The 50 Worst Soccer Transfers Since 2000 Ranked

Transfers in soccer can be thrilling when they work out, but some have ended up as expensive mistakes or baffling missteps. From astronomical fees to poor performances and off-field issues, these signings have left lasting impressions for all the wrong reasons.

Criteria for Ranking the Worst Transfers

Initial Cost: Considered relative to the period's market.
Sell-On Value & Impact: What financial or sporting returns did the club get post-departure?
On-Field Performance: How poorly did the player perform, statistically and overall?
Expectations: Was the player’s reputation matched by their output?

50. Ricardo Quaresma (Porto to Inter Milan, 2008)

Reported Transfer Fee: €18.6 million plus a player exchange
Quaresma, once a promising talent alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, faltered at Inter. Despite success back home, his temperamental style clashed with José Mourinho’s discipline. Awarded the Bidone d’Oro for worst Serie A player, he netted just once before moving on.

49. Sébastien Haller (Eintracht Frankfurt to West Ham, 2019)

Reported Transfer Fee: Up to £45 million with add-ons
Haller’s prolific form in Germany and the Netherlands didn’t translate at West Ham, where he struggled to score consistently. Sold to Ajax for half the price after 18 months.

48. Jesé Rodríguez (Real Madrid to Paris Saint-Germain, 2016)

Reported Transfer Fee: €25 million
Jesé’s move to PSG was marred by injuries and poor form, featuring only 18 times in four seasons before contract cancellation amid controversy.

47. Jack Rodwell (Manchester City to Sunderland, 2014)

Reported Transfer Fee: £10 million
Rodwell became emblematic of Sunderland’s decline, plagued by injuries and poor performance despite high wages. Local media branded him the club’s worst signing upon departure.

46. Darwin Núñez (Benfica to Liverpool, 2022)

Reported Transfer Fee: £64 million rising to £85 million
Liverpool hoped Núñez would be a consistent scorer but faced inconsistency and disciplinary issues. Sold to Al Hilal at 26, with limited losses.

45. Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus to AC Milan, 2017)

Reported Transfer Fee: €42 million
Bonucci’s brief stint at AC Milan was disappointing. Despite being captain, the team finished sixth, and he returned to Juventus after one season in a swap deal.

44. Rasmus Højlund (Atalanta to Manchester United, 2023)

Reported Transfer Fee: £64 million rising to £72 million
Højlund’s adaptation to the Premier League faltered with a long goalless streak. Loaned back to Italy after underwhelming performances.

43. Dmytro Chygrynskiy (Shakhtar Donetsk to Barcelona, 2009)

Reported Transfer Fee: €25 million
Signed after a strong Super Cup showing, Chygrynskiy only made 14 appearances for Barça before returning to Shakhtar, becoming a forgotten figure in an illustrious era.

42. Jackson Martínez (Atlético Madrid to Guangzhou Evergrande, 2016)

Reported Transfer Fee: €42 million
Martínez’s career spiraled due to injuries after a costly move to China, featuring only 16 games before contract termination.

41. Jhon Durán (Aston Villa to Al Nassr, 2024)

Reported Transfer Fee: £64.5 million rising to £71 million
Despite scoring 12 goals in 18 games, Durán’s tenure was short-lived due to personal reasons and failed loan spells, leaving his Saudi future uncertain.

40. André Onana (Inter Milan to Manchester United, 2023)

Reported Transfer Fee: £43.8 million rising to £47.2 million
Expected to be a reliable goalkeeper, Onana’s shaky performances led to a loan away, with former players labeling him among United’s worst keepers.

39. Fábio Silva (Porto to Wolverhampton Wanderers, 2020)

Reported Transfer Fee: £35 million
Wolves paid a club-record fee for Silva who scored just five times in 73 appearances and experienced multiple loans before selling to Dortmund.

38. Álvaro Morata (Real Madrid to Chelsea, 2017)

Reported Transfer Fee: £60 million
Morata failed to fill the shoes of Diego Costa, offering inconsistent and often frustrating displays during his time at Chelsea.

37. Renato Sanches (Benfica to Bayern Munich, 2016)

Reported Transfer Fee: €35 million rising to €80 million
Sanches dazzled at Benfica but struggled at Bayern with limited playing time and no goal contributions, leading to loans and eventual sale.

