As the campaign draws to a close, the time has come to reflect on the most underwhelming transfers the English top-flight had to offer
With the end of the season upon us, focus inevitably shifts to dissecting the campaign – and the most fierce debate invariably surrounds transfers that failed to live up to the hype. While a select few have hit the ground running in their new surroundings, others have struggled to justify hefty price tags, big wages, major reputations and lofty expectations.
The Premier League continued to lead the way in terms of huge spending across 2024-25, and that has led to mixed results as the fanfare surrounding certain new arrivals dissipated as the weeks and months dragged on – a result of injuries, form and simply not fitting in.
Most of England's big hitters feature on the list – some more than once – as GOAL breaks down the most disappointing signings of the season in the top-flight…
Getty Images Sport10Ian Maatsen (Aston Villa) – £37.5m
Ian Maatsen seemed like a significant piece of business for Aston Villa as they saw off competition to sign the attacking full-back from Chelsea, who were happy to cash in on the academy graduate to comply with the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). The Dutchman was fresh off the back of a fine loan at Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund and, on the face of it, £37.5 million ($50m) was good business for all involved.
However, the Dutchman was largely unable to have much of an impact, with head coach Unai Emery preferring Frenchman Lucas Digne at left-back for the vast majority of the season. At 23, Maatsen has time on his side, but questions will be raised of that transfer fee if he doesn't kick on soon. There were signs, it should be pointed out, that he is gaining Emery's trust as his minutes picked up in the run-in.
AdvertisementIMAGO9Matthijs de Ligt (Manchester United) – £43m
Matthijs de Ligt was supposed to be the elite-level defensive leader required to sort out Manchester United's backline; instead, he has ended up being part of one of the worst Red Devils sides of all time, let alone the Premier League era.
You would be hard pressed to say he has done anything wrong individually – the Dutchman hasn't made an error leading to a goal and has largely demonstrated his acumen at centre-back. However, when you sign a defender with De Ligt's reputation for a fee north of £40m ($53m), you expect a broader return on your investment in terms of an overall improvement.
United have the ninth-worst defensive record in the Premier League having conceded 54 times, and they have been run ragged at the back far too often given the quality they have at their disposal. De Ligt will need to call on his vast experience to step up next season.
Getty8Jadon Sancho (Chelsea) – loan
Jadon Sancho convinced pretty much everyone that he was officially back courtesy of an often scintillating spell with his former club Borussia Dortmund in the second half of last season while in exile from Manchester United, as he inspired an unlikely run to the Champions League final. Consequently, it was seen as shrewd piece of business when Chelsea took the winger on a shock loan late in the summer, with a £25m ($33m) obligation to buy worked into the deal.
There were early signs of promise as Sancho laid on four goals in three games to begin the 2024-25 campaign, but his form then tailed off and it became increasingly clear why United had been willing to let him go in the first place. It has even been rumoured that the Blues are weighing up paying a £5m get-out clause to send him back to Old Trafford.
He has had his moments, but the 25-year-old will certainly have to show more consistency to be a success in west London if he stays.
Getty Images Sport7Emile Smith Rowe (Fulham) – £34m
It initially seemed as though Emile Smith Rowe would thrive away from Arsenal and that the Gunners would regret their decision to let him go, but his fast start at Fulham has proven to be somewhat misleading. The Cottagers' record signing has found it difficult to make a consistent impact in the weeks and months since his early-season flourishes, and he has lost his starting place as a result. His manager Marco Silva has also suggested he is once again struggling with the physical issues he had during his time in north London.
"He had a very good impact in the first few months, but after the second international break he was down – December was a difficult month for him," Silva said in March. "He needs to find the right consistency in his game to perform at a very good level and this is the main thing for us. I don't doubt his talent and quality, but the Premier League demands so many things from you and you always have to be in very good shape and top level physically. This is something we have been working on with Emile."