Top ten worst signings of the century

Julien Faubert

There are people that still ask what Real Madrid saw in this player back in 2009 to sign him. The Frenchman, who arrived on loan, cost the Spanish giants over 1.5million euros, but only played 60 minutes of professional football. He is still remembered with a laugh in La Liga.

Philippe Christanval

Many will still hallucinate with the fact that this player was capable of playing at the Camp Nou for two seasons. They were different times in ‘can-barca’, but few can find explanation as to why he was signed by the Catalan club. In his two seasons with Barca, he played in 31 matches, but always looked slow and awkward with the ball at his feet.

Marcelo 'Pato' Sosa

In a time far away from the widely successful spell of Cholo Simeone, Atletico Madrid lived though a complicated naughties only being able to attract low-level players. One of these was called the ‘Duck’ Sosa, and he’s remembered more for his terrible tackles than his football. His only rememberable feat with the club was dramatically falling over during his presentation.  

Gaizka Mendieta

Lazio somehow decided to spend 48million euros for this player, which made him one of the most expensive at the time in 2001. However he didn't adapt well to Italian football, and after just two years he left on a free transfer to Middlesbrough, never returning to the level he had at Valencia. 

Ricardo Quaresma

This Portugese player arrived at Inter Milan for close to 19million euros back in 2008, however he never convinced Mourinho, who tried to change his kicking foot to make him more effective. He loaned the player out to Chelsea where many won’t even remember the player, as he never started for the club. He returned back to the Italian club only to be named the worst player in Serie A. He managed to relaunch his career in Turkey but his reputation was in tatters. 

Oguchi Onyewu

The American defensive player is remembered by many as the worst signing in Serie A’s history. While he arrived at Milan after incredible performances in the Standard Liege, he managed just two games during his time in Italy. The player then moved on to Malaga and is fondly remembered as one of the worst players ever. The players level was so low that he offered to play a year without being paid at Milan if they renewed his contract.

Francis Jeffers

Having spent his youth with Everton’s academy, Wenger thought he was doing a bargain when he invested 10million euros for the striker in 2001. However it became very clear that the Frenchman had made a huge mistake, quickly being named Arsenal’s worst signing. The striker who somehow managed to get an England cap, ended up playing in the lower leagues and then moved across to Malta. 

Carlos Alberto

Carlos Alberto could quite easily be considered the worst signing in the Bundesliga’s history. It’s hard to talk about a player that only managed to come on for 195 minutes for Bremen, but he didn’t really show anything special. In any case, his lack of commitment and nonexistent performance was enough to make him one of the worst signings of the century. His excuse: insomnia. He has linked this medical condition to his terrible performances in the Bundesliga. 

Eljero Elia

Nothing less than 9million euros was dished out by Juventus for this Dutch winger. The player only managed a pitiful four games for the Turin side, and couldn’t even find his best form after returning to German footbal with Werder Breman. He currently plays for Feyenoord, where he has seemed to regain a bit of his reputation, however he is still remembered as one of Serie A’s worst signings. 

Andy Carroll

Andy Carroll is, without a doubt Liverpool’s worst signing…ever. While he has continued a reasonable career with West Ham after leaving the Merseyside club, it was clear from the start that he was never worth such an extortionate fee.