Listed: Top 10 Most Costly British Player Transfers in History
Most Expensive Transfer Flops in the Premier League
In the world of football, transfer fees can reach astronomical heights, but not every high-priced signing delivers on the promise. Here's a look at some of the most expensive transfer flops in the Premier League and their performances post-transfers.
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Chelsea splashed a then-record £71 million to sign Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao in 2018. However, the Spanish goalkeeper conceded 175 goals in 163 appearances, leading to a series of underwhelming performances. Chelsea even brought in new goalkeepers to replace Kepa, and he ended up going on loans to Bournemouth and Real Madrid as the club tried to move him on permanently.
Jadon Sancho
Manchester United shelled out £73 million to bring Jadon Sancho to Old Trafford in 2021, following his impressive stint at Borussia Dortmund. Yet, Sancho scored only 9 league goals in 82 appearances for United, and had a public fallout with manager Erik ten Hag, leading to a loan return to Dortmund.
Antony
Manchester United paid £85 million to sign Antony from Ajax in 2022, but the Brazilian winger struggled to meet expectations and spent the latter half of the 2024/25 season on loan at Real Betis.
Other notable examples, though involving clubs outside the Premier League after the move, include Philippe Coutinho, who was sold by Liverpool to Barcelona for £115.5 million in 2018 and failed to live up to his high price tag.
Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba joined Manchester United in 2016 for £89 million, but had a tumultuous tenure, clashing with managers and leaving the club in the summer of 2022 to re-join Juventus for free.
Jack Grealish
Manchester City spent £100m to sign Jack Grealish in 2021, but the English international has yet to fully justify his price tag.
Josko Gvardiol
Contrasting the previous examples, Josko Gvardiol joined Manchester City in 2023 for £80 million and has been a success, contributing in the final third and maintaining a relatively tight defense.
Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku's transfer to Chelsea in 2021 fell just short of the British transfer record, but made him the player with the largest total transfer value of all time, as a combined £290m has been spent on him by various clubs over the years. Lukaku struggled to live up to the price tag and moved back to Inter Milan on a season-long loan.
Florian Wirtz
Liverpool made Florian Wirtz their first statement signing of 2025 for £116m, breaking the record for the most expensive signing in British football history. Wirtz wears the No. 27 shirt for the Premier League champions.
Mykhailo Mudryk
Chelsea paid £88.5 million to sign Mykhailo Mudryk in 2023, but the Ukrainian winger has only scored five goals and six assists in over 50 Premier League appearances and is currently provisionally suspended by the FA.
Declan Rice
Declan Rice swapped West Ham for Arsenal in 2023 and has made himself a fan favourite at the Emirates' Stadium.
Hugo Ekitike
Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike was also signed by Liverpool later in the 2025 transfer window for £79 million.
Enzo Fernandez
Chelsea paid £107m to sign Enzo Fernandez from Benfica in 2023.
Grealish's Resurgence
Grealish, who struggled initially after his transfer to Manchester City, has started playing back to his best and has already added medals to his collection.
Caicedo
Caicedo was signed by Chelsea from Brighton in 2023 for an initial fee of £100 million, potentially rising to £115 million with future add-ons and performance clauses.
Wirtz at Liverpool
In 2023, Liverpool made Florian Wirtz their first statement signing of 2025 for £116m.
These players were signed for very high fees but failed to perform consistently or justify their transfer costs based on their contributions and impact after joining their new Premier League clubs.
In the context of European leagues and the Premier League, some high-profile signings, such as Kepa Arrizabalaga, Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Mykhailo Mudryk, have faced criticism for underdelivering after their expensive transfers. Furthermore, Paul Pogba, Jack Grealish, and Romelu Lukaku have also been questioned for their performances following their expensive moves to Premier League clubs. These cases underscore the challenges teams face when investing large sums in football transfers, highlighting the need for careful consideration when evaluating a player's potential value.
