As the January transfer window rolls around once again, it’s easy to get excited about what player your club is going to sign in order to spark up their season. We’ve all been there, whether you’re eagerly anticipating the arrival of a big money star to secure a title or European spot, or desperately searching for additions to keep your team afloat.
It gets us every single time. However, we as football fans never tend to pay too much mind to the flipside of any big money – the ‘flop’. Again, something that unites football fans all over the world is the feeling of watching your club import an expensive big name with a glowing reputation, only to see the player utterly disappoint.
Sure it hurts at the time, but time can heal such wounds and it’s nice to reminisce. If enough years have passed, of course.
With all this in mind, we can all look back and laugh.
Here are the top 50 flops EVER to grace the Premier League history…
50. ADE AKINBIYI – (WOLVES TO LEICESTER FOR, £5.5m)
When Leicester shelled out a whopping £5.5m to sign the Wolves man, it was with a view to replacing recently departed Emile Heskey. However, things did not quite go to plan for the sculpted striker, who only netted 11 times in 58 league appearances for the Foxes amid much ridicule.
Often looked clumsy on the ball, it’s a wonder that transfer fees across his career accumulated to around £10m. Infamously missed a plethora of chances against Liverpool during a crushing 4-1 defeat, including one from just six yards where it seemed easier to score.
We all remember THAT celebration, a Cristiano Ronaldo like tense of the muscles, but not a lot of goals to go with it.
49. HARRY KEWELL – (LEEDS TO LIVERPOOL, £5m)
It does seem odd to include a player who won the Champions League while on Merseyside, as well as the FA Cup and reaching a second European Cup final. However, the Australian icon was constantly the subject of a spate of injuries, and never truly replicated the form he showed at Leeds.
Costing the Reds around £160,000 per GAME from 2003 until 2008, he clearly wasn’t the wisest of investments for the club. In fact, he was even booed out of the final in Istanbul against AC Milan after departing the showpiece after just 23 minutes, with sections of support believing he was feigning the ailment.
Redeemed somewhat when it was revealed he was playing with an undiagnosed hernia, Kewell was one of the most disappointing incumbents of the iconic number 7 shirt seen at Anfield.
48. TORE ANDRE FLO – (RANGERS TO SUNDERLAND, £6.75m)
The Black Cats were after a big name to bring in with Marcus Stewart in order to consolidate their place as a solid team in the Premier League. Under pressure to acquire a long term replacement for Niall Quinn, Sunderland chief Peter Reid presided over perhaps the biggest example of a ‘panic buy’ known to man.
A hefty sum was shelled out for an aging star who was struggling to convince north of the border, and despite a goal against Manchester United on his debut, struggled even more. Never suited to the target man role, the former Chelsea man fell out with three managers and scored just 6 times as the club were relegated to Division One.
47. MICHU – (RAYO VALLECANO TO SWANSEA, £2m)
How weird it seems including the smiling Spaniard of Swansea. The loveable lanky forward was a breath of fresh air when he arrived in Wales initially, netting eighteen times and winning the League Cup.
However, it all turned sour for the enigmatic forward. Amid injuries, the departure of manager Michael Laudrup and question marks over his loyalty, the former Celta Vigo man fell out of favour under boss Garry Monk. Rumours that he was somewhat of a lone wolf were bandied around and the eccentricities such as standing in the tunnel at half-time alone slowly began to show some sinister undertones.
Now in the Spanish fourth division, the Michu tale is one to show just how quickly fortunes can fall in the world of football.
46. BRUNO CHEYROU – (LILLE TO LIVERPOOL, £4.5m)
Gerard Houllier, Liverpool boss at the time, went as far to dub young Bruno Cheyrou as the ‘next Zidane’ when signing him in the summer of 2002. Unfortunately, for both player and manager alike, the comparison proved far more of a burden than inspiration.
The thrice capped French international did actually have some good games in the famous red jersey, scoring winners of Sparta Prague, Chelsea and Newcastle during his two year spell. However, the arrival of Rafa Benitez at the helm spelled the end of the Frenchman, who was loaned out to Marseille and Bordeaux.
45. KAREL POBORSKY – (SLAVIA PRAGUE TO MAN UNITED, £3.5m)
An example of a player having a decent international tournament for his unfancied nation, getting a big move, and ultimately being revealed as not actually that good.
