When it comes to the world of soccer, there are lots of different players that often catch the eye of supporters around the globe for their prowess and ability.
However, there are lots of soccer players that have had spells during their career that they’d want you to forget.
What makes a flop? A lot of it comes down to the anticipation of the move and the cost of the transfer.
The higher the fees, the more that’s expected of them.
Follow our guide to find out some of the most famous worst transfers in soccer history.
A lot will have relatively high transfer fees and will ring a bell. We’ll leave a clip to some clips via YouTube showcasing them before and after their move for context. In no order, let’s get into the list!
1) Fernando Torres Liverpool To Chelsea 2011
After leaving sunny Spain for the roars of Premier League crowds, Fernando Torres set Anfield alight with explosive performances. Forming an incredible partnership with Reds’ captain Steven Gerrard, the Spaniard put fear into the eyes of English and European defenses alike with amazing performances in the Premier League and the Champions League.
Eventually, he moved to Premier League rivals Chelsea, for a fee in the region of £50m.
This meant that the expectations were huge and Blues fans expected the striker to hit the ground running. However, this change seemed to get the better of him and he only scored 20 times in his 4-year period in London.
However, when Real Madrid sought to add him to their ranks, he lacked the end-product that many Madrid fans were hoping to see being reproduced from the Serbian’s time in Germany.
With a €60m price tag accompanied by his move, there’s no doubt that he will go down as one of the most disappointing moves in Spanish football history.
Having a couple of loan spells away from the Catalan club, Coutinho left Liverpool just before their Champions League and Premier League title wins and will no doubt be regretting his decision to seek pastures new away from Anfield.
6) Kepa Arrizabalaga Athletic Bilbao To Chelsea 2018
All things considered, Kepa hasn’t been one of the worst signings in the world considering the start to his Chelsea career looked so promising. However, the reason for this is the £72m transfer fee that was involved with the move.
This is the biggest fee for a goalkeeper in soccer history and the Spaniard has found himself playing as 2nd choice to Senegal shot-stopper Edouard Mendy, who has kept Kepa out of the side following some shaky performances from the former Athletic Club man.
8) Danny Drinkwater Leicester City To Chelsea 2017
Following in our trend of returning to Stamford Bridge, Danny Drinkwater must be one of the most disappointing transfers in immediate Chelsea history. When Leicester City defied the odds and won the Premier League, Chelsea sought out one of their key players in N’golo Kante.
The Frenchman has been a revelation for the Blues and remains at the club at the time of writing.
Spending £35m on a player who only made 12 appearances in his first Chelsea season almost seems like throwing money away.
9) Jonathan Woodgate Newcastle United To Real Madrid 2004
When a club as rich as Real Madrid makes as many high-profile transfers as they do, you’re bound to have a lot of disappointment coming along with the success stories. Jonathan Woodgate is certainly disappointing.
Scoring an own goal in the first half, Woodgate went on to get sent off midway through the second half and went on to make less than 10 league appearances for the Spanish side before returning to England. Talk about underwhelming!
10) Ousmane Dembele Borussia Dortmund To Barcelona 2017
With one of the highest transfer fees recorded in soccer history, Dembele has Barca fans around the globe expecting massive performances and lots of goals.
However, it wasn’t as simple as that. Coming off the back of a successful spell in Germany, the French winger moved to the Blaugrana and had the expectations of the world on his shoulders as one of the most lucrative signings of all time.
With such a large price tag being spent on Maguire and so many errors coming from his area of the pitch, many people wonder if he is the biggest flop in soccer history.
Final Thoughts
There you have it! 11 of some of the worst soccer signings in recent history. There are lots of different factors that determine what makes a failed soccer transfer.
A lot of the time, it’s the amount of money involved that makes expectations come crashing down.
Other times it can come down to the reputation of the player not fulfilling fans’ expectations, with poor performances and attitudes causing the downfall of many players around the globe.
However, just because a player is labeled a soccer flop, doesn’t mean that they’re a bad player.
A lot of the time, a new change of scenery can allow a player to start again fresh, with many players finding a new form and a happier time elsewhere.
It just goes to show that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, with many players learning that the hard way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is A Soccer Flop?
A soccer flop is when a big-name player moves clubs and fails to perform well. This can be down to how much the player costs the club, injuries occurring or having a poor attitude toward their new club. Usually, this is down to poor performances, proving that the transfer wasn’t worth it.
What Is The Most Expensive Transfer Of All Time?
The all-time most expensive soccer transfer of all time falls to Neymar, following his move from Barcelona in August 2017.
PSG paid €222 million for the Brazilian forward, making him the most lucrative soccer deal in history.
Why Do Soccer Players Move Teams?
Sometimes, professional players will leave teams due to bad relationships within the team environment, which could lead to them not performing well.
Other times, there are personal reasons why players may want to move clubs. Reasons might include better wages, more playing time, or simply because they feel like they can improve somewhere else.
