Neymar, Coutinho: Ten Biggest Money Flops in Football History

In the high-stakes world of football transfers, clubs often invest substantial sums to acquire top talent, aiming to improve their squads and achieve silverwares. However, not all high-profile transfers yield the desired results. In this piece, we delve into ten of the most notable transfer flops in modern football history, analyzing the circumstances and performances that led to their unfavorable outcomes.

Philippe Coutinho: Liverpool to Barcelona (2018) – €145 million

In January 2018, Barcelona secured Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool for a staggering €145 million, making him the third most expensive footballer at the time. The Catalan giants envisioned Coutinho as a successor to Andrés Iniesta, expecting him to bring creativity and flair to their midfield. However, Coutinho struggled to find his footing at Camp Nou. His performances were inconsistent, and he often appeared out of sync with Barcelona’s playing style.

A loan spell to Bayern Munich in the 2019-2020 season offered a brief resurgence, highlighted by his contribution to Bayern’s treble-winning campaign, including scoring against his parent club in an 8-2 Champions League rout. Despite this, upon returning to Barcelona, Coutinho’s struggles persisted, leading to another loan move to Aston Villa in January 2022. The Brazilian’s inability to replicate his Premier League form in La Liga rendered this transfer a costly mistake for Barcelona.

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Eden Hazard: Chelsea to Real Madrid (2019) – €100 million

Eden Hazard’s move to Real Madrid in 2019 was met with great anticipation. The Belgian winger had been a standout performer for Chelsea, and Los Blancos invested €100 million to secure his services, viewing him as a big signing to fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Unfortunately, Hazard’s tenure at the Santiago Bernabéu has been marred by injuries and a lack of form. Persistent fitness issues limited his contributions, and he struggled to make a significant impact when available. Over multiple seasons, Hazard managed only a handful of goals and assists, a stark contrast to his prolific output in the Premier League.

Antoine Griezmann: Atlético Madrid to Barcelona (2019) – €120 million

In 2019, Barcelona activated Antoine Griezmann’s €120 million release clause, prying him away from Atlético Madrid. The French forward was expected to form a formidable attacking trio alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez. However, Griezmann struggled to adapt to Barcelona’s football system.

Often used in positions that does not suit his style of play, he found it challenging to replicate his Atlético form. His goal tally was underwhelming, and he appeared unable to establish a strong on-field partnership with Messi. After two seasons of inconsistency, Griezmann returned to Atlético Madrid on loan in 2021, with the move becoming permanent thereafter.

Neymar: Paris Saint-Germain to Al Hilal (2023) – €90 million

It was unbelievable when Al-Hilal offered an utterly ridiculous €90 million for Neymar, a payer that PSG had been trying desperately to get rid of for at least a year. Without any form of surprise no top team in Europe was willing to help the French club recoup such a significant chunk of their original transfer fee spent on the Brazilian, as it had been long since made clear to everyone that Neymar was both prone to injuries and utterly inconsistent in matches.

While, his transfer fee may not be up to those who have been discussed previously above, he is still rated high in terms of big signings that were not up to expectations. His move to Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro league, a league of little technicality and media exposure compared to the Premier League showed that even in small stages, Neymar was far from his best days in Barcelona and Santos.

One can see why Al-Hilal were willing to spend big on such a high-profile player, but Neymar, perhaps unsurprisingly, proved the investment otherwise. The injury-prone attacker managed just one goal and seven appearances before his contract was cancelled in January 2025 ahead of a return to boyhood club Santos.

João Félix: Benfica to Atlético Madrid (2019) – €126 Million

Atlético Madrid made João Félix their record signing in 2019, investing €126 million in the young Portuguese forward. Félix had showcased immense potential at Benfica, and Atlético envisioned him as a long-term successor to Griezmann. However, Félix struggled to adapt to Diego Simeone’s defensive tactics. His creative flair often seemed stifled, and he failed to consistently influence games.

