Over the years, Manchester United have made some questionable transfer decisions—none more glaring than these. From injury-prone veterans to overpriced flops, here are the 20 worst signings in the club’s history, ranked from bad to disastrous.
20. Owen Hargreaves
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Hargreaves arrived from Bayern Munich in 2007 with a solid reputation but was plagued by chronic injuries. He played only 39 games in four years, and Sir Alex Ferguson later called it one of his most disappointing signings.
19. Manucho
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Signed from Petro Atletico in 2008, the Angolan striker made just three appearances. He spent most of his time on loan and was quickly forgotten despite technically winning a Premier League title.
United gambled on the young French winger in 2009, but Obertan never broke into the first team. He played only 27 times and was offloaded to Newcastle two years later.
Milne was one of Ferguson’s earliest signings and widely regarded as his worst. The Scottish winger failed to make an impact and left the club mentally defeated after a disastrous stint.
16. Juan Sebastián Verón
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Brought in for £28 million from Lazio, Verón never adapted to the pace of the Premier League. Despite flashes of brilliance, he was sold to Chelsea after two underwhelming seasons.
15. Diego Forlán
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The Uruguayan striker couldn’t replicate his form from Argentina, scoring just 17 goals in 97 games. He later became a star in Spain, but his United spell was forgettable.
14. Ángel Di María
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Signed as the marquee man from Real Madrid, Di María struggled with form and personal issues in England. One year and four league goals later, he was sold to PSG.
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Signed to replace Roy Keane, Djemba-Djemba was nowhere near the required level. After just two years and plenty of underwhelming displays, he was shipped off to Aston Villa.
12. Memphis Depay
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Touted as a future superstar, Depay was given the iconic No. 7 shirt—but buckled under pressure. He never found his rhythm and was sold to Lyon after two disappointing seasons.
11. Wilfried Zaha
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Ferguson’s final signing never played under him and featured only four times for the first team. Zaha later blossomed at Crystal Palace, but his time at Old Trafford was a complete miss.
10. Massimo Taibi
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Remembered only for his horror blunder against Southampton, Taibi played just four games. He conceded 11 goals and became a symbol of United’s post-Schmeichel keeper woes.
Falcao arrived on loan with huge expectations but looked past his prime. Four goals in 29 appearances led to United cutting ties after just one season.
8. Bébé
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The £7.4 million signing was a total mystery—especially since Ferguson had never seen him play. He made seven poor appearances, and the transfer was later investigated for corruption.
7. Kleberson
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Signed after winning the World Cup with Brazil, Kleberson never adapted to life in England. Constant injuries and poor form meant he was soon shown the door.
6. Alexis Sánchez
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One of the highest-paid players in club history, Sánchez never lived up to the hype. He scored just five goals in 45 games before being loaned to Inter Milan.
Sancho arrived after years of chasing but never hit his Dortmund heights. Benched, loaned out, and now likely gone for good—he never justified his £73 million price tag.
4. Morgan Schneiderlin
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His United career was utterly forgettable, offering no creativity or presence in midfield. A £25 million price tag only made things worse for a player who faded fast.
3. Donny van de Beek
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Once a Champions League semifinalist with Ajax, Van de Beek disappeared into United’s bench. Just two goals and two assists in 62 games made him one of the most puzzling flops.
2. Paul Pogba
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Brought back for a then-world-record £89 million, Pogba’s second spell was a six-year rollercoaster. Injuries, inconsistency, and off-field drama overshadowed any flashes of brilliance.
Signed for a staggering £86 million, Antony has been the ultimate disappointment. Predictable, ineffective, and now on loan at Real Betis—he tops the list as United’s worst-ever signing.
