Top 10 worst football transfers of all time - global ranking

To get the best football players, clubs seek out and pay millions of dollars for the best performing players hoping to get the ultimate signing. This article will look at the transfers that did not go quite as planned. Exactly who are the worst football transfers in the world?

Transfer periods in major and minor football leagues bring a fresh wave of excitement for clubs and their fans. But what happens when the players do not perform as expected? Dig in and find out what the biggest flops in football history are.

Why do some footballers flop?

Almost all of the worst football transfers of all time are linked to injuries, discipline issues, and a hostile environment at the new club. According to reliable sources, these are the worst football transfers of all time.

A recent example of a significant transfer failure linked to disciplinary issues is one of the worst football transfers in 2022. Jack Grealish's $129.6 million transfer from Aston Villa to Man City has been underwhelming, considering his previous performance at Aston Villa.

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10. Afonso Alves

Afonso's $16.8 million transfer to Middlesbrough still stands as the club's second most expensive player. On the verge of relegation, the club was desperate for the Brazilian's goalscoring skills. However, the top Serie A goalscorer did not deliver, nor did he save his club from relegation during the 08/09 season.

Profile Summary

• Full name: Afonso Alves
• Date of birth: 30 January 1981
• Age: 41 (as of March 2022)
• Nationality: Brazilian
• Current status: Retired
• Position: Centre forward
• Club: Middlesbrough FC
• Transfer fees: $16.8 million
• Duration at the club: 1 January 2008 - 1 September 2009
• Goals: 13 goals and 4 assists

9. Bebé

So, what happened to Bebé at Man United? Bebé's transfer is still regarded as one of Manchester United's worst signings of all time. Signed on a $9.8 million contract, Bebé. The winger made 7 appearances and 2 goals at Man United before being transferred to Benfica.

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Profile Summary

• Full name: Tiago Manuel Dias Correia
• Date of birth: 12 July 1990
• Age: 32 (as of March 2022)
• Nationality: Cape Verdean/ Portuguese
• Current status: Active
• Position: Winger
• Club: Manchester United
• Transfer fees: $9.8 million
• Duration at the club: 30 June 2014 - 25 July 2014
• Goals: 2 goals and 0 assists
• Net worth: $10 million

8. Mario Balotelli

What did Mario Balotelli do? After a $21 million buy that is still considered today as Liverpool's worst signing. Ballotelli only scored 4 goals during the 14/15 season.

Profile Summary

• Full name: Mario Barwuah Balotelli
• Date of birth: 12 August 1990
• Age: 32 (as of March 2022)
• Nationality: Ghanaian/ Italian
• Current status: Active
• Position: Center forward
• Club: Liverpool
• Transfer fee: $21 million
• Duration at the club: 25 August 2014 - 27 August 2015
• Goals: 4 goals and 0 assists

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7. Danny Drinkwater

Despite scoring 15 goals and 23 assists at his former club, Leicester, he has scored only one goal at Chelsea since the transfer in 2017. So, how much did Danny Drinkwater cost Chelsea? Unfortunately, the $46 million transfer has been unfruitful so far.

Profile Summary

• Full name: Daniel Noel Drinkwater
• Date of birth: 5 March 1990
• Age: 32 (as of March 2022)
• Nationality: English
• Current status: Active
• Position: Midfield
• Club: Chelsea
• Transfer fee: $46 million
• Duration at the club: 31 August 2017 - to date
• Goals: 1 goal and 0 assists

6. Andriy Shevchenko

One of the most controversial soccer transfers is Shevchenko's transfer to Chelsea. So, why did Shevchenko fail Chelsea? Although the 2004 Ballon d'Or winner performed much better than other flops in our list, with 22 goals in 77 appearances, many blame his age and injuries for his unsatisfactory stay at the Blues.

