Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
While it's still so early in the 2026/27 Premier League season, there have already been some worrying performances from new summer signings, as the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United struggle for form.
All three clubs were expected to kick on at the start of this campaign, with each side hiring new permanent managers before addressing key squad issues by dipping into the transfer market.
They're not the only ones who have found it difficult to sign the right players, though, with other clubs such as Chelsea and Aston Villa proving that money doesn't always buy happiness.
Without further ado, below are the 10 worst signings of the Premier League season so far, after the first five gameweeks.
10 Omar Marmoush (Loan)
Manchester City to Tottenham
Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
In theory, the acquisition of Omar Marmoush - one of the best strikers in world football just a few seasons while at Eintracht Frankfurt - on a loan is a real coup for Tottenham.
The fact it's taken them seven Premier League hours before they found the back of the net, however, suggests they signed a different version of the Egyptian international - who was deemed surplus to requirements at Manchester City last term, and continues to show he's lost his mojo in north London.
9 Mykhailo Mudryk (Loan)
Chelsea to Tottenham
Image credit: Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
Signing rivals' hand-me-downs was a common theme for Tottenham over the summer. After signing Savio, Marmoush, while already having Mohammed Kudus and Mathys Tel, it was hardly necessary for them to take such a punt on Chelsea's Mykhailo Mudryk.
Ignoring the obvious warning signs - no less the fact the Ukrainian winger hadn't played a match since November 2022 after a doping investigation - the Lilywhites went ahead with the deal anyway. He's played 16 minutes so far and, to the surprise of nobody, hasn't added to his Premier League record of just five goals and four assists in 54 appearances.
Collage featuring Alexis Sanchez and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Collage featuring Alexis Sanchez and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
8 Bradley Barcola (£120m)
PSG to Liverpool
REUTERS/Phil Noble
Bradley Barcola has looked promising in flashes for Liverpool so far this season, with his pace and directness two obvious highlights in a team that cried out for more willingness in their ranks last term.
But for the price the Reds paid PSG to secure his signature on deadline day, the Anfield faithful will surely have expected more from the Frenchman than four appearances and little to show for it so far. Time is on his side, of course, but money and reputation mean expectations are high.
7 Savio (£75m)
Manchester City to Tottenham
Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Another gamble from the Tottenham hierarchy, Savio announced his name to his new supporters with a goal and assist from the bench in Tottenham's EFL Cup victory over Charlton Athletic.
Since then, he has created plenty of chances for his teammates and looked a real livewire. Should his teammates start burying those, and his form turn into a constant fixture in Roberto De Zerbi's side's fortunes, then he could make it off this list. For now, though, there seems to be a lot of ifs, buts, and maybes over a player that cost a fortune and never proved he was worth it at his old club.
6 Liam Delap (£45m)
Chelsea to Nottingham Forest
REUTERS/Scott Heppell
You have to wonder what was going through Nottingham Forest's heads when they decided that Liam Delap, who often times look horribly out of place in Chelsea's attack last season, was worth £45m.
Slow, low on confidence, and with a tally of just one goal in 28 league appearances last term, the 23-year-old was already a huge gamble after having had just one good campaign at Ipswich Town. He does already have a goal after four matches, but whether he can keep that up after such a disastrous barren run last term remains to be seen.
Arsenal's Bruno Guimaraes comes on as a substitute to replace Max Dowman
Arsenal's Bruno Guimaraes comes on as a substitute to replace Max Dowman
5 Alejandro Garnacho (Loan)
Chelsea to Aston Villa
Aston Villa's Alejandro Garnacho via REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan
Signing Jadon Sancho on loan after his time at Manchester United went awry didn't work out for Aston Villa. Loaning in Harvey Elliott from Liverpool last season when his future looked uncertain also ended in regret. So what were they thinking when they saw Alejandro Garnacho was available on a short-term basis this summer?
Whoever is giving the green light to these deals is fortunate to still be in a job, and it hardly looks as though Garnacho will get much game time anyway. This one can be filed straight into the 'completely unnecessary' signings, similar to that of when a big club signs an ageing goalkeeper to fill their third choice vacancy (we're looking at you Scott Carson and Tom Heaton).
Type a player name in the box below to reveal each answer
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
4 Andrey Santos (£50m)
Chelsea to Manchester United
Andrey Santos
When Manchester United finally recognised that they needed more legs in midfield - ideally someone of a Rodri or Declan Rice profile to help form a shield in front of the defence and cover a lot of space in the central spaces - Andrey Santos was a very interesting choice.
Yet another gamble, like many others on this list, the 22-year-old hasn't had enough time in his career to prove he has what it takes to fill that role left behind by Casemiro. That he cost £50 million is crazy at this point in time, though he could learn a lot from other new signing, Carlos Baleba, once he's fit.
3 Emmanuel Emegha (£21m)
Strasbourg to Chelsea
Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Emmanuel Emegha technically joined the Stamford Bridge outfit last year and went back on loan to Strasbourg, before playing just 10 league matches last term - hardly anybody will even remember this deal happening, but his seven-year contract is a hallmark of some terribly misguided Todd Boehly deal.
Was it to benefit a multi-club ownership, or will he turn into the next big thing? The latter hasn't happened for Chelsea in quite some time, so it's veering more towards flop territory at the moment. But, of course, anything can happen after just five matches.
2 Mateus Fernandes (£85m)
West Ham to Tottenham
Reuters/Andrew Boyers
In the 2024/25 season, Mateus Fernandes was relegated with Southampton. A year later, he was relegated with West Ham. And now, just a few short months after being handed a lifeline by Tottenham, he finds himself struggling in a team that sits 18th in the Premier League having scored just two goals after five matches.
He's not been helped by being deployed in a more attacking role than what he's been used to. But for £85 million, he would have been expected to have a better say on the midfield battle up until this point, as his latest appearance saw him hooked off after just 45 minutes in a 3-2 loss vs Aston Villa.
MixCollage-26-May-2026-08-22-AM-2156
1 Sandro Tonali (£100m)
Newcastle to Tottenham
REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo
At the turn of 2026, nobody would have batted an eyelid about Sandro Tonali featuring in conversations regarding the best midfielders in the world. But Tottenham has been a graveyard for top talent in recent years, and the former Newcastle star's powers in midfield have suddenly been depleted at the start of the 2026/27 season.
Opponents are finding it far too easy to bypass the middle of the pitch, and the Italy international is hardly doing much to turn things around. Time to gel between all of Tottenham's new signings is obviously needed, but Tonali's time in north London so far has represented a damp squib.