After the Czech Republic had reached the final of Euro 1996, Sir Alex Ferguson saw fit to draft in one of their wingers to compete with an up and coming David Beckham in a wide midfield berth. Karel Poborsky lasted just 17 months at Old Trafford as Beckham became one of the most prominent players in the country and a United legend.
He did win a Premier League title with the Red Devils, but the momentum he had picked up with his European heroics was stunted as a result of his frustrating time at the Theatre of Dreams. Started only 17 games as a player under Sir Alex.
44. HUGO VIANA (SPORTING LISBON TO NEWCASTLE, £8m)
The worst kind of flop. Showed promise before arriving, nothing during his time, but picked up his form again after leaving. Typical for a club like Newcastle really, who will appear quite often in this feature.
The Portuguese winger won the prestigious Young European Footballer of the Year award prior to swapping sunny Lisbon for the gloomy surroundings of North East England. Scored just four times in two seasons for the Toon Army before returning to his former club on loan and winning the UEFA Cup.
Would later depart for Valencia where he would reside for half a decade, though most of that was spent on loan elsewhere. Has represented his country at two World Cups and a European Championship and recently signed a lucrative deal with Dubai based Al-Wasl FC.
43. DEJAN LOVREN – (SOUTHAMPTON TO LIVERPOOL, £20M)
One of the worst signings of the Brendan Rodgers era, which is really saying something to be quite honest. The Croatian defender looked as classy as they come during the early stages of his time at Southampton, but what makes the transfer to Liverpool even more baffling, is the fact he was unable to conduct a whole season in a similar manner. Even during the closing part of his one year on the South Coast, Lovren was looking shaky.
So of course Brendan Rodgers and the infamous transfer committee saw fit to splash £20m to secure his services. While they were looking for a long term heir to Jamie Carragher’s crown, they got little else but some frantic performances and desperate defending.
42. ANDERSON – (PORTO TO MAN UNITED, £20M)
Signed alongside Owen Hargreaves and Nani, the Brazilian midfielder was a huge talent who could well have become one of the finest in the world. But he didn’t.
Robust and strong, the stocky midfielder had the skill to match his physical attributes though not the relevant mentality. Wes Brown even went as far as to describe the former Porto man as the ‘least intelligent’ player he had ever played with. Considering he played for Sunderland at the time, that really is saying a lot.
Issues about his work rate later manifested themselves in jibes about what sort of shape the Selecao international was in, and he was often perceived as overweight.
41. GEORGIOS SAMARAS – (HEERENVEEN TO MAN CITY, £6M)
The lanky Greek striker was actually a terribly expensive signing for the blue half of Manchester when he arrived from Holland for £6m back in 2006. Years before their Abu Dhabi takeover, he was the calibre of player plying his trade at the Etihad, then the City of Manchester Stadium of course.
Former boss Stuart Pearce took a lot of criticism for signing the youngster, who struggled to come to terms with the demanding nature of the Premier League. Just 12 goals in 68 games for the Eastlands outfit followed in the following two years, and he was deemed surplus to requirements by Sven Goran-Eriksson.
Won a shed load of trophies at Celtic though, so swings and roundabouts I guess.
40. DAVID BELLION (SUNDERLAND TO MAN UNITED, £3M)
Sure, £3m isn’t a lot for a club as rich as Manchester United, but you’d expect a man labelled the ‘next Thierry Henry’ to do a lot better than David Bellion during his ill-fated spell at Old Trafford.
The Frenchman drew comparisons to his compatriot thanks to his lightning quick pace and the fact he was, well, French. That’s about it. After a lengthy process during which the Red Devils were accused of tapping the youngster up, they ultimately were forced to shell out £3m in compensation.
They really should not have bothered, he looked utterly out of his depth. Isn’t hindsight a wonderful thing?
39. JOE COLE (CHELSEA TO LIVERPOOL, FREE)
It all seemed so promising when Joe Cole left Stamford Bridge on a free in 2010. The England star moved to Anfield in order to show the world just how good he really was, how a move away from the methodical style of the Blues would reignite his flair with the Reds.
Well, it didn’t quite work out like that. The former West Ham youngster was sent off on his debut against Arsenal and failed to justify his staggering £90,000 a week wage. Departed for Lille, West Ham and Aston Villa as the memories of a wonderfully skilful Hammers teenager slowly began to fade.