His loan spells at Chelsea and subsequently to Barcelona provided mixed results, but neither stint fully reignited the early promise he gave to football fans and critics which was seen in Benfica. This transfer examines the challenges young talents face when making big-money moves to clubs with contrasting playing philosophies.

Romelu Lukaku: Inter Milan to Chelsea (2021) – €115 million

Romelu Lukaku could have appeared twice in this piece with the first been his transfer to Manchester United, but his return to Chelsea in 2021 for €115 million was heralded as the final piece in Thomas Tuchel’s attacking plan. The Belgian striker had enjoyed a prolific spell at Inter Milan, leading them to a Serie A title. However, his second stint at Stamford Bridge was underwhelming.

Lukaku struggled to fit into Tuchel’s system, and his form dropped. A controversial interview expressing dissatisfaction further strained his relationship with the club. After a season of inconsistency, Lukaku returned to Inter Milan on loan, marking another Premier League high-profile transfer that failed to meet expectations.

Jack Grealish: Aston Villa to Manchester City (2021) – €112 million

Jack Grealish’s £100m move to Manchester City in 2021 has fallen short of expectations from football enthusiasts. While he was part of the club’s treble-winning squad, his individual impact was limited, contributing just 16 goals in 50 appearances during the 2022/23 season and failing to deliver in crucial moments.

Once a dazzling playmaker at Aston Villa, Grealish has struggled to justify his price tag, with Pep Guardiola even questioning his current form. With no Premier League goals since 2023, it seems increasingly likely that City may look to move on from their record signing.

Paul Pogba: Juventus to Manchester United (2016) – €105 million

In 2016, Manchester United re-signed Paul Pogba from Juventus for a then-world record fee of €105 million. The French midfielder was expected to be the linchpin of United’s resurgence. While Pogba had moments of brilliance, his tenure was characterized by inconsistency, injuries, and questions about his commitment. He struggled to consistently influence games and often appeared misaligned with the team’s tactical setup.

After six tumultuous years, Pogba left United on a free transfer, returning to Juventus in 2022. This transfer serves as a reminder that even world-class talent requires the right environment to flourish. Pogba’s transfer to Manchester United is a clear example reminding the football world that a return to your ex is not always the best.

Antony: Ajax to Manchester United (2022) – €90 million

Antony’s £82 million move from Ajax to Manchester United in 2022 raised eyebrows, even with his promising performances under Erik ten Hag. While he showed glimpses of quality in his first season, his limitations became evident by his second, reducing his impact to flashy tricks without end product.

However, following Ten Hag’s dismissal, Antony was loaned to Real Betis for the remainder of the 2024/25 season, with United still covering a significant portion of his wages. His signing is now seen as a prime example of United’s poor recruitment, contributing to their financial struggles and concerns over the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability Rules.

Alvaro Morata: Real Madrid to Chelsea (2017) – £70 million

You may think Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are the only football players to switch between clubs and leagues easily but there exist Alvaro Morata who has made transfers to different top clubs and elite European leagues, unlike the other two Morata’s performances have been inconsistent and below expectations considering his price tag.

His £68 million move from Real Madrid to Chelsea in 2017 remains one of the Premier League’s most disappointing transfers. Despite scoring 15 La Liga goals in 2016/17, he struggled to replicate that form in England, managing just 16 league goals in 18 months. His frustrating spell at Stamford Bridge ended in January 2019 when he joined Atlético Madrid on loan before making the move permanent. While Morata blamed the media for harsh criticism, his underwhelming performances made it difficult to justify his hefty price tag.

Conclusion

These cases illustrate that even the most anticipated transfers can falter due to a myriad of factors, including injuries, tactical mismatches, and the immense pressure accompanying hefty price tags. They serve as cautionary tales for clubs and players alike, emphasizing the importance of thorough scouting, proper integration, and managing expectations in the complex world of football transfers.