Costly flops: 10 worst attacking signings in Football since 2020

The transfer market since 2020 has been a high-stakes gamble for Europe’s top clubs, with billions spent on attacking players expected to deliver goals, assists, and trophies in the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1. However, not every big-money signing lives up to the hype and expectations. A Transfermarkt analysis from August 8, 2025, ranking attackers by cost per goal contribution, combined with insights from Football365, Attacking Football, and GiveMeSport, reveals a string of expensive errors. This piece is set to explore the 10 worst attacking signings since 2020, delving into why they failed, their financial impact, and what these flops teach us about the perils of modern football transfers.

Antony (€95m, Manchester United, 2022)

Antony’s €95 million move from Ajax to Manchester United in 2022 tops Transfermarkt’s list of worst value-for-money signings. Signed to reunite with Erik ten Hag, the Brazilian winger has delivered just 17 goal contributions (eight goals, nine assists) in 91 appearances, costing €5.6 million per contribution. His market value has plummeted to €35 million, and his inability to adapt to the Premier League’s intensity, with evidence of his five goals in 62 league games, has made him a fan scapegoat. Posts on social media brand him “United’s biggest flop,” and with no suitors in 2025, Antony’s signing captures United’s post-Ferguson transfer struggles.

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Jack Grealish (€117.5m, Manchester City, 2021)

Jack Grealish’s €117.5 million transfer from Aston Villa to Manchester City in 2021 made him England’s priciest player, but his output: 17 goals and 23 assists in 157 games, costs €2.9 million per contribution. Despite contributing to City’s 2022/23 treble, his modest numbers and off-field controversies, including heavy drinking during celebrations, led to his exclusion from the 2024/25 Club World Cup squad and a loan to Everton. His €28 million market value reflects a big decline, making him one of Pep Guardiola’s biggest missteps.

Randal Kolo Muani (€95m, Paris Saint-Germain, 2023)

PSG’s €95 million signing of Randal Kolo Muani from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2023 ranks third, costing €5.3 million per goal contribution. The French striker, expected to fill the void left by the departure of Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr, managed 18 goal contributions (11 goals, seven assists) in 63 games. His market value has dropped to €30 million, and his lack of clinical finishing, averaging 0.3 goals per game in Ligue has drawn criticism. Despite PSG’s 2024/25 treble, fans on social media question his fit in Luis Enrique’s system, marking him as a costly disappointment.

Jadon Sancho (€85m, Manchester United, 2021)

Back to the Premier League and Manchester United, Jadon Sancho’s €85 million transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United in 2021 promised a triumphant homecoming, but it has yielded just 18 goals and 20 assists in 107 appearances, costing €4.7 million per contribution. His market value has fallen to €28 million, and after public disputes with manager Erik ten Hag, plus a loan back to Dortmund, Sancho’s Premier League career has stalled. His failure to replicate his Dortmund form (50 goals, 64 assists in 137 games) is a solid proof of United’s recruitment blunder.

Romelu Lukaku (€97.5m, Chelsea, 2021)

Chelsea’s €97.5 million re-signing of Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan in 2021 aimed to bring a proven goalscorer back to Stamford Bridge. Instead, he managed eight Premier League goals in 26 appearances, costing millions per contribution. His market value dropped to €30 million, and off-field issues, including an interview expressing discontent, soured his return. Loaned to Inter, Roma, and Napoli, Lukaku’s second Chelsea stint is a cautionary tale of nostalgia-driven transfers gone wrong.

Mykhaylo Mudryk (€88.5m, Chelsea, 2023)

Chelsea’s €88.5 million capture of Mykhaylo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023 was a bold move to secure a rising star, but the Ukrainian winger has floundered, with seven goals and nine assists in 71 games. His lack of end product, despite his pace, has seen his market value drop to €30m. Fans on social media criticize his “poor decision-making,” and under Enzo Maresca, Mudryk remains a peripheral figure, symbolizing Chelsea’s erratic spending under Todd Boehly.

Christopher Nkunku (€80m, Chelsea, 2023)

Christopher Nkunku’s €80 million move from RB Leipzig to Chelsea in 2023 promised goals after his 17-goal Bundesliga season, earning him the canon-man award but injuries have limited him to 17 Premier League starts, with five goals and two assists across all competitions in the 2023/24 season. His €35 million market value reflects his potential, but persistent fitness issues and competition for places have stunted his impact. Social media posts from fans and critics call him “unlucky,” making him a costly casualty of Chelsea’s bloated squad.

Rasmus Hojlund (€73.9m, Manchester United, 2023)

Manchester United’s €73.9 million signing of Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta in 2023 banked on the Dane’s potential, but his 16 goals and seven assists in 51 games have disappointed, costing millions per contribution. His €35 million market value reflects his youth, but a 14-game goalless streak has drawn scrutiny. Fans on social media question his readiness to lead United’s attack, marking him as another expensive project that has yet to deliver.

Joshua Zirkzee (€42.5m, Manchester United, 2024)

Still on the Red Devils, the €42.5 million signing of Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna in 2024 completes United’s trio on this list. The Dutch striker has managed just 4 goals and two assists in 18 Premier League games, with a €30 million market value. Football365 notes his “unknown best position” as a concern, and fans on social media criticize his lack of pace and poor finishing. Zirkzee’s struggles highlight United’s ongoing issues with integrating attacking talent under INEOS.

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Savinho (€40m, Manchester City, 2024)

Manchester City sensation, dubbed the perfect replacement for Riyad Mahrez rounds of the list. Savinho’s €40 million move from Troyes to Manchester City in 2024, following loans at Girona and PSV, was hailed as a coup for a versatile winger. However, his three goals and three assists in 22 appearances have disappointed, with a market value of €50 million inflated by potential rather than output. Struggling to adapt to the Premier League’s intensity and overshadowed by City’s established stars, Savinho’s lack of impact has drawn comparisons to early Grealish struggles, with social media posts from fans and analysts questioning his readiness for Guardiola’s system.

Conclusion

These 10 signings, totaling over €800 million, show the risks of chasing attacking talent without ensuring tactical or cultural fit. Manchester United and Chelsea dominate, reflecting their chaotic recruitment since 2020, with squad values of €892.2 million and €1.17 billion, per Transfermarkt, yielding little silverware. Injuries (Nkunku), poor adaptation (Antony, Mudryk), and tactical misfits (Sancho, Zirkzee) plague these deals, while Grealish and Savinho highlight even Manchester City’s occasional missteps. As clubs pivot toward smarter signings, United with Carlos Baleba, Chelsea with Xavi Simons, these flops serve as a stark reminder: in the high-stakes transfer market, ambition must be matched by precision to avoid costly regrets.