He now plays for Coventry, so yeah.
38. MATEJA KEZMAN (PSV TO CHELSEA, £7.5M)
Touted as a rival to Ruud van Nistelrooy, the free scoring PSV forward was one of the continents hottest properties while tearing up the Eredivisie with the club.
After being crowned the Dutch Footballer of the Year in 2003, there were lofty expectations imposed upon his shoulders though little were realised. Probably not helped by the fact he was taking over from club icon Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Kezman was never viewed as a suitable option to fulfil the club’s increased ambition.
Netting just 4 league goals in his year at Stamford Bridge, he had an entirely forgettable time of it in West London.
37. MASSIMO TAIBI (VENEZIA TO MAN UNITED, £4.5M)
Drafted in to aid the likes of Mark Bosnich and Raimond van der Gouw in perhaps the least glamorous shot stopping department under Sir Alex Ferguson, the Italian was dubbed the ‘Blind Veteran’ by the Financial Times after a gaffe against Southampton.
As good as Saints legend Matthew Le Tissier was, he should never have been allowed to score from the range he did at Old Trafford in 1999. After seemingly dealing with the effort with ease, Taibi allowed the ball to trickle through his legs and into the goal.
Played four games for the Red Devils. Conceded 10. Flop.
36. WINSTON BOGARDE – (BARCELONA TO CHELSEA, FREE)
It does seem rather odd to include a free transfer in the feature, as there are a number of players who have failed to live up to their price tag across the years. However, Dutch international Bogarde even admitted ‘I may be one of the worst buys in Premier League history, but I don’t care.’
Claudio Ranieri wanted the former Barca and Milan star out within weeks of arriving in West London, though he ultimately saw out his four year deal. Despite numerous attempts to sell him, even forcing him in to the youth team, they could not convince him to leave. No one else would match his £40,000 a week salary, pretty much.
‘Why should I throw fifteen million Euro away when it is already mine?’
He made just nine appearances in four years for the Blues, and while he was great for the English press, was an utter waste of money.
35. MARCO BOOGERS – (SPARTA ROTTERDAM TO WEST HAM, £1M)
Though known for his wheeling and dealing with the likes of Portsmouth and Tottenham, Harry Redknapp has had his fair share of duds in the transfer market. One of the biggest ones being Dutch striker Marco Boogers, who arrived for £1m in 1995.
During only his second appearance as a Hammer, the striker was sent off for a horror tackle on Gary Neville in a match against Manchester United. Curiously, after the debacle, club representatives couldn’t place his whereabouts for love nor money.
The Dutchman was found hiding out back in the Netherlands, though rumours he was hauled up in a caravan are yet to be really confirmed. We hope they’re true.
34. ANDREA SILENZI – (TORINO TO NOTTINGHAM FOREST, £1.8M)
Silenzi will always be the first Italian to ever play in the Premier League – that much is for sure. What is less certain is the fact he could also be the worst, though he’d given anyway compatriot a run for their money.
Considering he once played in the same Napoli team as Diego Maradona, it must have been terribly exciting for the Forest faithful at the time. The buzz was short lived however, as the former Torino man found the adjustment to English football hard to deal with.
Appeared only 20 times for the Reds, netting only two goals. An early example that exotic sounding names and big reputations don’t always guarantee goals.
33. SETH JOHNSON – (DERBY TO LEEDS, £7M)
One of the most bizarre signings in recent memory, even when Leeds are involved. The England under-21 ace was inexplicably handed a lucrative £37,000 a week deal at Elland Road after the Whites shelled out £7m for him.
Granted, he was once an exciting prospect, even playing for England against Italy in 2000. However, injuries prevented him from ever fulfilling his potential, limiting him to just 50 appearances during his five years at the club.
Became synonymous with the cavalier approach to finances Leeds had at the time. Unfortunate because of injury, but ultimately still a flop.
32. DIEGO FORLAN – (INDEPENDIENTE TO MAN UNITED, £6.9M)
It is perhaps unfair that an individual as talented as Diego Forlan is most remembered for his ill-fated tenure as a Manchester United player. The Uruguayan arrived in January 2002 after Sir Alex Ferguson hijacked the deal to take him to Middlesbrough.