36. Winston Bogarde (Barcelona to Chelsea, 2000)

Reported Transfer Fee: Free transfer
Bogarde rarely played but collected a hefty wage for years, famously stating he took the money regardless of playtime.

35. Ángel Di María (Real Madrid to Manchester United, 2014)

Reported Transfer Fee: £59.7 million
Despite early promise, Di María’s form dipped sharply, leaving United after just one season with minimal impact.

34. Tiémoué Bakayoko (Monaco to Chelsea, 2017)

Reported Transfer Fee: £40 million
Bakayoko’s performances were so poor he spent most of his Chelsea contract on loans, including a notorious match against Watford regarded as one of the worst ever.

33. Arthur / Miralem Pjanić (Barcelona/Juventus, 2020)

Reported Transfer Fees: Arthur - €72 million; Pjanić - €60 million
A strange swap deal saw both midfielders underperform massively at their new clubs, puzzling fans and experts alike.

32. Juan Sebastián Verón (Lazio to Manchester United, 2001)

Reported Transfer Fee: £28.1 million
Verón started well but soon faded under the English game's pace, eventually moving to Chelsea and then back to Italy with little success.

31. Eliaquim Mangala (Porto to Manchester City, 2014)

Reported Transfer Fee: £31.8 million (up to £42 million)
Mangala struggled with errors and discipline at City, eventually leaving on a free after several loans.

30. Kaká (AC Milan to Real Madrid, 2009)

Reported Transfer Fee: €68.5 million
Kaká's best days were behind him by the time he joined Real Madrid, with injuries limiting his impact before a quiet return to Milan.

29. Shkodran Mustafi (Valencia to Arsenal, 2016)

Reported Transfer Fee: £35 million
A World Cup winner who became notorious at Arsenal for frequent defensive errors and lack of consistency, embodying Wenger’s late transfer woes.

28. Mario Balotelli (AC Milan to Liverpool, 2014)

Reported Transfer Fee: £16 million
Balotelli failed to replicate past promise at Liverpool, scoring just once before departing on a free transfer.

27. Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United to Manchester City, 2022)

Reported Transfer Fee: £42 million rising to £45 million
Once England’s standout midfielder, Phillips struggled with fitness and form at City, criticized publicly by Guardiola and unable to find a suitor for his contract.

26. Fernando Torres (Liverpool to Chelsea, 2011)

Reported Transfer Fee: £50 million
Torres' Chelsea spell never matched his Liverpool peak, highlighted by sporadic goals and memorable misses, including a famous miss against Manchester United.

25. Jonathan Woodgate (Newcastle United to Real Madrid, 2004)

Reported Transfer Fee: £13.4 million
Woodgate’s time at Real was plagued by injuries and a disastrous debut marked by an own goal and red card, limiting him to just nine league games.

24. Adrian Mutu (Parma to Chelsea, 2003)

Reported Transfer Fee: £15.8 million
Mutu showed potential but was banned for cocaine use, leading to contract termination and a protracted legal battle over damages owed to Chelsea.

23. Paul Pogba (Juventus to Manchester United, 2016)

Reported Transfer Fee: £89 million
Pogba’s second stint at United was marked by flashes of brilliance but also dissatisfaction and inconsistency, ending with a free transfer back to Juventus.

22. Jean-Kévin Augustin (RB Leipzig to Leeds United, 2020)

Reported Transfer Fee: Loan with £18.4 million option to buy
Augustin barely played for Leeds, yet the club was ordered to pay full transfer fees and compensation despite minimal game time, sparking widespread criticism.

21. Mykhailo Mudryk (Shakhtar Donetsk to Chelsea, 2023)

Reported Transfer Fee: £62 million rising to £89 million
After promising signs, Mudryk’s Chelsea career stalled amid a doping ban that was later overturned, leaving his future and reputation in question.

20. Nicolas Pépé (Lille to Arsenal, 2019)

Reported Transfer Fee: £72 million
Pépé’s flashy dribbling failed to produce consistent results at Arsenal, frustrating fans with ineffective performances.

19. Tanguy Ndombele (Lyon to Tottenham, 2019)

Reported Transfer Fee: £63 million
Ndombele had talent but failed to adapt to the Premier League, struggling with fitness and motivation before exiting Spurs in 2024.

