The 40 Worst Transfers in Football History – Ranked from Bad to Disastrous
Football transfers are often full of hype, promise, and eye-watering price tags. But sometimes, things go spectacularly wrong. From costly flops to total mismatches, here are the 40 worst transfers in football history since 2000—counted down from 40 to 1.
40. Álvaro Morata – Real Madrid to Chelsea (2017)
Chelsea replaced the fiery Diego Costa with Morata, hoping to maintain their attacking threat. Instead, the Spaniard crumbled under pressure, scoring just 24 goals in 72 appearances and prolonging the club's infamous number nine curse.
39. Sébastien Haller – Frankfurt to West Ham (2019)
West Ham thought they'd struck gold with the powerful French striker, but he never adapted to the Premier League. Just 18 months later, he was sold to Ajax after an underwhelming run in claret and blue.
38. Diego Costa – Chelsea to Atlético Madrid (2017)
Costa’s return to Atlético was a disaster compared to his first spell. He sulked his way back to Madrid only to deliver a paltry 19 goals in 81 appearances, frequently injured and out of rhythm.
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37. Harry Maguire – Leicester to Manchester United (2019)
The world’s most expensive defender came with huge expectations and a hefty £80m price tag. Despite flashes of quality, his high-profile mistakes and captaincy struggles made him a frequent target for ridicule.
36. Tiémoué Bakayoko – Monaco to Chelsea (2017)
Chelsea paid £40m for a Champions League semi-finalist who barely resembled the player they thought they signed. He became a permanent loanee, forgotten at Stamford Bridge but constantly farmed out elsewhere.
35. Carlos Tévez – Boca Juniors to Shanghai Shenhua (2016)
Tévez reportedly earned £630,000 a week in China, only to score four goals in 20 matches. He called the experience a "holiday" and insulted Chinese players on his way out.
34. Ángel Di María – Real Madrid to Manchester United (2014)
He started well, winning player of the month early on, but his form dropped dramatically. One year later, Di María was gone, leaving United with a £15m loss and a regretful memory.
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33. Giovani Lo Celso – Betis to Tottenham (2019)
Lo Celso never lived up to the hype that surrounded his move. Fans were so frustrated that a dedicated Twitter account documented his endless missteps before he was pushed aside.
32. Jack Rodwell – Manchester City to Sunderland (2014)
He became the symbol of Sunderland’s mismanagement, earning £70,000 a week while barely playing. Local papers labelled him the worst signing in the club's history—a damning indictment.
31. Arthur & Miralem Pjanić – Barcelona swap with Juventus (2020)
A pandemic-era accounting trick disguised as a swap deal. Neither player impressed, and both clubs were left with high wages and minimal footballing return.
30. Juan Sebastián Verón – Lazio to Manchester United (2001)
United smashed their transfer record for Verón, but he never settled into the Premier League's tempo. Ferguson defended him publicly, but eventually let him go to Chelsea at a loss.
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29. Dmytro Chygrynskiy – Shakhtar Donetsk to Barcelona (2009)
Signed after a good Super Cup showing, Chygrynskiy only played 14 games before being sent back. He remains a forgotten footnote in Barcelona’s golden era.
28. Kaká – AC Milan to Real Madrid (2009)
The 2007 Ballon d’Or winner struggled with injuries and lost his place to Mesut Özil. Real Madrid never saw the best of Kaká, who returned to Milan virtually for free.
27. Ricardo Quaresma – Porto to Inter (2008)
Inconsistent and erratic, Quaresma flopped hard in Serie A. He was so poor that he won the “Bidone d’Oro” award for the league’s worst player.
26. Eliaquim Mangala – Valencia to Manchester City (2014)
A defensive disaster, Mangala failed to justify his £42m fee. Between own goals and penalties conceded, he became a punchline rather than a pillar.
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25. Leonardo Bonucci – Juventus to Milan (2017)
A shocking transfer on paper that failed miserably on the pitch. Bonucci captained Milan to a sixth-place finish before quietly returning to Juve after one season.
24. Tanguy Ndombele – Lyon to Tottenham (2019)
Signed to succeed Mousa Dembélé, Ndombele lacked the fitness and drive to thrive. He showed flashes of brilliance but was ultimately booed off by his own fans.