Despite becoming a fan favourite due to his hard work, he only managed 17 goals during his two years with the Red Devils at a rate of one every 5.5 games. A bit of a cult hero for scoring the winner over Liverpool, it’s a shame he couldn’t see out the best days of his career at the Theatre of Dreams.
After moving to Villarreal and Atletico Madrid, he established himself as one of the best strikers in Europe, winning the Player of the Tournament at the 2010 World Cup.
31. DAVID BENTLEY – (BLACKBURN TO TOTTENHAM, £15M)
Bentley’s career seemed to come full circle after he returned to North London in a big money deal with Spurs in 2008 after being let go by Arsenal two years before. The England international, touted as the next David Beckham by some, seemed to be a natural fit at White Hart Lane on paper.
However, on grass, he was nothing of the sort. While never the paciest of wide men, Bentley could not discover the technical skill he showed at Blackburn during his time between the North London rivals. At £15m, he was supposed to become the next Spurs superstar, but it never worked out.
Sent on loan to Birmingham, West Ham and Russian outfit FC Rostov before retiring before he was 30 and trying his hand at Gaelic football.
30. AFONSO ALVES – (HEERENVEEN TO MIDDLESBROUGH, £12M)
The Brazilian forward was a big money signing on Teesside in January 2007 with an excellent goal scoring record in Holland. He had notched a stunning 45 goals in just 39 league games, and had the potential to fire Boro up the Premier League.
Unfortunately, that was if he could translate his exploits in the Eredivisie into the Premier League. Something he could not do. Funnily enough, he actually started off reasonably well, netting six times in his opening 11 games.
It was during his first full season at the Riverside where the world saw just how awful he was. Not suited to the relegation battle the North East side were facing, he scored only four times as the club dropped into the Championship.
29. SALIF DIAO – (SEDAN TO LIVERPOOL, £5M)
The midfielder was one of the surprise packages of the 2002 World Cup as Senegal reached the quarter finals of the showpiece over in Japan and South Korea. Previously relatively unheard of, the central midfield man had a glowing reputation going into his arrival at Liverpool.
Diao was unfancied by Benitez when the Spaniard took over, making only 37 appearances across his five years at the club. After his fifteen minutes of fame following the World Cup and a big money move to Liverpool, the player found himself with the likes of Birmingham, Stoke and Portsmouth.
28. KLEBERSON – (ATLETICO PARANAENSE TO MAN UNITED, £6M)
The World Cup winner, yes World Cup winner, moved to Old Trafford in 2003 when many of the club’s fans expected them to land Ronaldinho. Luis Felipe Scolari had praised the player for his exploits during the victory, prompting the likes of Barcelona, Celtic and Newcastle to declare an interest in bringing him to Europe.
He never showed any of the drive that helped his country become world champions just a year before across his two seasons at the Theatre of Dreams, yielding only 20 appearances.
27. ALBERT LUQUE – (DEPORTIVO TO NEWCASTLE, £9.5M)
Luque was scoring for fun in La Liga when scouted by the Toon Army, and had impressed during Spain’s route to the 2006 World Cup. Such form prompted Newcastle to splash £9.5m to bring him to Tyneside in August 2005, and he actually scored on his debut against Manchester United. Only it was ruled offside.
That was about the highlight of his time in black and white other than a delightful chip in the North East derby with Sunderland. Injured far too often and unable to adjust to the climate up north, Luque was eventually sold for just £2m in 2007 to Ajax.
26. BOSKO BALABAN – (DINAMO ZAGREB TO ASTON VILLA, £5.8M)
Doug Ellis loosened the purse strings to bring the Croatian forward to Villa Park in 2001, though the free scoring striker was perhaps the biggest flop in the club’s history.
Thought to be on around £20,000 a week in the Midlands, the former Dinamo Zagreb star made just two starts for the club, and seven further appearances as a substitute in two and a half years. In December 2003, he was released on a free after failing to show literally any promise at all.
He did not score for the club, though rediscovered his touch while with Club Brugge and returned to Zagreb to win another league title. All works out in the end I guess.
25. ALBERTO AQUILANI – (ROMA TO LIVERPOOL, £17M)
Supposed to be the man who replaced Xabi Alonso at the heart of the Liverpool midfield, the Italian arrived for big money already carrying an injury. That was a sign of what was largely to come during his time on Merseyside.
