The 40 Worst Transfers in Football History – Ranked

Transfers can define a football club’s fortunes — for better or worse. When they go right, legends are made. When they go wrong, they become expensive cautionary tales. Here’s a definitive ranking of the 40 worst transfers in football history, counting down from #40 to the ultimate disaster at #1.

40. Álvaro Morata → Chelsea (£60m, 2017)

Chelsea brought in Morata to replace Diego Costa, but the Spaniard never found his feet at Stamford Bridge. With just 24 goals in 72 appearances, he became another victim of Chelsea’s infamous number nine curse.

39. Sébastien Haller → West Ham (£45m, 2019)

Haller was prolific at Frankfurt and would go on to be prolific again at Ajax, but his time in London was a major letdown. He scored just 10 league goals before being sold at a loss 18 months later.

38. Diego Costa → Atlético Madrid (2017)

Costa forced a move back to Atlético, but his second spell was nothing like his first. Injuries and poor form limited him to just 19 goals in 81 games before leaving again.

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37. Harry Maguire → Manchester United (£80m, 2019)

The world’s most expensive defender became a lightning rod for criticism at Old Trafford. Despite some good performances, the pressure of the price tag and endless viral clips of poor defending defined his time.

36. Tiémoué Bakayoko → Chelsea (£40m, 2017)

Chelsea hoped for a midfield enforcer but got a player who looked lost in the Premier League. Bakayoko spent most of his Chelsea career out on loan, failing to make an impression.

35. Carlos Tevez → Shanghai Shenhua (2016)

One of the highest-paid players in the world at the time, Tevez scored just four goals in China. He later admitted he treated the move like a “holiday,” which angered fans even more.

34. Ángel Di María → Manchester United (£60m, 2014)

Di María arrived as the British-record signing and started brilliantly, even winning Player of the Month. However, his form collapsed, and he left after just one season for PSG.

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33. Giovani Lo Celso → Tottenham (£27–55m, 2019)

Lo Celso was supposed to be a creative force in Spurs’ midfield but never consistently delivered. Injuries and poor form meant he became more of a fringe player than a game-changer.

32. Jack Rodwell → Sunderland (£10m, 2014)

Rodwell was supposed to revive his career at Sunderland, but instead he became a symbol of their decline. He played fewer than 45 league games in three years while collecting big wages.

31. Arthur & Miralem Pjanić (Barça–Juve swap, 2020)

This deal made little sense for either club and seemed designed mainly for accounting reasons. Neither Arthur nor Pjanić made any meaningful impact at their new sides.

30. Juan Sebastián Verón → Manchester United (£28m, 2001)

One of the most technically gifted midfielders of his era, Verón never adapted to the pace of the Premier League. United eventually sold him to Chelsea at half the price just two years later.

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29. Dmytro Chygrynskiy → Barcelona (€25m, 2009)

Pep Guardiola pushed for his signing after being impressed in the UEFA Super Cup. However, he played just 14 matches before being sold back to Shakhtar Donetsk.

28. Kaká → Real Madrid (€68.5m, 2009)

Kaká was the world’s most expensive player when he joined Madrid, but injuries robbed him of his prime. He was eventually sold back to Milan for virtually nothing.

27. Ricardo Quaresma → Inter (€19m, 2008)

The Portuguese winger was expected to shine under José Mourinho but flopped badly. He even won the infamous “Bidone d’Oro” award as Serie A’s worst player.

26. Eliaquim Mangala → Manchester City (£42m, 2014)

City paid a huge fee for the defender, but he never lived up to expectations. Own goals, red cards, and errors defined his time before he eventually left on a free.

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25. Leonardo Bonucci → AC Milan (€42m, 2017)

Milan made Bonucci their captain, but the move never worked out. Just a year later, he was sent back to Juventus in a swap deal, making the entire transfer pointless.

24. Tanguy Ndombele → Tottenham (£63m, 2019)

Ndombele arrived as Spurs’ record signing but couldn’t adapt to the demands of English football. His fitness and consistency issues meant he was quickly sent out on loan.

23. Nicolas Pépé → Arsenal (£72m, 2019)

The most expensive signing in Arsenal’s history turned into a frustrating figure. Despite occasional flashes of brilliance, he struggled to deliver consistent output in the Premier League.

22. Mario Balotelli → Liverpool (£16m, 2014)

Liverpool signed Balotelli to replace Luis Suárez, but it was a disastrous gamble. He scored just one league goal before leaving for free.

