Top-10 Overpriced Footballers
We look at players who’s transfer fees have been too high
As it’s transfer window season, SillySeason think it’s a perfect time to look back at some deals that simply stunned the footballing world. Maybe not because of the actual transfer, but certainly for the transfer fee.
With the new financial power in global football, players have been making a lot more transfers these days, either due to clubs being able to afford big transfer fees, or because of the players being tempted by huge contract offers.
Now over time we have seen some bizarre transfers, but it’s time to look into the top-10 most overpriced footballers.
Which club overpaid for a certain player? Well it’s time to find out!
10. Christopher Samba – £12 million
Up first on our list is Christopher Samba.
After playing for several clubs abroad, the centre-back finally made his way to England with Blackburn Rovers and after an impressive five years at Ewood Park, he shocked the world by joining Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala.
However, that deal wasn’t the most shocking part of Samba‘s career. His next move was.
Queens Park Rangers forked out £12million for the French defender back in 2013 halfway through a season to try and keep them in the Premier League.
He was injury prone and unfit so only managed 10 games for The Rs and failed to keep them in the Premier League.
After the relegation, Samba left Loftus Road and went straight back to Anzhi before ending up at Dynamo Moscow where he still plays at the age of 31.
9. Stewart Downing – £20million
Another overpriced player is Stewart Downing after Liverpool decided to pay £20million to Aston Villa for him back in 2011.
After impressive spells with Middlsbrough and Villa, the England winner earned himself a move to Anfield after The Reds agreed to pay £20m for him.
However, just two years later he was sold to West Ham United for just £5m.
Downing made 65 Premier League appearances for Liverpool during his two years there, scoring just three goals.
The English winger is trying to get his career back on track at Upton Park and had a rather successful campaign last season with The Hammers after relishing in a new central role.
8.Joleon Lescott – £22million
A centre-back comes in at eighth on our list after Manchester City paid Everton £22million for Joleon Lescott.
After three years at Goodison Park, Lescott followed the money and joined City in 2009, where he stayed for five years before moving to West Bromwich Albion on a free transfer.
Lescott made over 100 league appearances for City, but certainly wasn’t worth the money they forked out for him.
Now 32, Lescott is still in the Premier League with The Baggies.
7. Dmytro Chygrynskiy – £18million
A lot of people may not even remember this guy or may not have even heard of him, but back in 2009, FC Barcelona paid £18million to sign him from Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Ukrainian centre-back spent just one year at the Nou Camp before returning to Shakhtar after he struggled to settle in Spain and failed to break into the Barca first-team.
After an £18m move, Chygrynskiy made just 12 La Liga appearances for the Catalan side before moving back to Ukraine for just £11m.
The 28-year-old is now playing for Dnipro.
6. Marouane Fellaini – £27.5 million
This one was hard to include after his season under Louis Van Gaal, but not many people will think Marouane Fellaini is worth £27.5million.
The Belgium midfielder followed David Moyes from Everton to Manchester United and just like the manager, he flopped badly at Old Trafford.
During his first season with United, Fellaini failed to register a single goal or assist.
However, last season was a different story for the tall midfield-man as he looked like his former-self under Van Gaal with a new, advanced role.
Still not sure he’s done enough to convince people he’s worth near £30m mind.
5. Hulk – £32 million
Someone who certainly isn’t worth over £30million is this guy.
Hulk looks like a monster, but plays like a mouse most of the time and is currently in Russia with Zenit St Petersburg.
He may have a lethal shot and insane strength, but he’s not all there technically and isn’t really that great on the ball unless he’s rocketing shots from miles out.
Definitely not worth the £32million price-tag.
4. Eliaquim Mangala – £31.8million
Manchester City have so much money they don’t really care how they spend it, but £31.8million on this guy is ludicrous.
Yes people may say he’s adapting to English football and he’s only 24-years-old, he could come good, but from what he’s shown so far, he is not anywhere near worth this much money.
Caught out of position most of the time, knocked off the ball way too easily despite his size, struggles to keep up with the game and just always a risk on the ball.
Mangala even made Vincent Kompany look bad last season and that’s saying something.
City need to hope he drastically improves to merit this price-tag.
3. Dejan Lovren – £20million
After his superb season for Southampton, it looked like £20million for Dejan Lovren could be a good bit of business from Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool.
However, the Lovren from St Marys simply didn’t come to Anfield and he struggled to live up to the hype in Merseyside.
Halfway through last season the Croatian even admitted that he was finding it hard to settle in at his new club, and you could see that on the pitch as he had no kind of relationship with his defensive colleagues.
Major gaps left at the back lead to cheap goals being conceded and as it stands, it looks like £20m wasted by Rodgers.
2. David Luiz – £50 million
This was VERY close to being at number-one spot just because it’s ridiculous.
£50million for a defender who can’t really defend but can often score the sensational goal. It’s like signing a striker for £50m who can’t score but is good at tracking back.
When Chelsea heard Paris Saint-Germain were offering £50m for the Brazilian they must have been laughing their heads off. Massively overrated in the game and was caught out in the World Cup when Germany tore him apart.
If he’s worth £50m, the average Joe on the street must have some kind of price-tag.
1. Andy Carroll – £35 million
Fortunately for David Luiz, this guy is making it at number-one and unfortunately for Liverpool, it’s another one of their signings.
In the same summer they signed Luis Suarez, The Reds also signed Andy Carroll….for £35million from Newcastle United.
The striker had a great season in the Championship for The Magpies and was tipped for great things. However, he didn’t suit Liverpool‘s style of play and just flopped at Anfield.
Shipped out to West Ham United on loan for a season and then eventually sold permanently to The Hammers for just £15m, making a £20m loss on the striker.
Simply the most overpriced footballer.