Seemingly always carrying a knock or a strain, Aquilani became a symbol of the Reds’ fall out of the top four in the Premier League, they had lost a truly world class star in Alonso and replaced him with a pale impersonation.
Was afforded a loan back to Serie A with Juventus just one year after signing with the club and would join Fiorentina in 2012 for free.
A complete waste of money.
24. MICHAEL OWEN – (REAL MADRID TO NEWCASTLE, £16M)
Heralded as the man to drag the Toon Army back into the upper echelons of the Premier League alongside Alan Shearer. After a year in the wilderness with Real Madrid, the former Liverpool superstar was the goal machine needed to see the Magpies once again soar.
Though he had a pretty good record of 30 goals in 75 league games for the club, Owen proved far too injury prone to be relied upon. Considering his excessive wage packet, he was often injured and had seemed to have lost a couple of yards of pace so crucial games.
Never truly loved by the Geordie faithful, he left when the club were relegated in 2009 after a pretty poor return on the £16m that brought him back to England.
It all seemed so good when signed.
23. TITUS BRAMBLE – (IPSWICH TO NEWCASTLE, £6M)
Titus ‘Shambles’ Bramble sounds like perhaps the worst boxer you can possibly imagine. Well, try worst footballer and you’re on the right track.
Signed by the great Sir Bobby Robson in 2002 for £6m as a teenager, he vowed to make himself indispensable to the former England boss at St. James’ Park. The years that followed only brought a plethora of calamitous performances and desperate defensive work.
Oddly enough he played in Newcastle team better than the sorry bunch wearing black and white these days. Scary.
22. ADRIAN MUTU – (PARMA TO CHELSEA, £15.8M)
Mutu was one of the first big names to arrive in West London under the newly found Roman Abramovich riches, as the Blues looked to sculpt a side able to challenge the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal.
The Romanian forward started off well, scoring four games in his opening three games as a Chelsea player as the £15.8m, a big deal back then, looked to be a wise investment early on. The strikes would dry up as the season progressed under Claudio Ranieri and the Italian was shown the door.
Under new boss Jose Mourinho, Mutu often found himself out of the side and the two constantly argued about whether or not the former Parma forward was actually injured when he claimed to be.
Just over a year after joining, the player tested positive for cocaine and was released in October 2004, while also receiving a seven month ban and a £20,000 FA fine.
Not a good signing, though Chelsea did get a whopping €17m in compensation out of the player years later.
21. ERIC DJEMBA-DJEMBA – (NANTES TO MAN UNITED, £3.5M)
There appears to be a running theme of exotic central midfielders bought by Sir Alex Ferguson in the mid-2000s, though arguably none quite as bad as Cameroon star Eric Djemba-Djemba.
Viewed as a potential successor to a 31-year old Roy Keane, the former Nantes dynamo was supposed to bring boundless energy to the middle of the park. On a staggering £75,000 a week wage, the Cameroonian was little more than a headless chicken at the best of times.
Could only muster 20 appearances as a Red Devil until he was banished to Aston Villa in 2005, a move that yielded equally little success.
The player so bad they named him twice.
20. JEAN-ALAIN BOUMSONG (RANGERS TO NEWCASTLE, £8M)
It’s hard to believe that Titus Bramble was not actually the most comical defender at Newcastle between 2005 and 2006. Despite the eyebrow raising £8m fee to take him from Ibrox just months after joining Rangers for free, the Frenchman looked like a reasonable signing during his early days in front of the Toon.
However, the defensive lapses began to come in their droves for the calamitous Les Blues international who was often the subject of an absolute howler. Next to Bramble, the two looked like complete clowns at the heart of Graeme Souness’ backline.
Some thoroughly laughable performances somehow ended up in a move to Juventus, however. Works out in the end I guess.
18. TOMAS BROLIN – (PARMA TO LEEDS, £4.5M)
Widely considered one of the top players in world football after his exploits for Sweden during both the 1992 Euros and the 1994 World Cup, the forward arrived at Elland Road for a hefty £4.5m in 1995.
Issues over his weight and refusal to do anything that could possibly resemble defensive work drowned out his early goals as a Leeds player and was constantly at loggerheads with manager Howard Wilkinson.
