15 Biggest Wastes of Money in Football History
Football clubs have never been shy about spending big money in pursuit of glory—but not every blockbuster transfer ends in success. Some signings promised greatness but delivered only disappointment, injury setbacks, or quick exits. Based on fee, performance, and return on investment, here are the 15 biggest wastes of money in football history—counting down from 15 to 1
15. Nicolas Pepe – Arsenal (£72m)
Arsenal broke their transfer record in 2019 to sign Nicolas Pepe after a standout season at Lille. Despite a few flashes of brilliance, his inconsistency and eventual free departure made him a costly misjudgment.
14. Andriy Shevchenko – Chelsea (£30m)
In 2006, £30m was huge—and Chelsea paid it for Shevchenko, who had been lethal at AC Milan. However, he never adapted to the Premier League and left with just nine league goals to his name.
13. Paul Pogba – Manchester United (£89m)
Pogba returned to Old Trafford for a then-world record fee in 2016, but the reunion fell flat. Injuries, inconsistency, and eventual free departure back to Juventus made it a poor return on investment.
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12. Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Barcelona (£59m + Eto'o)
Barcelona not only paid nearly £60m for Zlatan, but also gave up Samuel Eto'o in the deal. Zlatan scored goals but clashed with Guardiola, lasting just one season before being moved on.
11. Neymar – PSG (£200m)
Neymar remains the most expensive player ever, but his PSG career was more about injuries and missed opportunities than dominance. While he had moments of quality, he never justified the record fee.
10. Kepa Arrizabalaga – Chelsea (£72m)
The most expensive goalkeeper in history struggled to live up to expectations. Kepa's inconsistent form and loss of confidence saw him replaced and loaned out just a few years into his Chelsea career.
9. Tanguy Ndombele – Tottenham Hotspur (£55m)
Tottenham’s record signing showed early promise but couldn’t maintain form or fitness. Frequent loan spells and a terminated contract marked a disappointing end to his Spurs journey.
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8. Alexis Sanchez – Manchester United (£35m + Mkhitaryan)
United swapped Mkhitaryan and paid top wages for Sanchez, expecting a superstar. Instead, they got a shadow of his Arsenal form, and he quickly became surplus to requirements.
7. Angel Di Maria – Manchester United (£60m)
Di Maria started brightly at United but fizzled out after just one season. He refused to return for pre-season and was sold to PSG at a steep loss.
6. Antoine Griezmann – Barcelona (£108m)
Griezmann never quite clicked at Barcelona, despite his La Liga experience. After two seasons of underwhelming performances, he returned to Atletico Madrid, with Barcelona taking a heavy financial hit.
5. Romelu Lukaku – Chelsea (£97.5m)
Lukaku’s second stint at Chelsea started with high hopes but quickly turned sour. Public criticism of the club and poor form led to multiple loans and a near-complete write-off.
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4. Joao Felix – Atletico Madrid (£113m)
Atletico bet big on Felix’s potential, but he struggled in Simeone’s rigid system. He never reached double figures in a season and left at a significant financial loss.
3. Ousmane Dembele – Barcelona (£135m)
Signed as a replacement for Neymar, Dembele’s time at Barcelona was plagued by injuries and inconsistency. Despite six seasons at the club, he failed to meet expectations tied to his huge fee.
2. Philippe Coutinho – Barcelona (£105m)
Barcelona splurged on Coutinho after his Liverpool heroics, but he never settled at Camp Nou. He was loaned out several times, and the club recouped only a fraction of the money.
1. Eden Hazard – Real Madrid (£130m)
Hazard’s move to Madrid was meant to elevate both player and club—but it did the opposite. Hampered by injuries and poor fitness, he scored just seven goals in four seasons and retired early, sealing his place as the biggest waste of money in football history.
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