My Top Transfer Flops (2/3)

Alberto Aquilani

Roma to Liverpool in 2009 for 17 Million

Liverpool paid a massive 17 million pounds for the Italian to soften the blow of Xabi Alonso’s departure. Aquilani turned out to either be injured or just no good during his time at Anfield.

He may have been played out of position and it would have suited him more playing in a more attacking role than a holding midfield role but as with Forlan these are just excuses. He made 28 appearances for Liverpool in his spell at the club which is over half a Million for every time he took to the pitch and 8.5 Million per goal scored!

He has now been loaned out to the like of Juventus and AC Milan and doesn’t look like he’ll be justifying his price tag at Anfield anytime soon. I think he must go down as Rafa Benitez’s worst signing, and this from a man who purchased Andrea Dossena, Charles Itandje, Jan Kromkamp and Philipp Degen!

Sergei Rebrov

Dynamo Kiev to Tottenham in 2000 for 11 Million

The all-time highest scorer in the Ukrainian Premier League managed only 10 goals in 60 Premier League games for Spurs. He arrived at Spurs as the 1999-2000 Champions League top scorer.

Sergei seems another story of a player who just didn’t settle in England or didn’t adapt to the Premier League as many thought he would. He was ultimately frozen out by manager Glenn Hoddle and sent to Fenerbahce on a loan deal.

For some reason West Ham decided it would be a good idea to give Sergei another shot at English football but this time in the Championship. He could only manage 2 goals in 33 appearances! It looks like his spell in the Ukrainian League just really flattered him and he was just not as good as we all thought. Massive flop!

Eric Djemba-Djemba

Nantes to Manchester United in 2003 for 3.5 Million

Eric Djemba-Djemba – So bad they named him twice! The Cameroonian made only twenty Premier League appearances in two years at Old Trafford and scored no goals. He did score an amazing goal against Leeds United in the League Cup but all in all was a massive let down to the Manchester United faithful.

Any hopes that he might be a successor to Roy Keane were quickly extinguished! He was packed off to Aston Villa, for a loss of 2 Million, where he was equally rubbish. I can’t make any excuses for Djemba-Djemba at all over his entire playing career – he has made 124 appearances with only 9 goals. What was Fergie thinking?

Andriy Shevchenko

AC Milan to Chelsea in 2006 for 30 Million

This deal was a huge embarrassment for Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich as he was the one who really wanted Shevchenko. Having scored 83 goals in his final three seasons at AC Milan Sheva netted just 9 in the Premier League in two full seasons. The Shevchenko saga seemed to contribute hugely to the down fall of Jose Mourinho as well so not only did Chelsea loose the 30 Million forked out on Sheva but also one of the best managers of our generation.

Shevchenko was sent back out on loan to Milan but could not manage a single goal in half a season. Andriy’s main problem was that, at 30, he had lost a yard of pace when he arrived at Chelsea, which was exposed by the quicker tempo of the England game.

The tale ended as Shevchenko left Chelsea on a free transfer, and a loss of 30 Million, to former club Dynamo Kiev. He has scored 35 goals in 55 League appearances for Kiev proving ageing players can still look good in the lower quality leagues around the world but get found out in the Premiership. Flop factor 10/10 for me.