18. Danny Drinkwater (Leicester to Chelsea, 2017)

Reported Transfer Fee: £35 million
Drinkwater’s Chelsea spell was short and troubled, marred by poor performances, loans, and off-field incidents before retiring in 2022.

17. Andy Carroll (Newcastle United to Liverpool, 2011)

Reported Transfer Fee: £35 million
Carroll failed to replace Fernando Torres effectively at Liverpool, scoring few goals and dealing with injuries before moving to West Ham.

16. Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United, 2021)

Reported Transfer Fee: £73 million rising to £78 million
Sancho’s Manchester United tenure was a struggle, including public conflicts and mental health issues, leading to failed loan spells and a low transfer exit.

15. Carlos Tévez (Boca Juniors to Shanghai Shenhua, 2016)

Reported Transfer Fee: Disputed but substantial
Tévez’s Chinese adventure was underwhelming, with poor fitness and commitment, earning him the nickname “homesick boy” from fans.

14. Luka Jović (Eintracht Frankfurt to Real Madrid, 2019)

Reported Transfer Fee: €60 million
Jović’s quick rise stalled due to injuries and off-field issues, including a lockdown breach, resulting in minimal impact at Madrid before a free transfer.

13. Gaizka Mendieta (Valencia to Lazio, 2001)

Reported Transfer Fee: €48 million
Mendieta was a star at Valencia but failed to score in 31 appearances for Lazio, who sold him to Barcelona after just one season.

12. Zlatan Ibrahimović (Inter Milan to Barcelona, 2010)

Reported Transfer Fee: €46.2 million plus Samuel Eto'o
Ibrahimović scored well but clashed with management and teammates, leading to a single season before returning to Italy.

11. Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan to Chelsea, 2006)

Reported Transfer Fee: £30 million
Shevchenko’s pace and skill declined in the Premier League, netting just nine times before returning to Milan and ending his career quietly.

10. João Félix (Benfica to Atlético Madrid, 2019)

Reported Transfer Fee: €126 million
Félix struggled to fit Simeone’s style, showing inconsistency despite helping win La Liga, and eventually moved on after criticism from teammates.

9. Kepa Arrizabalaga (Athletic Club to Chelsea, 2018)

Reported Transfer Fee: £72 million
Once the world’s most expensive goalkeeper, Kepa’s tenure was filled with errors, controversy, and a penalty shootout failure, leading to loans and a low-fee transfer.

8. Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal to Manchester United, 2018)

Reported Transfer Fee: Swap deal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Sánchez’s contract at United became a burden as his form collapsed, scoring only three Premier League goals before leaving for Inter Milan.

7. Ousmane Dembélé (Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona, 2017)

Reported Transfer Fee: €105 million rising to €145 million
Dembélé was hampered by injuries and disciplinary problems at Barcelona, failing to meet expectations despite later success elsewhere.

6. Antony (Ajax to Manchester United, 2022)

Reported Transfer Fee: £81.3 million rising to £86.3 million
Following Ten Hag to United, Antony’s early promise gave way to inconsistency and memes, ending with a cheap sale to Real Betis.

5. Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan to Chelsea, 2021)

Reported Transfer Fee: £97.5 million
Lukaku’s return to Chelsea fizzled quickly, with complaints about tactics and a loan back to Inter for much less than his fee.

4. Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool to Barcelona, 2018)

Reported Transfer Fee: £105 million rising to £142 million
Coutinho failed to adapt to Barcelona, contributing to heavy defeats and eventually being loaned out before a modest permanent transfer.

3. Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid to Barcelona, 2021)

Reported Transfer Fee: €120 million
Griezmann never matched his price tag at Barcelona and his massive contract contributed to financial struggles that cost the club Lionel Messi.

2. Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain to Al Hilal, 2023)

Reported Transfer Fee: €90 million
Al Hilal’s record signing was hindered by injuries and fading ability, playing only seven games before mutual contract termination.

1. Eden Hazard (Chelsea to Real Madrid, 2019)

Reported Transfer Fee: €100 million rising to €146 million
Heralded as Cristiano Ronaldo’s successor, Hazard’s Real Madrid spell was marred by injury, weight issues, and poor performances, making it arguably the worst transfer ever.

The 50 Most Disappointing Soccer Transfers Since 2000