As the 2026/27 Premier League season settles into its rhythm, the initial five gameweeks have offered a stark reminder that big transfer fees and high expectations don’t always translate to immediate success. With the campaign barely underway, several prominent clubs, including Liverpool, Tottenham, and Manchester United, are already grappling with underperforming new recruits, while Chelsea and Aston Villa have also struggled to integrate their summer acquisitions effectively.

A recent ranking by GiveMeSport, published on September 20, 2026, has highlighted the ten signings who have made the least impact so far. The list casts a critical eye over players who arrived with significant fanfare or price tags, yet have delivered little return in the opening weeks.

Tottenham’s transfer turmoil

Tottenham Hotspur, currently languishing in 18th place with just two goals scored after five matches, dominates the list with five players featuring in the top ten. Their struggles are epitomised by the two most disappointing transfers identified:

1. Sandro Tonali (Tottenham, £100m from Newcastle): Once considered among the world’s elite midfielders at the turn of 2026, Tonali’s influence in the Tottenham midfield has been described as “depleted” in the early stages of the season.

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2. Mateus Fernandes (Tottenham, £85m from West Ham): Fernandes arrives at Tottenham having been relegated in the two previous seasons – with Southampton in 2024/25 and West Ham in 2025/26. Deployed in a more attacking role than his usual position, he was substituted after just 45 minutes in a 3-2 loss against Aston Villa.

Other Tottenham signings also facing scrutiny include Omar Marmoush, on loan from Manchester City, who was deemed surplus to requirements last term despite previous success at Eintracht Frankfurt. Mykhailo Mudryk, another loan arrival from Chelsea, has played just 16 minutes, having not featured in a match since November 2022 following a doping investigation. His Premier League record stands at:

• Five goals

• Four assists

• 54 appearances

Despite a goal and an assist from the bench in an EFL Cup win over Charlton Athletic and creating numerous chances, Savio, a £75 million signing from Manchester City, also finds himself on the list under manager Roberto De Zerbi, underscoring Tottenham’s overall struggles to convert opportunities.

High fees, limited returns elsewhere

Beyond Tottenham, other major clubs have also seen their significant investments yield little so far. Liverpool’s deadline day acquisition of Bradley Barcola from PSG for a staggering £120 million has yet to bear fruit, with the forward making four appearances with “little to show for it.”

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Manchester United’s £50 million signing of 22-year-old Andrey Santos from Chelsea was intended to fill the void left by Casemiro. However, Santos is expected to rely on the return to fitness of fellow new signing Carlos Baleba to truly find his footing.

Chelsea themselves have a player on the list in Emmanuel Emegha, a £21 million signing from Strasbourg. Emegha, who joined Chelsea last year before returning to Strasbourg on loan, signed a seven-year contract, a deal described as a “hallmark of some terribly misguided Todd Boehly deal.”

Nottingham Forest’s £45 million investment in Liam Delap from Chelsea has seen him score just one goal in four matches, following a previous season where he managed only one goal in 28 league appearances, despite a strong campaign at Ipswich Town.

Aston Villa’s loan move for Alejandro Garnacho from Chelsea also drew criticism. “Whoever is giving the green light to these deals is fortunate to still be in a job, and it hardly looks as though Garnacho will get much game time anyway. This one can be filed straight into the ‘completely unnecessary’ signings,” the GiveMeSport article stated, drawing parallels to big clubs signing ageing third-choice goalkeepers. Villa has previously taken successful loans like Jadon Sancho (from Manchester United) and Harvey Elliott (from Liverpool).

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While it is still early in the season, these initial performances highlight the immense pressure on both players and clubs to justify their investments and turn their fortunes around.

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