Ranking worst transfers of all time: Lionel Messi impacted massively by top spot; Real Madrid make it twice

Will sign the Joao Felix To be a failure for the Saudi club after paying € 50 million Chelsea? What about Hugo Ekitike Unpleasant Liverpool? It is too early to say what will happen, but in the coming years we will tell us whether the current 2025 summer transfer window will also be reminded for a number of expensive transfer movements that have not been successful. If we look at the past, there are numerous examples that show how dangerous the transfer market can be for clubs. There are many deals, including Ballon d’Or winners, who turn out to be a total failure for both teams and players, which shows how difficult to predict or a movement can be successful or not.

So here you have it – the 10 worst transfers of recent years based on the value that the player brought to the team with regard to the transfer costs:

10. Leonardo Bonucci Unpleasant AC Milan – € 40 million

In the summer of 2017, AC Milan started a revolution in the team that brought 12 new players in the Roster by Vincenzo Montella. The Rossoneri Signed Italian Center back Leonardo Bonucci van JuventusA few weeks after the Bianconeri lost their second Champions League final in three years Real Madrid. AC Milan also benefited from the bad relationship between Bonucci and Massimiliano Allegri, who then coached the Bianconeri, and decided to make Bonucci their new captain and leader of the new cycle. After a disappointing season, Bonucci made his comeback at Juventus a year later. While he in Milan, he ironically scored one goal in that season 2017-18, and it was against Juventus.

9. Kaka to Real Madrid – € 67 million

When Real Madrid signed the Brazilian star and 2007 Ballon d’Or Winner for € 67 million in the summer of 2009, it was generally considered one of the best signing sessions in the history of the sport, also because it happened in the summer when Real Madrid also signed when Real Madrid signed Cristiano Ronaldo by Manchester United. While the second was one of the best signing sessions of recent years, Kaka’s enchantment in Real Madrid soon became a nightmare due to injuries. Considered one of the absolute top players in the world, during the four years in Madrid, Kaka scored only 29 goals and played 120 games before he made his comeback in AC Milan for one season, and then moved to Brazil And finally to the MLS, where he ended his career to play for Orlando City.

8. Fernando Torres to Chelsea – € 60 million

The Spanish striker was one of the best talents of the second decade of the 2000s and played in both Atletico de Madrid and Liverpool before he made his move to Chelsea in the Winter Transfer 2011. Despite winning the 2011-12 edition of the UEFA Champions League, Torres could never conquer show His talent at Stamford Bridge, who will leave for AC Milan for a loan period in 2014 before he again joined Atletico de Madrid in a permanent deal. In Chelsea, the Spanish attacker scored 45 goals in three and a half years.

7. Angel di Maria on Manchester United – € 75 million

The Argentinian winger moved from Real Madrid to Manchester United in the summer of 2014, because the English giants paid him around € 75 million, but things were not as planned. Di Maria, after a season and only four goals scored with Manchester United, left the club and joined PSG where he played the next seven seasons, showing why he was worth that amount, even if things were not possible at Old Trafford. He would later win the World Cup with Argentina.

6. Paul Pogba to Manchester United – € 105 million

The French midfielder moved to Juventus in the summer of 2012 as a free agent after his deal with Manchester United has passed, as former manager SIR Alex Ferguson Was not willing to meet the requests of the player and his agent, the late Mino Raiola. After four exciting years at the Italian club, the same Manchester United decided to pay € 105 million to sign the Frenchman again, including a reimbursement of € 20 million for the same agent. In the summer of 2022, Manchester United Pogba again lost as a free agent when he returned to Juventus. Pogba Later received a doping ban and has since become a member Monaco.

5. Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea – € 115 million

In the summer of 2019, Under Did Romelu Lukaku from Manchester United for about € 85 million and it became the most expensive signing in the history of the Italian team. Not much believed that Inter of that deal could make a profit, as in the summer of 2021 after two years at the club, the Nerazzurri Lukaku sold to Chelsea for a record costs of € 115 million. The move turned out to be a big disappointment for the English side, because Lukaku, who only scored eight goals in all competitions that season, was lent to Inter in the summer of 2022 only a year later.

4. Philippe Coutinho Unpleasant Barcelona – € 120 million

One of the most disappointing signing sessions in history. After five exciting seasons in Liverpool, the Brazilian attacker came to Barcelona for € 120 million, but could not come close to his previous form. This is why Barcelona decided to lend him during the 2019-20 season Bayern MunichThat also included a dramatic 8-2 victory against the same Barcelona in the quarterfinals of the Champions League, when Coutinho scored two goals against his former club. Au.

3. Neymar to al-Hilal- € 90 million

When Barcelona Neymar drew from Santos In 2013, the Brazilian striker was considered the next big thing in sport for a record costs of around € 90 million. He absolutely showed his potential and talent at both Barcelona and PSG, but then came to Saudi-Kant Al-Hilal for € 90 million in 2013, where he only played seven games in two years because he suffered from an ACL injury. After two years in Saudi -ArabiaHe left the club and joined his youth team Santos, where he is currently playing. His move to Al-Hilal, also in view of his annual salary of $ 100, was one of the most disappointing and expensive movements in the history of the transfer market. Ultimately, it is average to having € 12.8 million per game that he played there.

2. Eden Hazard to Real Madrid – € 100 million

Eden Hazard was one of the best European talents of the past 20 years and played particularly exciting football at Chelsea, where he also won two Premier League titles, including trophies. Later he attracted the interest of Real Madrid who signed Hazard in 2019 for € 100 million, but his move to Spain Was a total failure, despite expectations. He only scored seven goals in four years at Real Madrid and played 76 games in all competitions before he withdrew from the sport in 2023.

1. Antoine Griezmann to Barcelona – € 120 million

If the signing of Coutinho was disappointing, these are not many words to describe the transfer of Antoine Griezmann to Barcelona. The Spanish club paid the release clause of € 120 million to Atletico de Madrid in the summer of 2019, also in a difficult financial moment for the club, which led to the problems of the summer of 2021 when Barcelona could not offer Lionel Messi A new deal. The same summer, 2021, marked the end of Griezmann’s two -year experience in Barcelona, while he made his comeback in Atletico de Madrid on loan with an option to buy in the deal. This step had a direct financial impact on Barca that Messi lost, and it will be difficult for a fan of the club to forget.