Edouard Mendy Headlines List of 8 Players Who Only Shone for One Season in the Premier League

• Chelsea goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy is edging towards a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli
• The Senegalese will leave Stamford Bridge after three seasons, during which he won the UEFA Champions League
• He might have spent three seasons in blue, but his first season was the only standout year

Chelsea goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy is leaving the Premier League for the Saudi Pro League as one of the league’s stars who had only one spectacular season.

It may come off as harsh, but only his first season in blue was a standout, with the rest being a shadow of the spectacular first season and the final one to forget.

Sports Brief looks at players of his ilk who have graced the English top-flight league in recent years, who can be referred to as one-season wonders.

1. Edouard Mendy

Albeit controversial, Mendy is the most recent example. According to The Athletic, he was signed from Rennes for £22m in 2021. He hit heights under Thomas Tuchel in January 2021, and his name was synonymous with clean sheets, including 9 in 12 UCL games.

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He dipped after lifting the AFCON 2021 trophy in 2022 and the FIFA Club World Cup. He made only 13 appearances last season and kept only one clean sheet, as he lost his place to Kepa Arrizabalaga and battled injury.

2. Michu

The Spanish attacking midfielder lit up the Premier League in the 2012/13 season, scoring 18 goals in 35 appearances for newcomers Swansea City and helping the Welsh club to a League Cup triumph.

He scored just twice in 17 games in an injury-ladened second season. talkSPORT reports that Manchester City striker, Erling Haaland idolised Michu as a kid. He retired at 31 due to persistent ankle injuries.

3. Asamoah Gyan

The Ghanaian legend announced his professional retirement yesterday. Off the back of leading his country to a quarter-final finish at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, he joined Sunderland. He scored 10 goals and assisted a further four in his first season but left for the United Arab Emirates after one season.

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4. Benjani Mwaruwari

The Zimbabwean’s first three seasons at Portsmouth were subpar. He exploded in 2007/08 with 12 goals in 23 games. He joined Manchester City and scored just seven league goals in five years after that breakout season.

5. Roque Santa Cruz

Another breakout star of the 2007/08 season, Cruz scored 19 league goals for Blackburn and was fourth in the golden boot race behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez, and Emmanuel Adebayor. Three seasons after, he did not manage up to 10 combined.

6. Andy Johnson

Probably the most bizarre of them all, he scored 21 goals in the 2004/05 season, including 11 penalties, only behind golden boot winner, Thierry Henry. Crystal Palace were relegated despite his goals.

7. Robinho

According to BBC Sports, the Brazilian was fooled into joining Manchester City as he thought he was joining United. He scored 14 goals in his first season and managed zero in his second before he was shipped out.

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8. Benni McCarthy

The South African scored 18 PL goals, one more goal than Cristiano Ronaldo in his first season with Blackburn in 2006/07. He never hit that height again, despite scoring 18 goals in two seasons afterwards. He is currently at Manchester United as a forwards trainer.

AI’s 10 best football transfers

Sports Brief earlier reported on an AI-generated best 10 transfers in football, including Neymar’s world-record fee transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain.

It also included Pele’s out-of-retirement transfer to New York Comsos and Diego Maradona’s world-record move from Barcelona to Napoli, which culminated in two Scudetto wins for the Neapolitans.