The two argued relentlessly, as the Swede became more and more out of shape and shipped out on loan months after joining. Just four goals in 20 games for the Whites and a lot more trouble than he was worth. Even joked he was leaving the club on loan in an April Fool’s Day prank gone wrong.
17. FRANCIS JEFFERS – (EVERTON TO ARSENAL, £8m)
An early example of paying over the odds for young English players, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger brought Francis Jeffers to London to be his ‘fox in the box’.
Dogged by injury and up against the likes of Thierry Henry and Sylvain Wiltord at Highbury, the young striker could never replicate the early form he had shown to convince Wenger to land him in the first place.
For three seasons it was clear the one cap wonder at international level was painfully out of his depth in the cosmopolitan side of the early-00’s in North London, and the player only managed 22 games and four goals as an Arsenal player.
Has a 100% record for the Three Lions though, scoring in his only game back in 2003. Might be worth another shot with Sanchez out injured, eh? We joke.
16. PAULINHO – (CORINTHIANS TO SPURS, £17M)
Purchased during the infamous summer spending spree of 2013 with the cash windfall that Gareth Bale’s departure afford them, Spurs splashed a then club record £17m on the Brazil star who had looked so good during that summer’s Confederations Cup.
Though many other players bought during that summer stand out for all the wrong reasons, Paulinho was perhaps the most disappointing. Amid comparisons to Frank Lampard as a goal scoring dynamo, Spurs fans were treated to very little samba style that had made the player such a hot property in the first place.
Aside from a backheel goal against Cardiff, the Selecao samba star was an utter shadow of the player we saw in the famous yellow and blue kit on the international front. Could barely get in the team during the latter stages of his North London career and was shipped out to China.
Enjoy the early retirement.
15. CHRIS SAMBA – (ANZHI TO QPR, £12.5M)
Harry Redknapp bought the imposing centre-half back to England amid his battle to keep the Rs in the Premier League, in what seemed like a cracking deal. The Congolese star was as no-nonsense as they come and could help provide the solidity to keep the club in the top flight, despite his hefty wage packet.
The towering defender looked a shadow of his former Blackburn self while in London as Redknapp watched his ingenious plan fall flat on its face and suffered relegation to the Championship. Granted, the whole side was just awful but Samba was an example of the flawed transfer policy at the club during their yo-yoing between leagues.
A gamble, and one that did not pay off.
14. STEVE MARLET (LYON TO FULHAM, £11.5M)
In August 2001, Mohammed Al Fayed commissioned a club record £11.5m to bring French international striker Steve Marlet to Craven Cottage as Fulham looked to be taking a huge step in the Premier League.
In 2003, Marlet was shipped back to France on loan after just 11 goals for the club, equalling just over a million pounds per goal. Somewhat excessive.
In fact, he was so bad, Al Fayed actually sued former manager Jean Tigana for purposely paying over the odds for Marlet in order to receive a bigger cut of the deal for himself. Tigana had at one time been the player’s agent, and Al Fayed believed some under the table deals must have going on. Charges were dropped of course, but it shows how poorly rated the player was at Fulham.
13. ROQUE SANTA CRUZ – (BLACKBURN TO MAN CITY, £17.5M)
As City came to terms with their new standing as a financial powerhouse, manager at the time Mark Hughes fought tooth and nail to be reunited with the Paraguayan poacher he had at Blackburn.
Viewed as the man to provide the goals to fire City to where they wanted to be, it seems everyone ignored the fact that – barring one good season at Ewood Park – Santa Cruz had never managed more than 5 goals in a season for a European club.
A huge fee at the time, and likely to be on ridiculous amount of money a week, the striker is the definition of the phrase ‘flash in the pan’. Despite 19 goals for Rovers under Hughes, Santa Cruz could only muster six starts and three goals during his four years on the club’s payroll.
A likeable chap, but a very bad signing.
12. KOSTAS MITROGLOU (OLYMPIAKOS TO FULHAM, £12M)
Poor old Fulham don’t have much luck with expensive foreign strikers, do they? For reasons that are still not abundantly clear, Rene Meulensteen decided the Greek forward was exactly the sort of man to drag the club through a relegation battle halfway through the season.
Smashing their club record in January 2014, the Greece international arrived in West London tasked with scoring the goals to keep Fulham in the top flight. The call was not answered as Mitroglou featured in just three games as the club were relegated four months after he joined. He did not score for the Cottagers.
