We are here with our pick of the Top 10 Worst Premier League signings this 25-26 season. The 2025-26 Premier League season brought another summer of massive spending, blockbuster arrivals, and sky-high expectations. However, not every transfer lives up to the hype. Some players struggled with injuries, others failed tactically, while a few simply could not justify their enormous transfer fees.
This ranking is based on three major factors: transfer fee, expectations surrounding the player, and actual on-pitch performance during the season. While several expensive signings disappointed this year, these ten stood out for failing to deliver the impact their clubs desperately needed.
10. Jeremie Frimpong – Liverpool
Liverpool signed Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen for around £29.5 million as a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Frimpong arrived with a reputation as one of Europe’s most explosive attacking full-backs after starring in Bayer Leverkusen’s historic campaign. Expectations were naturally high at Anfield, especially under Arne Slot.
Unfortunately, injuries disrupted his rhythm throughout the season. Even when fit, Frimpong struggled defensively and often looked uncomfortable in Liverpool’s tactical setup. The fact that Liverpool occasionally preferred midfielders filling in at right-back highlighted the lack of trust in him. While there is still time for improvement, his first season has undoubtedly been underwhelming.
9. Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham signed Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig in a deal worth around £52 million.
Simons was expected to become Spurs’ creative heartbeat after his impressive Bundesliga performances. The Dutch midfielder certainly showed flashes of quality, but consistency was a major issue.
Although he produced occasional moments of brilliance, Simons never truly dominated games the way fans expected. Injuries also hurt his momentum during the second half of the season. Considering the fee and the hype surrounding him, Tottenham supporters expected far more influence in big matches and greater attacking output.
8. Nick Woltemade – Newcastle United
Newcastle United signed Nick Woltemade from VfB Stuttgart for approximately £69 million.
After losing Alexander Isak, Newcastle needed a reliable goalscorer capable of leading the line immediately. Woltemade’s Bundesliga potential convinced the club to spend heavily.
However, the adaptation to English football proved extremely difficult. After a promising start, goals quickly dried up, and Newcastle even experimented with using him in deeper positions. For such a huge fee, the return simply has not been good enough.
7. James Trafford – Manchester City
Manchester City brought James Trafford back from Burnley F.C. to much fanfare, with many hoping he becomes their new long-term goalkeeper at the time.
However, Pep Guardiola's side later went on to sign Gianluigi Donnarumma from PSG in the very same transfer window, which meant the end of Trafford's dreams of becoming City's number 1 goalkeeper.
Trafford remains a talented young keeper, but his chances of making it big for Manchester City look slim to none as long as Donnarumma is part of the club. He'll probably have to leave and join somewhere else for the betterment of his career.
6. Milos Kerkez – Liverpool
Liverpool signed Milos Kerkez from AFC Bournemouth for around £40 million.
Kerkez was one of the Premier League’s most exciting full-backs at Bournemouth, and many expected him to thrive at Liverpool immediately. Instead, his season became a frustrating mix of defensive errors and inconsistent performances.
While his attacking energy remained evident, Liverpool often looked vulnerable defensively when he played. Considering Liverpool’s massive summer spending spree, Kerkez simply did not provide the reliability fans expected from a starting full-back.
5. Florian Wirtz – Liverpool
Liverpool shattered records to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal potentially worth over £116 million.
Wirtz arrived as one of Europe’s brightest young stars and was expected to transform Liverpool’s attack instantly. Instead, adapting to the Premier League’s physical intensity proved difficult.
Although he showed technical brilliance in patches, his overall output was disappointing relative to expectations. Five goals and 3 assists are respectable numbers for many midfielders, but not for a player carrying a British-record-level price tag. Liverpool expected a superstar from day one, and Wirtz fell short.
4. Anthony Elanga – Newcastle United
Newcastle signed Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest for around £55 million.
Elanga had been excellent at Nottingham Forest, where his pace and directness made him one of the league’s most dangerous transition players. Newcastle hoped he would add dynamism to their front line.
Instead, Elanga struggled badly with decision-making and the end product. Despite his pace causing occasional problems, the lack of goals and assists became a major concern. For a player signed to elevate Newcastle’s attack, the impact simply was not there.
3. Liam Delap – Chelsea
Chelsea signed Liam Delap from Ipswich Town F.C. after his impressive breakthrough campaign.
Chelsea fans hoped Delap could solve their long-standing striker issues. Unfortunately, the young forward looked overwhelmed by the pressure at Stamford Bridge.
His movement and physicality were promising at times, but his finishing and confidence collapsed throughout the season. Chelsea needed a reliable Premier League-level striker immediately, not a long-term project still learning the basics at elite level. The gap between expectations and production places him very high on this list.
2. Yoane Wissa – Newcastle United
Newcastle spent around £55 million to sign Yoane Wissa from Brentford F.C.
Wissa was supposed to bring proven Premier League goals to Newcastle after his successful spell at Brentford. Instead, injuries and poor form ruined his campaign.
After missing months early in the season, he never truly recovered momentum. Newcastle expected a dependable attacking leader, but Wissa managed very little impact in front of goal. Considering the fee and his prior Premier League experience, this transfer quickly became one of the season’s biggest disappointments.
1. Alexander Isak – Liverpool
Liverpool broke the British transfer record to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United F.C. for around £125 million.
This was the transfer that defined the summer window. Liverpool expected Isak to become the face of a new era and one of the most dominant forwards in Europe.
Instead, the season turned into a nightmare. Injuries, inconsistent finishing, and struggles adapting to Liverpool’s tactical demands meant Isak never justified his enormous price tag. The pressure of being the most expensive signing in Premier League history clearly weighed heavily on him.
When a club spends that amount of money, expectations are unavoidable. Unfortunately for Liverpool, Isak failed to deliver anywhere near the elite standards expected from a record-breaking signing, making him the biggest flop signing of the 2025-26 Premier League season.
Conclusion
Overall, the 2025-26 campaign proved once again that huge transfer fees guarantee nothing in the Premier League. Some of these players may still recover and eventually justify their price tags in future seasons. However, based on expectations, investment, and actual performances this year, these signings simply failed to live up to the hype.