23. Nicolas Pépé – Lille to Arsenal (2019)
Arsenal’s record signing offered flashy dribbling but minimal end product. He struggled with decision-making and consistency, becoming an expensive benchwarmer.
22. Mario Balotelli – AC Milan to Liverpool (2014)
Tasked with replacing Luis Suárez, Balotelli managed just one league goal. He was never a fit for Brendan Rodgers’ style and exited swiftly.
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21. Lazar Marković – Benfica to Liverpool (2014)
Despite early promise, Marković quickly faded and was loaned out repeatedly. He left quietly for Fulham in 2019, a ghost of his once-hyped self.
20. Fernando Torres – Liverpool to Chelsea (2011)
£50m brought Chelsea a striker who had lost his spark. While he scored a few crucial goals, he never reached double digits in a league season.
19. Adrian Mutu – Parma to Chelsea (2003)
Off-field issues ended his Chelsea career when he tested positive for cocaine. A legal battle followed, with Mutu eventually owing the club €17m.
18. Shkodran Mustafi – Valencia to Arsenal (2016)
Initially solid, Mustafi’s Arsenal career turned into a comedy of errors. His gaffes were so frequent they became online memes.
17. Jesé Rodríguez – Real Madrid to PSG (2016)
Jesé’s career spiralled after leaving Madrid. He barely played for PSG and ended up breaching lockdown protocols before being released.
16. Jackson Martínez – Atlético Madrid to Guangzhou Evergrande (2016)
After flopping at Atlético, Martínez moved to China for €42m. Persistent injuries saw him make just 16 appearances over three years.
15. Jonathan Woodgate – Newcastle United to Real Madrid (2004)
He arrived injured, debuted with an own goal and red card, and only played nine times. Spanish fans voted him the worst transfer of the century.
14. Luka Jović – Frankfurt to Real Madrid (2019)
Jović never lived up to his €60m price tag. Scandals and poor form saw him fade into obscurity at the Bernabéu.
13. Andy Carroll – Newcastle to Liverpool (2011)
Liverpool panic-bought Carroll for £35m, but he never fit their style. Injuries and poor form made him an expensive mistake.
12. Gaizka Mendieta – Valencia to Lazio (2001)
Valencia’s talisman turned into a ghost at Lazio. He failed to score in his only season before being moved on.
11. Zlatan Ibrahimović – Inter to Barcelona (2010)
Despite scoring goals, Zlatan clashed with Guardiola and the dressing room. Barcelona also gave away Samuel Eto’o and cash—only for Inter to win the treble.
10. Andriy Shevchenko – AC Milan to Chelsea (2006)
A legendary striker in Italy, Shevchenko looked lost in England. He never adapted and quickly faded from the first team.
9. Danny Drinkwater – Leicester to Chelsea (2017)
Drinkwater cost £35m but barely played. Off-field issues and failed loans destroyed his career.
8. Alexis Sánchez – Arsenal to Manchester United (2018)
United gave him £500k a week—and got three league goals in return. His signing became symbolic of the club’s post-Ferguson decline.
7. Kepa Arrizabalaga – Athletic Club to Chelsea (2018)
The most expensive goalkeeper in the world, Kepa never justified his fee. His refusal to be substituted in a cup final embarrassed the club.
6. Paul Pogba – Juventus to Manchester United (2016)
A world-record return that never produced consistent performances. Pogba left United for free, again, after years of drama.
5. Ousmane Dembélé – Dortmund to Barcelona (2017)
Injuries and disciplinary issues overshadowed rare moments of brilliance. He missed over 80 games in four years—unforgivable at €145m.
4. Romelu Lukaku – Inter to Chelsea (2021)
Lukaku came back with big expectations but quickly fell out of favour. After an explosive interview and poor form, he was loaned out once again.
3. Philippe Coutinho – Liverpool to Barcelona (2018)
The €142m man failed to fill Neymar’s shoes. He ended up helping knock Barcelona out of the Champions League while on loan at Bayern.
2. Eden Hazard – Chelsea to Real Madrid (2019)
Madrid spent over €100m on Hazard, who showed up overweight and perpetually injured. He never delivered and became a symbol of poor planning.
1. Antoine Griezmann – Atlético Madrid to Barcelona (2019)
Barcelona paid €120m for a player who never fit in. His contract and cost helped push the club into financial ruin, even contributing to Messi’s exit.