Now on loan at Benfica, somehow, the player remains on the club’s books. Panic buy to the highest degree.
11. SERHIY REBROV – (DYNAMO KIEV TO SPURS, £11M)
The man to bridge the gap between Spurs and Arsenal, the man who had partnered the legendary Andriy Shevchenko in the Ukrainian capital was supposed to be the real deal when George Graham splashed £11m to bring him to White Hart Lane in May 2000.
Just 10 goals in 60 games across four unhappy years with the club is all they got in return for the hefty sum. The Ukrainian could not adapt to the demanding nature of the Premier League, much like his aforementioned compatriot.
Twice loaned out to Turkey and afforded a free transfer to West Ham whilst the club were in the Championship. How the mighty fall.
10. ROBINHO – (REAL MADRID TO MAN CITY, £32M)
To be fair, Robinho is a hugely important signing in Manchester City’s history, but far more figuratively than literally. The Brazilian superstar was the first huge name to arrive at Eastlands upon their takeover in 2008, marking the club as big players in the transfer market.
Earmarked as Pele’s heir apparent, the former Real Madrid man performed amicably during his first season on these shores, without ever really realising his full potential. 14 goals in his maiden campaign was not a bad return, but it was clear the club were struggling to come to terms with their new found wealth.
It was during his second season that things started to turn sour. He featured just 12 times for the club after a spate of injuries, and could only muster one goal against Scunthorpe before returning to his native Brazil on a loan deal.
Seems to be almost forgotten in the impressive transformation City have had since he left, but a huge disappointment amid much fanfare.
9. RICKIE LAMBERT – (SOUTHAMPTON TO LIVERPOOL, £4m)
Perhaps it’s hard to include Rickie Lambert in this feature, considering the fairy tale surrounding his emotional switch to Liverpool, the club he supported as a child. After carving himself a career in the lower leagues and becoming a key part in Southampton’s rise, the England man earned a switch to Anfield.
However, this was a Liverpool that were about to lose club talisman Luis Suarez. Manager Brendan Rodgers watched his side crumble, and though Lambert was clearly never a direct replacement, he became a symbol of just how far the side had fallen without their fiery Uruguayan.
Lasted just one year with the Reds, scoring just three goals in all competitions.
8. RADAMEL FALCAO – (MONACO TO MAN UNITED/CHELSEA, LOAN)
Last summer, Louis van Gaal and Manchester United splashed out £6m to bring Colombian mega star Radamel Falcao to Old Trafford on a season long loan. Thought to be on around £285,000 a week with the Red Devils, the Monaco man was one of the biggest names in world football.
After devastating form for Porto and Atletico Madrid, fans in this country would finally get to see El Tigre up close and personal in the Premier League.
Just four goals in 29 appearances suggested the player has never fully recovered from a serious injury while with Monaco, and looked a shadow of his former prolific self. The Red Devils opted against taking up the option to sign him for £40 odd million this summer.
Not having the best of times at Chelsea either, having notched just one goal since arriving on loan in the summer. A shame really considering he was one of the most lethal strikers on the planet just a few years ago.
7. MARIO BALOTELLI (AC MILAN TO LIVERPOOL, £16M)
Where Lambert was never intended to be a direct replacement for Luis Suarez, the Reds took a chance on enigmatic former Man City star Mario Balotelli in order to replace the goals. After some erratic form in Manchester, the Italian was sent back to Milan in order to get his career back on track.
It was a huge gamble for the club, and after a good showing on his debut against Spurs, looked like it was just crazy enough to work. The feeling was short lived however, as Balotelli reverted back to his former self and was hitting headlines for all the wrong reasons. Barely worked, barely scored.
A joke of signing, loaned straight back to AC Milan this summer.
6. JUAN SEBASTIAN VERON – (LAZIO TO MAN UNITED, £28.1M)
The Argentine’s talent was never in question, but the pass master struggled to adapt to the English game after Sir Alex Ferguson splashed almost £30m to bring him over from Serie A in 2001.
Decent enough in Champions League competition, Veron could not wrap his head around the lack of time on the ball in the Premier League and just couldn’t make things work in the centre of the park. Fergie backed him right until the very end, but he was widely considered to have flopped for the club.
Chelsea saved him from his Old Trafford nightmare two years later (for half the price), but the same issues were prevalent. Considering his obvious talent, the Argentina star should have been one of the finest midfielders of the mid-00s.
