Most of the Premier League’s big-money summer time recruits might have made a direct influence at their new golf equipment, however there are additionally a number of European superstars who’ve shortly discovered themselves on the heart of nightmares.
Present English champions Liverpool might have damaged a sequence of economic information in the summertime switch window, however it’s a lot of their record-breaking new signings who’re struggling essentially the most to seek out their ft.
With the second half of the 2025/26 season shortly getting underway, we have taken a take a look at a number of the Premier League’s worst summer time signings.
Alexander Isaac – Newcastle to Liverpool
Alexander Isak, who was on the heart of a spectacularly chaotic divorce with Newcastle over the summer time, stole lots of the Premier League’s headlines and was quickly embroiled in an epic saga.
The Swedish marksman might have lastly pressured a transfer to defending Premier League champions Liverpool after the edges agreed a record-breaking £125m switch payment, however Isak has failed to duplicate that kind on Merseyside.
Regardless of discovering the again of the web in Liverpool’s 2-1 win away to Tottenham final weekend, the previous Newcastle striker is now anticipated to be sidelined for a very long time with a damaged foot.
Isak was usually pressured to accept a spot on the bench whereas fellow summer time signing Hugo Ekitike started his profession after finishing his transfer to Anfield.
With no video games scheduled till February on the earliest, and having solely scored two objectives within the Premier League for Arne Slott’s aspect earlier than final weekend’s blowout in north London, Isak might by no means have imagined that his begin to life at Anfield can be so disastrous.
Liverpool have introduced that Alexander Isak suffered a damaged foot in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Tottenham.
The Swedish striker underwent surgical procedure on Monday and the period of the harm was not disclosed, however the 26-year-old is anticipated to be out for a number of months. pic.twitter.com/Y03U4hGnAy
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 22, 2025
Florian Wirtz – from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool
Isak might have come below scrutiny after finally forcing via a controversial transfer to Anfield, however the Sweden worldwide shouldn’t be the one record-breaking summer time recruit to have endured a nightmarish begin to life below Slott’s tutelage.
There was nice pleasure across the crimson half of Merseyside when it was lastly confirmed in June that Florian Wirths had accomplished his £116m transfer to the reigning Premier League champions, surprising the footballing world.
Extensively considered certainly one of Europe’s most gifted younger stars, it was thought the German playmaker might turn out to be Anfield’s new marquee participant.
However Wilts, who continues to be ready to open his Premier League account after 16 appearances within the high flight, has failed to seek out the again of the web in any competitors thus far this season, and the 22-year-old is clearly struggling to adapt to life amongst England’s elite.
Wirtz might have mentioned he wished to “win every little thing yearly” when he joined, however experiences over the vacations counsel the previous Bayer Leverkusen ace is already contemplating a transfer from Merseyside.
Harvey Elliott – Liverpool to Aston Villa
This summer time, Harvey Elliott, who was named participant of the match on the 2025 UEFA European Below-21 Championship and spearheaded England’s historic title cost, discovered himself on the peak of his inventory.
With curiosity from numerous heavyweights from throughout the continent, the previous Fulham teenager had the world at his ft just some months in the past, with the 22-year-old wanting set to stake his declare for a real spot in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad subsequent 12 months.
There was nice pleasure across the Midlands when he lastly selected Deadline Day to finish his transfer to Aston Villa in an preliminary mortgage deal.
Nevertheless, he has surprisingly not featured in any competitors since making a five-minute cameo in Villa’s 2-0 Europa League win over Feyenoord on October 2, and Elliott has usually been overlooked of supervisor Unai Emery’s match-day squad.
It has been prompt Emery has no intention of including to the England Below-21 ace and fully regrets making a rash resolution on deadline day, with hypothesis even suggesting that Villa are determined to ship Elliott again to Anfield in January.
🚨⚠️ Supervisor Unai Emery has admitted that Harvey Elliott is more likely to go away Aston Villa in January: “I hope we are able to discover a answer for him to attempt to play constantly, whether or not he continues his profession with us or not.”
“He is on mortgage right here, however he is definitely not becoming a member of us on a everlasting contract.” pic.twitter.com/fkiMYEnQJb
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 10, 2025
Benjamin Sesco – from RB Leipzig to Manchester United
Matheus Cunha and Brian Mbeumo might have made a direct influence following their respective summer time strikes to Outdated Trafford, however one other spectacular new celebrity has but to set foot in Manchester.
