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Bill Connelly
Multiple Authors
Successful transfers can transform a team’s fortunes. Many of the most successful eras in the Premier League have been anchored by key signings, highlighting the significant impact that top-notch transfers can have on a club’s success.
However, poor transfer choices can lead to substantial setbacks. Even the wealthiest clubs in the Premier League, such as Chelsea, have managed to win prestigious tournaments, like the Champions League in 2021, despite notable transfer blunders. Similarly, Manchester City has secured multiple league titles, even with underwhelming investments in players like Kalvin Phillips. Ultimately, however, the consequences of bad transfers tend to catch up with clubs over time.
Transfers can go awry for various reasons—overlooking a player’s injury history, signings following the peak of their performance, or disagreements with managers. Players might clash with teammates or choose to underperform after landing a lucrative contract.
– Connelly: The best 50 transfers in Premier League history
– O’Hanlon: Ranking club, national team coaching jobs from best to worst
– Lindop: Where did it go wrong for Arne Slot and Liverpool?
Despite the many reasons for failure, some transfers stand out as particularly disastrous. Here, we present the 50 worst transfers in the history of the Premier League.
50. Davy Klaassen, CM, Everton
Signed from Ajax for €27 million, 2017-18
Klaassen’s transfer was disappointing from the start. Despite being a celebrated midfielder at Ajax, he managed just 251 Premier League minutes in his first year at Everton before leaving for Werder Bremen at half the cost. He failed to impress three different managers and couldn’t prevent the firing of Ronald Koeman.
There were enough dismal transfers from the 2022-23 season alone to create an extensive list. While Casemiro shone briefly, his age and substantial salary soon became issues. He contributed to a positive season initially for Manchester United, but his performance heavily declined over the next two years, with United’s league standing spiraling downwards.
Some transfers became notorious for various reasons. Here are some lengthy narratives about the worst transfers in Premier League history.