amassed over 30 senior caps for the Nigeria national team, being named in the 23-man squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and giving the R's something else to cling onto with their cult hero.