It is no secret that Ruben Amorim was solely targeted on finishing his attacking transformation at Outdated Trafford over the summer time, and a brand new pure quantity 9 was on the high of his wishlist.
With Rasmus Hodjlund pressured to depart United and his season-long mortgage transfer to Napoli accomplished, Benjamin Sesko was Amorim’s primary goal, becoming a member of from RB Leipzig for a hefty payment of just about £74m.
Regardless of scoring back-to-back home strikes for the reason that opening recreation in October, the 22-year-old has failed to attain since then and has additionally been coping with health points over the previous month.
Though he has confronted severe festivities following his return from a knee drawback two weeks in the past, there are already many critics round Manchester’s crimson half who really feel Sesco is simply one other spectacular celebrity who will quickly be forgotten.
Xavi Simons – From RB Leipzig to Tottenham
Xavi Simons regarded set to make a everlasting transfer to Chelsea for a lot of the summer time, however the Dutch worldwide’s eventual arrival in north London raised many eyebrows.
After Chelsea had been unable to agree phrases with RB Leipzig after in depth negotiations, Tottenham swooped in on the final minute and handed Simmons a Premier League lifeline.
The previous Barcelona teenager was broadly seen as a summer time attraction for Tottenham as he goals to turn out to be a key a part of Thomas Frank’s new Spurs aspect.
Regardless of a lot pleasure earlier than arriving on the white North London aspect, Symonds was proven a straight crimson card in Spurs’ 2-1 residence defeat to Liverpool final weekend, a second that just about symbolized the beginning of his life at Spurs.
Symonds, who has scored only one aim in his first 14 Premier League appearances and is commonly the topic of ridicule, is annoyed and Frank is struggling to seek out the easiest way to strengthen the 22-year-old.
Xavi Simons despatched off after being tackled by Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk🟥 pic.twitter.com/R2OCOS9NwS
— B/R Soccer (@brfootball) December 20, 2025
Jamie Gittens – From Borussia Dortmund to Chelsea
Unsurprisingly, one other Blues new signing has slipped into the shuffle as we watch Chelsea splurge once more on summer time transfers, bringing within the likes of Joao Pedro, Alejandro Garnacho and Brazilian sensation Estevao.
The bombshell announcement raised many eyebrows, with Stamford Bridge bosses shelling out £48.5m for Jamie Gittens in June, with many questioning the place the 21-year-old would slot in below supervisor Enzo Maresca’s steerage.
Shortly turning into one of many forgotten stars round west London, Gittens made 12 appearances within the Premier League this season however failed to seek out the again of the web in any of them.
Though he was overlooked of Maresca’s matchday squad for final weekend’s journey to St James’ Park, the previous Manchester Metropolis academy teenager has began simply two Premier League video games for the reason that finish of October.
Chelsea want to break into certainly one of Europe’s most full attacking traces and have been concerned in only one aim in all competitions thus far this 12 months, and there have already been hints that he might go away the membership early in January.
Anthony Elanga – From Nottingham Forest to Newcastle
Anthony Elanga, who arrived at Nottingham Forest from Manchester United in the summertime of 2023, definitely hit it massive on the Metropolis Floor and shortly turned certainly one of their most dear attacking stars.
Forest spearheaded Europe’s iconic cost final season, however many round Nottingham had been left heartbroken in July when Newcastle agreed a blockbuster £55m transfer for the Sweden worldwide.
Nevertheless, regardless of beginning his rise to superstardom in earnest after arriving at Forest two years in the past, Elanga has largely failed to duplicate an analogous degree and was unable to keep up an everyday spot in Eddie Howe’s aspect.
Elanga has failed to seek out the again of the web in his first 17 top-flight video games at St James’ Park, with the Magpies nonetheless languishing within the backside half of the Premier League and displaying apparent instability this season.
Having began simply three of Newcastle’s final 13 video games throughout all competitions, the previous Man United teenager has surprisingly struggled to determine himself in Howe’s attacking ranks.
Elanga is not a foul participant, he is an ideal instance of dangerous recruiting.
At Forest, I performed in a staff that sat deep and performed on the counter-attack. His uncooked tempo and carrying means are an ideal match. His 11 assists final season are proof of that.
Newcastle wanted a working again who might get down low… pic.twitter.com/KdoZKkoxX0
— A recreation of halves (@CoachMeron) December 15, 2025
