The worst signings in the 2024-25 Premier League season
- Think Football Ideas
- Jun 10
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 15
With Premier League clubs and their fans thinking about summer transfer business and what pre-season holds, it feels like the perfect time to look back on the campaign. For many supporters, the focus is on this season’s new signings, many of whom failed to deliver despite arriving with plenty of excitement.
For whatever reason, sometimes a new acquisition just isn’t able to replicate the type of performances that made them stand out at their previous clubs.
They might be away from family and feeling homesick, injuries could have blighted their season, or they simply failed to adapt to the pace and intensity of the Premier League.
Despite playing for world-famous clubs like Liverpool and Manchester United, their journey to a new league didn’t go as planned. It happens. In the 2024-25 season, we saw a number of new signings fail to live up to their initial billing despite being viewed as a beacon of hope for their football clubs. This happens on a regular basis, season after season.
Recruitment teams don’t always get it right, some environments aren’t suitable for certain players, and sometimes a manager just doesn’t fancy a player after seeing them up close and working with them daily in training.
With that in mind, below is a brief look at some of the worst signings in the 2024-25 Premier League season, many of which cost huge sums of money for their clubs.
Niclas Fullkrug was seen as a coup for West Ham United
Signing German international Niclas Füllkrug was a big deal for West Ham United and their fans. The season before, Füllkrug stood out for Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, eventually playing against Real Madrid in the final.
It was, therefore, big news when West Ham managed to lure him to the London Stadium, even though the striker wasn’t at the peak of his powers. Still, big things were expected of a player who was a handful in Germany’s Euro 2024 squad. In the end, however, injuries caught up with Füllkrug.
He struggled to overcome a series of issues during his time in English football, scoring three goals in 18 games for the club. Considering the big wages he’s on and the hype surrounding his move, Niclas Füllkrug's debut season wasn't the one expected.
Eddie Nketiah has failed to deliver for Crystal Palace
Understandably, Eddie Nketiah swapped life at Arsenal for a move across London to Crystal Palace in the 2024 summer. It suited all parties, with Nketiah able to get more playing time, Arsenal getting him off their books, and Palace securing a much-needed forward option alongside the likes of Jean-Philippe Mateta.
When looking back on the season, though, even Nketiah himself will surely admit his £30 million move to Crystal Palace hasn’t worked out the way he wanted. There is still hope for next season and beyond, as Nketiah is only 25, meaning he could still become the goal threat Palace need going forward, but his debut campaign with the Eagles certainly hasn’t been a good one.
In fact, Eddie Nketiah has struggled to cement himself in the team at all, taking his place on the bench for the majority of the campaign after scoring just three goals in 29 appearances.
Ilkay Gundogan’s return hasn’t gone to plan
Manchester City’s move to re-sign Ilkay Gündogan from Barcelona made a lot of sense at the time.
The Citizens, who many fans backed for the title during pre-season after assessing the latest Premier League odds, were lacking the type of experienced midfield player Pep Guardiola’s side had previously relied on.
It was evident from his first few appearances that this wasn’t the Ilkay Gündogan of old, though. In fact, his best years were firmly behind him.
Of course, he still showed glimpses of brilliance at times, but overall, his legs had gone, and he simply couldn't dominate games like he used to. Still, while widely viewed as a Manchester City legend, Gündogan’s return didn't really go to plan.
Ben Brereton Diaz struggled to make an impact at Southampton
When newly-promoted Southampton managed to snap up Ben Brereton Díaz on a four-year contract for an estimated fee of £7 million, it was seen as a shrewd piece of business.
Fast forward to today, though, and Southampton have been relegated from the Premier League due to a leaky defence and a distinct lack of goals, which Brereton Díaz was signed to provide.
Despite scoring six Premier League goals in 14 games as part of a woeful Sheffield United team the season before, the Chilean striker failed to score for the Saints, leaving the club in January to rejoin Sheffield United on loan in the Championship. What a disaster, which wasn't his fault.
Joshua Zirkzee hasn’t scored enough goals for Manchester United
With just three Premier League goals to his name in the 2024-25 Premier League season, it’s fair to say Joshua Zirkzee’s time at Manchester United so far hasn’t been memorable for the right reasons.
The Red Devils have splashed the cash on a number of failed additions in recent times, and the Dutchman is one of them this season.
At the age of 23, the former Bologna forward does have plenty of room for growth, and he has shown glimpses of his quality, particularly in terms of his hold-up play, but when it comes to goals, he has been able to replicate what he did in the Serie A, albeit in a poor United team.
Manchester United have been crying out for a goal machine for a good few years now, and Joshua Zirkzee was potentially one of those who could step up and fire them into a better stratosphere.
Injuries and the sacking of Erik ten Hag didn’t help, and Ruben Amorim's tactics haven’t brought out the best in the Netherlands international, a factor that has contributed to the club’s worst-ever Premier League season.
Special mentions must also go to Federico Chiesa (Liverpool), João Felix (Chelsea), and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Chelsea).
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