He signed as schoolboy for West Ham United F.C in 1992 and became a professional player under youth training scheme and is likened to the late Bobby Moore, the former West Ham and England captain.
He made his first team debut on 5 May 1996 as a substitute in 1-1 home draw against Sheffield Wednesday F.C. He earned his full England cap as a substitute in a friendly against Cameroon in 1998.
He joined Premier division football club Leeds United F.C on November 2000 for 18 million pounds, then a British record. In August 2001, he became the captain of Leeds.
On 22 July 2002, Ferdinand joined another Premier division football club Manchester United on a 30-million-pound five-year deal to become the most expensive British footballer in history.