New signings are often seen as the spark of hope for football clubs — the kind of arrivals that fans dream will have a transformative impact, like Eric Cantona at Manchester United or Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool. But those kinds of game-changing signings are rare.
More often than not, new arrivals either perform steadily or fail to meet expectations entirely. The Premier League, as always, was bustling with summer transfer activity, but not all additions have slotted in successfully. With that in mind, the following 14 players stand out for all the wrong reasons — they’ve had underwhelming starts and rank among the most disappointing signings of the 2024/25 season so far.
Criteria for Ranking:
Transfer fee
Key performance metrics
Influence at their new club
Expectations prior to arrival
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14. Ferdi Kadioglu – Brighton
Brighton gambled on Kadioglu’s adaptability, but the Turkish full-back has struggled to adapt to Premier League life. Injuries disrupted his season, and when he did play, he couldn’t replicate the form he showed at Fenerbahce. At £25.5 million, expectations were high, but the outcome so far has been disappointing.
Brighton’s other new recruits like Mats Wieffer, Brajan Gruda, and Matt O’Riley have also yet to make significant impacts. However, there remains cautious optimism that time and stability may change that.
13. Oliver Skipp – Leicester City
Leicester’s acquisition of Skipp from Spurs was met with skepticism, and the midfielder’s performances did little to change that. Tasked with adding grit and control to the midfield, Skipp often appeared overrun and mistake-prone. With most of the money from the Dewsbury-Hall sale spent on him, Spurs likely feel they got the better end of the £20 million deal.
12. Ben Brereton Diaz – Southampton
Despite previously impressing at Sheffield United, Brereton Diaz hasn’t lived up to the hype at Southampton. He’s registered more yellow cards than goals and made headlines more for provoking Fabian Schar’s red card than his scoring. With no goals for the Saints, he was loaned back to Sheffield United, who missed out on promotion.
11. Niclas Fullkrug – West Ham United
A Champions League finalist just months ago, Fullkrug’s move to West Ham has gone poorly. Despite a bright summer and Euro 2024 call-up, the German striker has only scored three league goals and struggled for form. Like others before him, he couldn’t escape the shadow of Michail Antonio, whose injury may have paradoxically preserved his legacy.
10. James Ward-Prowse – Nottingham Forest (Loan)
Expected to play a central role for Forest, Ward-Prowse was largely ineffective under Nuno Espírito Santo. Despite Forest’s impressive campaign, the midfielder wasn’t a key figure and saw his loan cut short in January. He returned to West Ham, where he began to find more rhythm under Graham Potter.
9. Ilkay Gundogan – Manchester City
After a celebrated run at City, Gundogan’s return from Barcelona didn’t go as planned. Without Rodri’s presence beside him, Gundogan looked out of sync and unable to provide his usual midfield composure. City’s struggles without their defensive anchor exposed Gundogan’s limitations in a new-look midfield.
8. Matthijs de Ligt – Manchester United
Touted as a defensive fix for United, De Ligt has instead added to their woes. His lapses in positioning and inconsistency have made him a target for criticism. Still, with his mental resilience, there’s hope he can turn things around under Amorim — provided he finds fitness and form.
7. Eddie Nketiah – Crystal Palace
A £30 million move from Arsenal was supposed to reignite Nketiah’s career, but the striker has barely featured in the league and only scored in the Carabao Cup. Although he netted against his old club and won the FA Cup, he’s running out of time to prove he’s more than a player with unfulfilled promise.
6. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – Chelsea
Having joined for £30 million, Dewsbury-Hall has only played 254 Premier League minutes. Despite thriving under Maresca at Leicester, he’s been a peripheral figure at Chelsea, stuck behind Caicedo and Fernandez. While he’s had some success in European competition, it’s far from the breakout many anticipated.
5. Joshua Zirkzee – Manchester United
Zirkzee’s United career started on shaky ground — despite scoring on debut, his performances lacked consistency, and he faced fan backlash. However, a mid-season attitude shift won over some supporters, and while his output still lacks polish, he’s beginning to show why United invested in him.
4. Kalvin Phillips – Ipswich Town (Loan)
Phillips’ confidence has evaporated since his move to Manchester City. A dismal loan spell at West Ham preceded another underwhelming stint at Ipswich, where he’s struggled to make any meaningful impact. A future away from City looks increasingly likely.
3. Raheem Sterling – Arsenal (Loan)
Sterling’s loan to Arsenal was seen as a smart move on paper, but he’s struggled to find his footing. With just 433 league minutes and a goal to his name, the 30-year-old has failed to take advantage of injury-enforced opportunities. His international hopes have dwindled along with his influence.
2. Federico Chiesa – Liverpool
Brought in as a budget-friendly backup for Salah, Chiesa seemed like a shrewd buy. Unfortunately, injuries returned to haunt him, and he managed only 104 league minutes. His fitness issues have prevented him from becoming the attacking spark Liverpool had hoped for.
1. Joao Felix – Chelsea
Chelsea’s need for a true striker made their decision to sign Felix — a player unsuited to that role — baffling. Despite his undeniable talent, Felix never fit in, and his return to Chelsea was short-lived. A subsequent loan to AC Milan has brought more of the same: unfulfilled potential and growing uncertainty about his future.
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