Top-10 Biggest Transfer Losses
Which transfers simply didn’t work out….
With the Summer transfer window set to open up and clubs set to do their business in the pre-season, we thought it would be a good idea to look into some of the biggest transfer losses in world football.
Every club has them. They spend big hoping that it will bring them all the success, but sometimes, the deals just don’t work out and the club end up losing a lot of money.
Now this happens quite a lot in world football, but here are the top-10 biggest losses.
10. Shaun Wright-Philips – £12.5 million Loss
Starting of the list of Top 10 Biggest Money Losing Transfers in Football History is Shaun Wright-Phillips.
The winger is currently playing for Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League, although playing is a stretch as he’s only featured twice this season for the relegated side.
Wright-Phillips made the list following his transfer from Chelsea to Manchester City back in 2005 and the deal cost them roughly £21million. However, after struggling to cement a first-team spot, Wright-Phillips was then sold back to Manchester City for just £8.5m.
That meant Chelsea made a loss of £12.5 million.
9. Alberto Aquilani – £13 million Loss
Number 9 in the list is Alberto Aquilani.
Currently playing for Italian side Fiorentina in Serie A, Aquilani makes the list after Liverpool splashed out £20million on signing him from AS Roma. However, after failing to impress during his time at Anfield, the Premier League side then sold him back to Italy for just £7m.
Liverpool made a loss of £13 million after selling him back in 2012.
8. Juan Sebastian Veron – £13 million Loss
Juan Sebastian Veron definitely has to be on this list.
He joined Manchester United for £28m, but was then later sold to Chelsea for just £15m after he failed to impress at Old Trafford.
The overall transfer saga cost United £13m and was definitely one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s worst ever signings.
7. Robinho – £17 million
Robinho comes in at number 7 on the list of Top 10 Biggest Money Losing Transfers in Football History.
Manchester City signed the Brazilian back in 2008 as one of their first ever big-money signings. The forward snubbed a chance to join Chelsea and agreed a £32m deal from Real Madrid to City.
However, after struggling with life in England, Robinho swiftly left the club and move to AC Milan for just £15m, meaning the Premier League side made a loss of £17m.
6. Jo – £18 million Loss
Coming in at number-6 is another failed Manchester City signing.
Brazilian footballer Jo joined Manchester City from CSKA Moscow in 2008 for £18 million but things did not go as planned as he saw himself going out on loans for the majority of his career in Manchester.
He went out on loan 3 times overall, twice at Everton and the last one at Galatasaray, before permanently joining Internacional for free.
Manchester City eventually making a loss £18 million.
5. Emmanuel Adebayor – £20 million Loss
Currently playing for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, Emmanuel Adebayor.
The controversial striker left Arsenal back in 2009 in a deal worth £25m. He swapped the Emirates for the Etihad and despite having one fruitful season, it then all went downhill.
The Togo striker was then sent out on loan to Real Madrid and then to Spurs before he eventually joined the White Hart Lane club for just £5m.
City making another stunning loss on a transfer. £20m was the damage this time.
4. Andy Carroll – £20 million Loss
A player who hasn’t been on his best form in recent years in the Premier League.
The England striker was in stunning form for Newcastle United which then earned him a £35m transfer move to Liverpool back in 2011. However, injuries and being out of favour at Anfield cost him his career there and eventually he was sold.
Carroll was shipped out on loan to West Ham United before they made the deal permanent for just £15m.
A £20m loss for The Reds.
3. Dimitar Berbatov – £30 million Loss
In number three is Dimitar Berbatov.
After having a good season with Tottenham he joined Manchester United in 2008 for £35 million, but after consistently being a substitute despite his goalscoring nature, Berbatov finally grew fed up at Old Trafford and left the club.
He joined Fulham in 2012 for just £5 million meaning United made a loss of £30 million.
2. Andriy Shevchenko – £31 million Loss
Former Chelsea player makes the list of Top 10 Biggest Money Losing Transfers in Football History.
Andriy Shevchenko joined Chelsea from AC Milan for a fee of £31 million back in 2006 after he had amazing spell with the Serie A side. The Ukrainian was actually labelled as one of the best strikers in the world at the time.
Unfortunately things did not go well at The Bridge and he later joined Dynamo Kiev for free.
Chelsea didn’t make any money on the sale meaning they made a loss of over £30m.
1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic – £40 million Loss
In number one is a person we didn’t expect to be on the list and it’s the amazing Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Zlatan is one of the best players in the world at the moment, well known for his strength, acrobatic ability and his wonderful goals.
Ibrahimovic tops the list of Top 10 Biggest Money Losing Transfers in Football History after joining AC Milan for just £20m after he had joined FC Barcelona for £60m.
The Catalan club making a massive loss of £40 million.