Big Money Premier League Summer Signings Who Have Not Hit the Mark

Mega money was spent by Premier League clubs in the summer transfer window this year.

The 20 top flight sides splashed out big bucks in an attempt to properly bolster their respective squads for a crack at a successful campaign.

And so far, the results have differed wildly from each club to the next.

For every Nick Woltemade at Newcastle United there have been countless flops around the country who have arrived with hefty price tags and done little so far.

That tag around their neck may be weighing some down while others have simply underperformed by their own standards through sheer lack of effort.

Top Premier League transfers of summer 2025 who have struggled so far

Perhaps some have not quite been the right fit for their new manager’s style and that is where the recruitment has to come under the microscope.

Either way, in a division as competitive and scrutinised as the Premier League, players – especially the expensive ones – do not really get much time to settle before judgment is made.

We at FootballBlog took a look at the statistics both on the pitch and written on the cheques to get a true idea of those stars who have failed thus far to set the heather alight.

And while it remains possible that these players will still succeed in future, they are certainly not repaying their club quite yet and they will have to do more to justify their spend.

Florian Wirtz

Wirtz was expected to take to English football like a duck to water after leaving Bayer Leverkusen, but it has not worked out that way.

He cost Liverpool close to £115million which was one of the biggest fees paid this summer.

He has seriously struggled to adapt to life at Anfield and is yet to find the net with a goal while only chipping in with three assists from his first 14 matches at the club.

It can certainly be argued that Arne Slot’s set up has held the German back as he is often being asked to change his own preferred position and style.

But for the money they paid, the hype surrounding the creative playmaker and the talent he does possess, Wirtz should have started his Liverpool career in a much stronger way.

Alexander Isak

As above, so below.

Isak caused a stir at Newcastle and forced his record move to the Reds through for around £125m.

Thus far the Swede has barely impacted a game for his new club with just one goal and the same number of assists in his first eight outings.

Even the goal for the 25-year-old did not come in the Premier League but instead against Championship side Southampton in the Carabao Cup.

Isak has done nothing of note since his big switch and has to really start justifying the chaos he was at the centre of earlier this year.

Noni Madueke

Arsenal’s attacking wide player moved to the Emirates to little fanfare by comparison to other players they signed, but he was still expected to do big things.

At Chelsea, Madueke scored 20 goals and offered nine assists in 94 games but he was seemingly destined to thrive under Mikel Arteta with more game time and love from a boss.

He has not scored, nor has he assisted in eight matches across Premier League and Champions League fixtures.

And that miserable start was compounded by a knee injury that has kept the £50m player on the sidelines.

Evann Guessand

Cost Aston Villa £26m which by today’s standards is not too crazy.

However the Villans went through an awful early patch under Unai Emery where they could not find the back of the net and their new signing from Nice was partially to blame.

Guessand has only scored once since his summer move which is clearly not enough for the club as they sit 11th in the division despite being desperate to compete for a Champions League spot again.

He is yet to score in the Premier League with his only strike coming against Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League.

Guessand is also only averaging 46 minutes of football in the EPL this season so far.

All his stats need improved.

Liam Delap

Was snapped up by Chelsea from the relegated Ipswich Town but might have wished he had stayed with the Tractor Boys.

The striker was their top marksman last season so has proven he can cut it in the EPL but at the Blues he has not done it yet.

He is behind the likes of Joao Pedro in the pecking order and injury has curtailed his season since his £31m switch to Stamford Bridge.

He has suffered with knee problems and played only four times and most recently he came off the bench against Wolves in the Carabao Cup only to be sent off for two daft yellow cards.

James Trafford

Joined Manchester City from Burnley and felt he would be their top goalkeeper and number one this season.

How wrong that proved to be.

He cost the club £30m but he has been sitting on their substitutes bench for the most part having watched as Pep Guardiola also brought in Gigio Donnarumma who is the starting stopper.

There was talk earlier about a loan exit for Trafford but that never came to fruition.

Two of the three Premier League starts he has made this season have ended in defeat and he made one particular error in a loss to Tottenham that wasn’t quickly forgotten or forgiven by City fans.

Benjamin Sesko

Manchester United beat Newcastle to the signing of Sesko and he cost them around £75m to join from RB Leipzig.

There was a lot of talk surrounding the Slovenian and he was expected to hit the ground running with goals aplenty.

But his record has been lacking in that department and he has only helped himself to two in all competitions from 11 appearances.

With Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbuemo involved at Old Trafford, early on Sesko was actually reduced to a bit-part.

Has played more regularly in recent weeks but has barely added to his stats and that’s where it counts.

Yoane Wissa

Newcastle, to be fair to them, lost Wissa to injury before the season even started.

The Magpies are due FIFA compensation for the attacker picking up the knock on international duty but it was the nature in which he landed his move from Brentford that helps him onto our list.

Wissa forced a move to Newcastle and risked tarnishing his Bees legacy even though he earned the club close to £55m.

Has still not featured for his new club and we’re now in November despite his return supposedly penciled in for October.

Xavi Simons

Was a sought-after commodity in the transfer market this summer with more than one top English club moving for the RB Leipzig creative.

Chelsea were keen on Simons for a long time but it was rivals Spurs who would eventually steal a march and land the Dutch international for £57m.

He has shown glimpses of talent at his new club but nothing close, yet, to what he was expected to bring to the game in this country.

His stats show the same with 12 overall outings under Thomas Frank and just the one assist.

It is fair to say he has been unlucky at times but needs to do more.