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21. Lazar Marković → Liverpool (£20m, 2014)

Marković was tipped as a star winger but quickly faded. After several underwhelming loans, Liverpool let him go for nothing.

20. Fernando Torres → Chelsea (£50m, 2011)

Torres was one of the world’s best strikers at Liverpool but never regained that form at Chelsea. Despite scoring some important goals, he became a shadow of his former self.

19. Adrian Mutu → Chelsea (£16m, 2003)

Mutu started well but saw his Chelsea career collapse after testing positive for cocaine. A lengthy legal battle followed, and he was ordered to pay the club millions in damages.

18. Shkodran Mustafi → Arsenal (£35m, 2016)

Mustafi’s early promise quickly evaporated as he became error-prone and unreliable. He was eventually released after his contract was mutually terminated.

17. Jesé Rodríguez → PSG (€25m, 2016)

Jesé was seen as a future star but played just 18 games for PSG. A string of loans and a contract termination summed up his failed stint.

16. Jackson Martínez → Guangzhou Evergrande (€42m, 2016)

Martínez was one of the Chinese Super League’s most expensive signings but barely played due to injuries. He made just 16 appearances before his deal was cancelled.

15. Jonathan Woodgate → Real Madrid (£13.5m, 2004)

Woodgate famously scored an own goal and was sent off on his debut. He made only nine league appearances and was voted Madrid’s worst signing of the century by Marca readers.

14. Luka Jović → Real Madrid (€60m, 2019)

After a breakout season at Frankfurt, Jović never found form in Madrid. Scoring just two goals and facing controversy off the pitch, he was eventually loaned out.

13. Andy Carroll → Liverpool (£35m, 2011)

Liverpool’s panic buy replacement for Torres turned into an expensive mistake. Carroll never fit their style of play and scored just six league goals before leaving.

12. Gaizka Mendieta → Lazio (€48m, 2001)

Mendieta was one of Europe’s top midfielders at Valencia but completely flopped at Lazio. He failed to score in 31 appearances and was quickly shipped out.

11. Zlatan Ibrahimović → Barcelona (£59m + Eto’o, 2010)

Zlatan scored 21 goals but famously clashed with Pep Guardiola. He was sold after one season while Eto’o won the treble with Inter.

10. Andriy Shevchenko → Chelsea (£30m, 2006)

Chelsea signed Shevchenko at the peak of his career, but he never adapted to English football. He scored just nine league goals before returning to Milan.

9. Danny Drinkwater → Chelsea (£35m, 2017)

Drinkwater went from title-winning hero to Chelsea outcast. He made just 12 league appearances and spent most of his contract out on loan.

8. Alexis Sánchez → Manchester United (Free, 2018)

Sánchez was supposed to be a game-changer but became one of the most expensive flops ever. His £500k-a-week wages yielded just three league goals.

7. Kepa Arrizabalaga → Chelsea (£72m, 2018)

Chelsea made Kepa the most expensive goalkeeper in history, but he never justified the fee. His poor save percentage and public spat with Sarri defined his spell.

6. Paul Pogba → Manchester United (£89m, 2016)

United re-signed Pogba for a then-world record fee but rarely saw the best of him. He left for free again in 2022 after six underwhelming seasons.

5. Ousmane Dembélé → Barcelona (€105m + add-ons, 2017)

Dembélé’s career at Barça was plagued by injuries and discipline issues. He missed 85 games in four seasons, making him one of the most frustrating signings ever.

4. Romelu Lukaku → Chelsea (£97.5m, 2021)

Lukaku’s return to Stamford Bridge was supposed to be a redemption story but turned into a nightmare. After an unsanctioned interview and poor form, he was quickly loaned back to Inter.

3. Philippe Coutinho → Barcelona (£105m + add-ons, 2018)

Coutinho never lived up to the hype and ended up being loaned to Bayern, where he scored twice against Barça in the Champions League. The Catalans lost over £100m on him.

2. Eden Hazard → Real Madrid (€100m + add-ons, 2019)

Hazard arrived overweight, suffered endless injuries, and scored just seven goals in 76 appearances. He retired in 2023, leaving Madrid fans frustrated.

1. Antoine Griezmann → Barcelona (€120m, 2019)

Barcelona paid his release clause against the wishes of their squad, and it backfired spectacularly. His wages contributed to Lionel Messi’s departure, and he was eventually loaned back to Atlético for a fraction of the original cost.