The 20 Worst Manchester United Signings in History – Ranked

Manchester United have had some spectacular signings over the years, but they have also wasted hundreds of millions on players who simply didn’t deliver. From forgotten flops to marquee transfers gone horribly wrong, this list runs through the 20 worst signings in the club’s history. We start from number 20 and work our way to the very worst.

20. Manucho

Signed from Petro Atlético in 2008, Manucho managed just three appearances in a Manchester United shirt. He spent most of his time out on loan before eventually leaving without making any meaningful impact. Despite this, he still picked up a Premier League winner’s medal during his brief spell.

19. Gabriel Obertan

Obertan arrived from Bordeaux in 2009 with high hopes but never truly impressed. He made just 27 appearances and scored a single goal before being sold to Newcastle. The French winger became yet another example of United overestimating a young talent.

18. Ralph Milne

Brought in from Bristol City in 1988, Milne is remembered as one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s poorest signings. He only scored three goals in 30 appearances and failed to secure a regular place in the side. Even Ferguson later admitted this transfer was a mistake.

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17. Juan Sebastián Verón

Verón was a £28m signing from Lazio and one of the most technically gifted players of his generation. Unfortunately, he never fully adapted to the Premier League’s physicality and failed to justify his hefty price tag. After just two years, he was sold to Chelsea.

16. Diego Forlán

Forlán’s spell at Old Trafford is often remembered for his long goal drought at the start of his career. Despite some crucial goals against Liverpool and Chelsea, he only managed 17 goals in 97 appearances. He later became a star at Villarreal, highlighting how poorly things went for him in Manchester.

15. Ángel Di María

Arriving for nearly £60m from Real Madrid in 2014, Di María was supposed to be the club’s new superstar. He struggled to settle in England and never looked comfortable in Louis van Gaal’s system. After just one season, he left for PSG, making this one of United’s most expensive mistakes.

14. Eric Djemba-Djemba

Tasked with succeeding Roy Keane, Djemba-Djemba was simply not up to the task. His performances were error-prone and he quickly lost his place in the team. He was sold to Aston Villa after just two years, leaving little legacy behind.

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13. Memphis Depay

Depay’s arrival from PSV in 2015 came with enormous hype as he was handed the iconic number seven shirt. However, he failed to live up to expectations and scored just two Premier League goals in his debut season. He was eventually sold to Lyon, where he rediscovered his form.

12. Massimo Taibi

Signed as a replacement for Peter Schmeichel, Taibi is remembered for one of the most infamous goalkeeping blunders in Premier League history. He conceded 11 goals in just four games and never recovered from his early mistakes. United quickly moved him on, and his time at Old Trafford became a cautionary tale.

11. Wilfried Zaha

Zaha was Sir Alex Ferguson’s final signing, but he never got to play under the legendary manager. He struggled for minutes under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal before being sold back to Crystal Palace. There, he became a club legend, proving that his United spell was a complete mismanagement.

10. Radamel Falcao

Falcao joined United on loan from Monaco in 2014 and arrived with huge expectations. Sadly, he was far from his best and scored just four league goals in 29 appearances. United wisely chose not to make the move permanent, but it remains a costly failure.

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9. Bebé

Bebé’s transfer was one of the strangest in club history, with Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly signing him without seeing him play. His performances were well below the required level and he made just seven appearances before being sold. The deal was even investigated for potential irregularities in Portugal.

8. Kléberson

Signed after winning the World Cup with Brazil, Kléberson was expected to dominate United’s midfield. Unfortunately, injuries and inconsistency plagued his time at the club. He never came close to reaching the level of his signing-day partner, Cristiano Ronaldo.

7. Paul Pogba

Pogba returned to United for a then-world record £89m fee, but he never consistently justified the investment. He had moments of brilliance but was often criticized for inconsistency and a lack of leadership. He eventually left on a free transfer back to Juventus, marking a disappointing end to a costly reunion.

6. André Onana

Signed to replace David de Gea, Onana was expected to modernize United’s playing style with his ball-playing ability. Instead, he produced several costly errors and failed to inspire confidence. By the following season, he was already shipped out on loan, raising questions over the signing.

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5. Alexis Sánchez

Sánchez was one of the most exciting players in the Premier League before joining United in a swap deal with Arsenal. However, he never hit the same heights and scored just three league goals in 18 months. He was eventually allowed to leave for Inter Milan, where he played much better.

4. Morgan Schneiderlin

Schneiderlin arrived from Southampton with a reputation as one of the league’s best midfielders. Unfortunately, he never made an impact at Old Trafford and looked out of his depth. He was sold to Everton after just 18 months, and few fans remember his spell fondly.

3. Donny van de Beek

Once one of Europe’s most promising midfielders, Van de Beek never found his place at United. He was often left out of the squad and rarely had the chance to build momentum. In 2024, he finally departed for Girona, bringing an underwhelming spell to an end.

2. Antony

Antony was signed for a staggering £86m and was expected to become a game-changer for Erik ten Hag’s side. Instead, he proved inconsistent and predictable, frustrating fans with his lack of end product. His eventual loan and permanent exit to Real Betis summed up a hugely disappointing transfer.

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1. Jadon Sancho

Sancho’s arrival from Dortmund was one of the most anticipated transfers in recent history. But despite flashes of quality, he never came close to replicating his Bundesliga form and quickly fell down the pecking order. After a loan to Aston Villa in 2025, it appears his United career is effectively over.