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Profile Summary

• Full name: Andriy Shevchenko
• Date of birth: 29 September 1976
• Age: 46 (as of March 2022)
• Nationality: Ukrainian
• Current status: Retired
• Position: Centre forward
• Club: Chelsea
• Transfer fee: $40.6 million
• Duration at the club: 31 August 2017 - to date
• Goals: 22 goals and 11 assists
• Net worth: $45 million

5. Roberto Soldado

How much did Tottenham pay for Soldado? In 2013, Tottenham paid a $34.2 million transfer fee to acquire Valencia's forward, Robert Soldado. However, his goalscoring record of 30 league goals, 27 cup goals, and 25 continental goals at Valencia could not be replicated at his new home.

Profile Summary

• Full name: Roberto Soldado
• Date of birth: 27 May 1985
• Age: 37 (as of March 2022)
• Nationality: Spanish
• Current status: Active
• Position: Centre forward
• Club: Tottenham Hotspurs
• Transfer fee: $34.2 million
• Duration at the club: 5 August 2013 - 14 August 2015
• Goals: 16 goals and 11 assists

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4. Steve Marlet

In 2001, Jean Tigana, Fulham manager, signed Marlet on a $15.1 transfer fee in what would later be described as one of the most inflated transfers. This flop ended in a court case with the club owner, Mohamed Al-Fayed, suing Tigana.

Profile Summary

• Full name: Steve Marlet
• Date of birth: 10 January 1974
• Age: 48 (as of March 2022)
• Nationality: French
• Current status: Retired
• Position: Centre forward
• Club: Fulham
• Transfer fee: $15.1 million
• Duration at the club: 3 September 2001 - 28 August 2003
• Goals: 19 goals and 2 assists
• Net worth: $12 million

3. Winston Bogarde

Although he was a free transfer to Chelsea, his poor performance and refusal to leave the club places him among the top 5 worst soccer transfers ever. So, how much did Chelsea pay for Winston Bogarde? The top Ajax defender cost Chelsea about $10.5 million in wages, yet he spent most of his stay at the club on the sidelines. He then admitted to being a flop saying,

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"This world is about money, so when you are offered those millions, you take them... I may be one of the worst buys in the history of the Premiership, but I don't care."

Profile Summary

• Full name: Winston Lloyd Bogarde
• Date of birth: 22 October 1970
• Age: 52 (as of March 2022)
• Nationality: Dutch
• Current status: Retired
• Position: Center-back
• Club: Chelsea
• Transfer fee: Free transfer
• Duration at the club: 1 January 2001 - 1 July 2004
• Goals: 0 goals and 0 assists
• Net worth: $1.5 million

2. Antoine Griezmann

Barcelona spent $131.8 million on the French striker in one of the biggest flops ever heard. As a result, the club was forced to reduce players' salaries to afford more signings. In what seemed like a series of unfortunate decisions, Barca's president, Joan Laporta, later announced a $12 million loan deal with Atletico saying, he was,

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"not the player we needed."

Profile Summary

• Full name: Antoine Griezmann
• Date of birth: 21 March 1991
• Age: 31 (as of March 2022)
• Nationality: French
• Current status: Active
• Position: Striker
• Club: FC Barcelona
• Transfer fee: $131.8 million
• Duration at the club: 14 July 2019 - 31 August 2021
• Goals: 35 goals and 17 assists

1. Fernando Torres

Torres was one of the most successful football legends at Liverpool, scoring 81 goals with 65 in the Premier League. So why did Torres fail at Chelsea? In addition to a string of injuries, Torres admitted to his failure to perform in an interview with Talksport saying

“It was maybe my fault for not being able to adapt quicker... I always said it was my fault. I was old enough to find solutions, but I didn’t do it. I won the trophies, but I didn’t do it every week.

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Profile Summary

• Full name: Fernando José Torres Sanz
• Date of birth: 20 March 1984
• Age: 38 (as of March 2022)
• Nationality: Spanish
• Current status: Retired
• Position: Centre forward
• Club: Chelsea
• Transfer fee: $65.9 million
• Duration at the club: 13 January 2011 - 31 August 2014
• Goals: 45 goals and 35 assists
• Net worth: $60 million

Why do some football transfers fail? While we can somewhat blame the players listed here for what seems to be the world's worst football transfers, clubs also have a role to play in the success or failure of a transfer.

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