Top 10 most disappointing Premier League new signings this season

19/10/2025 14:44:00 ScoreStream

In the summer of 2025, numerous Premier League teams brought in impressive players, yet currently, many of these rookies are underperforming significantly.

1. James Trafford – Man City (£27 million, from Burnley)

James Trafford, a young goalkeeper once courted by both Newcastle and Man City, opted to return to Man City for a £27 million fee. However, this choice appears to have been a mistake. Early-season errors led manager Pep Guardiola to replace him with Gianluigi Donnarumma, one of the world's top goalkeepers. At present, Trafford serves as a backup goalkeeper and rarely features in matches.

2. Jean-Clair Todibo – West Ham (£36.3 million, from Nice)

West Ham completed a permanent deal for Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice at £36.3 million after loaning him during the 2024-25 season. The French center-back was highly rated for his performances at Nice, but he has been a major disappointment at West Ham.

Todibo was dropped from the squad by coach Graham Potter following poor displays, notably in the 1-5 defeat against Chelsea. Under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo, he has only appeared twice in the Premier League and has yet to show improvement.

3. Mads Hermansen – West Ham (£20 million, from Leicester City)

West Ham continue to struggle with another signing: Mads Hermansen, the Danish goalkeeper bought from Leicester City for £20 million. Despite showing promise at Leicester, Hermansen had a disastrous start at West Ham, conceding 11 goals in his first 4 games, including notable mistakes against Chelsea. He has since been relegated to the bench as Alphonse Areola reclaimed the starting spot.

4. Jamie Gittens – Chelsea (£52 million, from Dortmund)

Chelsea targeted Jamie Gittens, a young winger from Dortmund, with a potential fee of up to £52 million to strengthen the squad after Jadon Sancho’s disappointing form and Mykhailo Mudryk’s suspension. While this aligns with Chelsea’s policy of recruiting young talent, Gittens has shown inexperience. He has neither scored nor assisted in his first 5 Premier League appearances and has not justified his high transfer fee.

Florian Wirtz still hasn’t met expectations at Liverpool

5. Oleksandr Zinchenko – Nottingham Forest (Loan from Arsenal)

Nottingham Forest fell into turmoil after sacking Nuno Espirito Santo and appointing Ange Postecoglou, yet results did not improve. In this context, the loan signing of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Arsenal was seen as a panic move after failing to secure Javi Galan from Atletico Madrid. Zinchenko does not fit Postecoglou’s high defensive line and frequently makes mistakes, especially in the Europa League loss to Real Betis.

6. Jadon Sancho – Aston Villa (Loan from Manchester United)

Jadon Sancho joined Aston Villa on loan from Manchester United on the final day of the transfer window, a decision described as a "panic" by the club’s management. Previously, Chelsea paid £5 million to cancel Sancho’s purchase option after an underwhelming spell at Stamford Bridge. At Villa, Sancho has continued to disappoint, starting only one EFL Cup match and receiving poor reviews. With Villa covering 80% of his wages, this deal is proving very disappointing.

7. Florian Wirtz – Liverpool (£116 million, from Bayer Leverkusen)

Liverpool acquired Florian Wirtz for a staggering £116 million. However, he has yet to deliver performances matching his price. Lacking confidence and struggling to adapt to manager Arne Slot’s tactics, Wirtz has faced heavy criticism. Former player Jamie Carragher has called for him to be dropped. Despite his great potential, his current form makes him one of the most disappointing signings. If this continues, he could rise further up this list.

8. Kevin Danso – Tottenham (£21 million, from Lens)

Tottenham secured Kevin Danso permanently from Lens for £21 million after loaning him since February. During his loan, the Austrian defender played 10 Premier League games. This season, Danso has only started once in the Champions League against Bodo/Glimt and made a mere 18 minutes of Premier League action. With a significant transfer fee paid, his limited playing time makes this signing disappointing.

9. Aaron Ramsdale – Newcastle (Loan from Southampton, £4 million loan fee)

Aaron Ramsdale, a goalkeeper proven in the Premier League, was loaned to Newcastle from Southampton for £4 million after they missed out on James Trafford. However, he has been unable to claim the starting position from Nick Pope. Newcastle spending a considerable sum on a backup keeper has led to this deal being viewed as financially inefficient.

10. Armando Broja – Burnley (£20 million, from Chelsea)

Armando Broja, once a promising talent from Chelsea’s academy, joined Burnley for up to £20 million. Nevertheless, with a history of injuries and fewer than 900 Premier League minutes over the last two seasons, this decision is controversial. Broja has featured for only 45 minutes across 3 matches without a single start, making this transfer puzzling.

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