Premier League mega-signings: which expensive transfers paid off and which flopped

In recent seasons, Premier League clubs spent record sums to reshape their squads, but price tags rarely guarantee success. A fresh look at the league’s costliest signings shows a mixed bag of impact, silverware, and rising questions about value.

Enzo Fernandez (£106.8m) and Moises Caicedo (£100m) — Chelsea

Chelsea secured Fernandez in 2023 after his World Cup crown, then added Caicedo from Brighton that same year. Two years on, the club has lifted the Club World Cup and the Conference League, yet their league form has been inconsistent. Both players are regular starters and clearly part of the spine, but the verdict remains: promising rather than proven.

Verdict: Promising. The pair are influential, but sustained title-chasing success is needed to fully justify the cost.

Jack Grealish (£100m) — Manchester City

Grealish arrived amid a trophy-laden cabinet, yet his City spell hasn’t consistently mirrored his best Villa form. After a standout period, form dipped, leading City to reinforce with another forward. In the following seasons, his league numbers remained modest, and a loan spell underscored questions about value. Verdict: Mixed rather than decisive.

Verdict: Mixed. He collects major honours, but the transfer hasn’t delivered a clean, high-impact return on the fee.

Declan Rice (£100m) — Arsenal

Rice has established himself as a world-class midfielder and a set-piece specialist, becoming a fixture for England and a key contributor for Arsenal. Yet silverware has yet to arrive at the club, so the deal remains to be fully justified. The potential is clear, and with Arsenal atop the table, the final verdict will hinge on future trophies.

Verdict: To be determined.

Romelu Lukaku (£97.5m) — Chelsea

The 2021 signing aimed to anchor Chelsea’s attack, but form tailed off after an explosive start, and he departed after one season on loan back to Inter and later moved to Napoli. Verdict: Failure. The move yielded a Club World Cup, but little lasting value for the price.

Paul Pogba (£89m) — Manchester United

United’s reunion with Pogba failed to rejuvenate the midfield, producing a modest return overall and a single standout season. Verdict: Failure. He left for Juventus on a free in 2022 after a disappointing second spell.

Antony (£82m) — Manchester United

Signed to inject pace and creativity, Antony struggled to replicate Ajax form and was ultimately sent on loan to Real Betis, before making a permanent exit. Verdict: Failure. He did win domestic cups, but the fee rarely looked justified by performance.

Harry Maguire (£80m) — Manchester United

Once the world’s most expensive defender, Maguire’s United career drifted into decline, including a spell out of the starting XI and a captaincy removal. Verdict: Failure. The lofty fee and limited impact over time left the deal wanting.

Josko Gvardiol (£77m) — Manchester City

Arriving in 2023, the Croatia international quickly established himself as a versatile, top-level defender, helping City secure trophies. While the first season impressed, the heavy price tag remains a point of debate as the squad evolves. Verdict: The jury is still out.

Romelu Lukaku (£75m) — Manchester United

United’s 2017 signing aimed to restore goalscoring consistency. He delivered solid numbers but never reached the peak expected from such a fee, contributing to a sense of underachievement overall. Verdict: Failure, though some value was recovered later in the deal.

Virgil van Dijk (£75m) — Liverpool

Van Dijk remains the standout success of the big-money era, transforming Liverpool into title contenders and delivering multiple trophies. He has exemplified value for money with sustained, elite-level performance. Verdict: Total success.

Key Takeaways

• Price alone rarely guarantees impact; fit with the squad and manager’s plan matters more.
• Silverware and consistency are essential measures of transfer value.
• Some signings mature into long-term assets, while others underwhelm despite the hype.

Expert comment

Expert view: The most valuable signings align talent with a clear role and a club’s strategic goals. A lofty price only counts if the player delivers enduring results and helps the team win trophies.

Summary

Across the dataset of costly arrivals, a few players justify the fees with lasting influence, while several transfers fail to meet expectations. The ongoing seasons will determine whether the rest can justify their price tags, with van Dijk the clearest example of value in this era.

Key insight: Pricey signings require more than talent; long-term impact and team alignment decide whether an investment pays off. Source: BBC Sport