12 worst Premier League signings of 2025-26 so far [Ranked]

A total of 155 senior transfers were completed in the Premier League during the summer window. Now, with over two months of action played, the 12 least effective signings have been identified and ranked.

Ranking Criteria
Players were assessed based on:

– Transfer fee paid
– Impact so far
– Expectation

12. Jadon Sancho

This move screamed “panic” from the outset, and little has changed to convince fans otherwise. Sancho’s loan from Manchester United was finalized on deadline day, with Aston Villa opting to bring him in for extra depth on the wing. This came despite Chelsea paying a £5m fee to cancel their obligation to buy after a modest stint at Stamford Bridge.

So far, “unremarkable” sums up his contribution. He hasn’t started any league matches, appearing as a substitute four times. With Villa covering 80% of his United wages, the only upside is that it’s not a permanent deal.

Stats
Games: 4
Goals: 0
Assists: 0

11. Harvey Elliott

Joining on loan from Liverpool, Elliott left in search of consistent minutes and a starting role — something he hadn’t secured at Anfield. Given Villa’s strong 2024/25 campaign, there was hope he’d slot into a dynamic midfield.

That hasn’t materialized. With just three league appearances, his impact has been minimal. While there’s belief he’ll improve, early signs haven’t been encouraging, and speculation has emerged about why he’s not featuring more.

Stats
Games: 3
Goals: 0
Assists: 0

10. Mads Hermansen

Despite Leicester’s relegation, Hermansen impressed in 2024/25. West Ham invested £20m in the Danish keeper, viewing him as Fabianski’s successor.

But his start has been rough. In his first four matches, he conceded 11 goals, including costly errors against Chelsea. Alphonse Areola has since reclaimed the starting spot, leaving Hermansen benched.

Stats
Games: 4
Goals Conceded: 11
Clean Sheets: 1

9. Jamie Gittens

Chelsea’s need for a left-winger was clear, especially with Sancho underwhelming and Mudryk suspended. They turned to Gittens, continuing their youth-focused recruitment strategy.

Signed from Borussia Dortmund in a deal potentially worth £52m, Gittens has looked raw. With no goals or assists in nine games, he must develop quickly to justify the investment and challenge Garnacho.

Stats
Games: 9
Goals: 0
Assists: 0

8. Benjamin Sesko

Sesko has two goals and one assist — not terrible. But with a £73.7m fee and Bryan Mbeumo outperforming him, United fans are still waiting for a breakout.

His link-up play shows promise, but he’s yet to cement a regular starting spot under Amorim. If he draws inspiration from teammates, he could still turn things around.

Stats
Games: 11
Goals: 2
Assists: 1

7. Xavi Simons

Brought in for £51.8m as an alternative to Eze — who joined Arsenal — Simons was widely praised by neutrals, and Spurs fans were thrilled with his deadline day arrival.

But he’s struggled. Unable to handle pressure and still adjusting to the physicality of the league, he’s faded in key moments. While Tottenham’s misfiring attack hasn’t helped, his tendency to vanish when leadership is needed has hurt his case.

Stats
Games: 8
Goals: 0
Assists: 1

6. Milos Kerkez

One of three Liverpool signings on this list, Kerkez was expected to revitalize the left-back role under Slot. Instead, he’s looked shaky, with Robertson reclaiming the starting spot in recent weeks.

He was particularly poor in a home defeat to United, with Jamie Redknapp calling him a “nervous wreck” and Gary Neville describing him as a “baby” or “youth team player.” Coming from Bournemouth, he’s not used to this level of scrutiny. Still, there have been flashes of promise — notably his clean sheet against Arsenal, where he kept Madueke quiet.

Stats
Games: 10
Goals: 1
Assists: 0

Here’s the same rewritten version with all quotation marks preserved and all asterisks removed:

5. Liam Delap

Chelsea have shown a tendency to invest heavily in areas where squad depth isn’t urgently needed. In Liam Delap’s situation, he’s also been unlucky with a significant hamstring issue — though that doesn’t change the perception that the club’s £30 million outlay wasn’t particularly necessary.

To be fair, he offers a contrasting profile to his competition for the striker spot, bringing more physicality and power to the frontline than Joao Pedro. Still, given that his signing was largely based on one strong Premier League campaign — where he netted 12 times in 37 games for Ipswich Town — there’s no certainty he’ll reproduce that level at Stamford Bridge.

Stats
Games: 4
Goals: 0
Assists: 0

4. Jean-Clair Todibo

West Ham find themselves with two disappointing acquisitions high on this list. Todibo initially joined on loan in 2024/25 after earning praise for his performances at Nice, and the club made the move permanent for £36.3m once the buy clause was triggered. But in hindsight, fans may feel that money could’ve been better spent.

After a series of poor displays early in the season, Graham Potter removed him from the starting lineup. Jamie Redknapp described his defending in the 5-1 loss to Chelsea as “scandalous.” The 25-year-old has been culpable for several goals conceded, appearing to aid the opposition more than his own team, as West Ham’s backline has allowed 23 goals in 11 matches.

Stats
Games: 6
Goals: 0
Assists: 0

3. Anthony Elanga

Elanga made a name for himself as a dangerous wide player under Nuno Espirito Santo at Nottingham Forest. With six goals and 11 assists, plus explosive pace, he looked like a valuable addition for any side. Newcastle’s £55m investment raised some eyebrows, but few doubted his talent.

However, his transition to life at St James’ Park has been slow. Across 11 appearances, he’s yet to register a goal or assist, and his displays have been described as “underwhelming.” Given the transfer fee, he’ll need to offer more to convince Eddie Howe he deserves a regular spot.

Stats
Games: 11
Goals: 0
Assists: 0

2. Florian Wirtz

Let’s be clear — no one is doubting Florian Wirtz’s talent. His standout displays for Bayer Leverkusen have already shown why he’s considered one of the brightest midfield prospects in global football. What’s undeniable, however, is that the £116m move to Liverpool hasn’t paid off yet.

Wirtz appears to be lacking confidence and is still searching for his place within Arne Slot’s tactical framework, with Jamie Carragher even suggesting the manager should “drop” him.

Based on his reputation and his showing against Real Madrid, he could still become a key figure for the reigning champions — but for now, he’s been a bit of a “damp squib.”

Stats
Games: 11
Goals: 0
Assists: 0

1. Alexander Isak

Expectations were sky-high for Alexander Isak after his goal for Newcastle helped set the stage for a record-breaking transfer to Liverpool on deadline day. Other than scoring on his first Anfield start against Southampton in the League Cup, he’s struggled with fitness and has slipped behind Hugo Ekitike in the selection order.

Whether he just needs time to regain full sharpness is still unclear. But as November arrives, and with Liverpool fans questioning whether they’ve truly landed a 20-goal-a-season striker, it’s time to be blunt. The Swedish forward has only himself to blame for his current form and is starting to resemble the “dictionary definition of a flop.”

Stats
Games: 4
Goals: 0
Assists: 1

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt (correct as of 10/11/2025).