Alas, it never happened for him.
5. ANDY CARROLL – (NEWCASTLE TO LIVERPOOL, £35M)
Liverpool were unfortunate enough to be hit with a double premium of a panic buy and an English player in January 2011 when buying Andy Carroll. With Torres (more on him later) gone, Kenny Dalglish had £50m in the bank and needed a striker.
The Reds turned their attentions to lanky Geordie star Andy Carroll, who had played just 11 times in the top flight for the Toon Army. A ridiculous £35m fee was agreed on as the window wound down, and the towering forward became the most expensive British player of all time.
Weighed down by the excessive price tag, the England international never suited the club and was often the first to be criticised due to how much he cost.
Left to join West Ham in a £15m deal, in perhaps one of the worst investments in Premier League history.
4. ROBERTO SOLDADO – (VALENCIA TO SPURS, £26m)
Soldado was the cool, collected forward to spearhead Spurs’ transformation from top four hopefuls to title contenders following the sale of Gareth Bale. A Spanish international, he was instinctive and lethal in front of goal, something the club had been lacking for a while.
Only the goals did not come. Despite his best efforts, and a penalty on his debut against Crystal Palace, Soldado looked like a completely different player to the one who had been tearing up La Liga previously.
A series of glaring misses across his two seasons at White Hart Lane is sadly what he will be remembered for, not his form in Spain, or his high work rate with and without the ball.
Just seven goals in 52 games while with the North London club, desperately disappointing.
3. FERNANDO TORRES (LIVERPOOL TO CHELSEA, £50M)
Was it really the same player who almost won Liverpool the league just a few years before? Fernando Torres was used to big money moves, having excelled at Anfield despite his £25m price tag.
65 goals in just 102 games for the Reds had made him one of the most lethal forwards in the world, and he had won a World Cup and European Championship with Spain. Some pedigree. So when Chelsea decided to splash £50m on him in January 2011, they looked as if they would finally get the striker they were searching for.
However, Torres had other ideas. A shadow of his former self, the former Atletico icon looked like a completely different person in the blue of Chelsea. Famously missed an open goal at Old Trafford, the World Cup winner looked utterly devoid of confidence and very aware he had cost £50m.
Despite winning the FA Cup, Europa League, Champions League and League Cup at Stamford Bridge, he scored just 20 times in 110 games as a Chelsea player.
One of the biggest flops the league has ever seen.
2. ANGEL DI MARIA – (REAL MADRID TO MAN UNITED, £59M)
The only redeeming part of the Angel Di Maria-Manchester United story is the fact PSG were willing to pay £44m to rescue him from Old Trafford. He would no doubt be first in this list had the Ligue 1 giants not reimbursed the lion’s share of what the Red Devils paid for him in the first place.
After his heroic form as a central midfielder for Real Madrid, being crowned Man of the Match in the Champions League final, Di Maria arrived at Old Trafford as arguably the first superstar since former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.
With three goals in his opening five games for the club, it looked like van Gaal had actually secured himself a genuine superstar, too. He seemed to be carrying on his form for Los Blancos as a Red Devil, scoring a delightful chip over Leicester. No worries.
As last season progressed however, the former Benfica man dropped away. Amid personal issues such as his family home being burgled, the Argentine ace became a burden for his manager, dropping out of the team. He had seemingly lost the drive and determination that made him a Galactico in the first place.
Just a year after joining, he was allowed to leave for PSG. After such a promising start and huge fee, he is only saved from first place due to his resale value.
1. ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO – (AC MILAN TO CHELSEA, £30m)
Before there was Torres, there was Shevchenko. The Chelsea striker berth seems to have a curse on any big name star who dares to bear the burden at Stamford Bridge.
Widely regarded as the world’s best forward after his form for AC Milan in years gone by, Roman Abramovich finally got his man in 2006 after a lengthy pursuit. The Ukrainian legend would surely take the Blues to Champions League glory and establish them as serious players on the continent, right?
Wrong, and his stock plummeted at an alarming rate. In 48 league games as a Chelsea player, he notched just nine goals and had lost any trace of what made him such a formidable forward.
22 strikes in all competitions across three miserable years in West London and the biggest flop to ever have played in the Premier League.
He’s now a golfer.