The 50 Worst Liverpool Transfers In the Premier League of All Time
Over the last few years, Liverpool have become known to be excellent in the transfer market. More often than not, the players they sign have turned out to be some of the best in the world. Take Mo Salah, Alisson Becker, and Virgil van Dijk, for example.
But every club has their howlers, and the Reds are not immune to making some terrible decisions within the transfer market, and there are quite a few of them. These are 50 of the worst Liverpool signings of all time.
These players have been ranked and chosen based on the following criteria: Price, Impact, Expectation & Reputation. From terrible shot-stoppers to strikers who couldn’t buy form, some of these transfers leave you scratching your head…
The 50 Worst Liverpool Transfers Since 1992
50. Fabio Carvalho – Signed from Fulham, £5 Million
Fabio Carvalho was the next big thing from the Championship, and it looked like Liverpool had secured one of the best upcoming talents in England for £5 million from Fulham. However, he struggled to make an impact. Despite a strong start, which included a dramatic 97th-minute winner against Newcastle, Jürgen Klopp quickly lost faith in the player.
He played just 21 times and spent the second season at the club out on loan at RB Leipzig and Hull City. His first loan to Germany wasn’t great, with the youngster barely playing, but his time at Hull was much improved. He scored 9 goals in 20 league games, prompting Brentford to strike a deal for £27.5 million in 2024.
Great business by the club, but also not a great signing. It does feel slightly harsh naming him as one of the worst Liverpool transfers ever.
49. Arthur Melo – Signed from Juventus, Loan
Amidst fan outcry for a signing in midfield, Jurgen Klopp eventually admitted they probably should have added cover in that position. In comes Arthur Melo on deadline day. The Brazilian arrived for a £4 million loan fee with an option to buy worth £33 million.
He made just one 13-minute cameo against Napoli in the Champions League before injuries would sideline him for the rest of the season. It was a total waste of money and time for both parties.
48. Ben Davies – Signed from Preston North End, £500,000
Ben Davies came, he left, and he never played a game. Signed during Liverpool’s central defender crisis in 2020/2021, the Englishman cost the club just £500,000, plus £1.1 million in performance-related add-ons. However, those add-ons basically meant nothing.
Cheap price, zero games, not an awful signing, as the club did eventually make a profit selling him to Rangers for a reported £3 million, potentially rising to £4 million in add-ons. But it is certainly one that still raises eyebrows.
47. Dominic Solanke – Signed from Chelsea, £3 Million
It may feel harsh including Dominic Solanke on this list, but he arrived at the club with a lot of promise and admiration from the Liverpool staff. The Reds paid a £3 million tribunal fee to Chelsea for his services. Unfortunately for the Englishman, he only lasted one season at the club, in which he scored his only goal on the final day of the 17/18 campaign.
He was eventually sold to Bournemouth in January 2019 for £19 million, a hefty profit on the money paid just 18 months back. This is why we couldn’t quite bring ourselves to put him any lower.
46. Luis Alberto – Signed from Sevilla, £6.8 Million
In 2013, Liverpool splashed out a fairly significant fee of £6.8 million for Sevilla player Luis Alberto but, for some reason, barely played him. During his time, Brendan Rodgers only handed him 12 appearances, so Liverpool fans couldn’t really get to see if he was as good as the fee suggested.
He was then sent on loan for the following seasons, Malaga in 2014/2015 and Deportivo La Coruna in 2015/2016. Eventually he permanently left the club for £3.3 million, joining Lazio, where he became a club legend for them.
45. Tiago Ilori – Signed fron Sporting, £7 Million
Tiago Ilori was signed for Liverpool for around £7 million, which means each appearance cost the club £2.33 million. What a deal! Yes, the defender only played three times for the club.
His time at the club was mainly elsewhere on loan, with seasons at Granada, Bordeaux and Aston Villa. He was then sold to Reading for £3.75 million. It was both a waste of time for the player and Liverpool, with neither benefitting from their time together.
44. Ricky Lambert – Signed from Southampton, £4 Million
The story of Ricky Lambert, a boyhood Liverpool fan, joining the club in the later years of his career is nothing short of inspiring. But when you realise he came in as a replacement for Luis Suárez, it quickly becomes an uninspired memory.
Arriving from Southampton for a £4 million transfer fee plus add-ons, Lambert admitted he didn’t think he would return to the club after being released early in his career.
“I have always dreamt of playing for Liverpool, but I did kind of think the chance of playing for them had gone. I didn’t think the chance would come.”
– Ricky Lambert
His time wasn’t the fairy tale story he would have wanted, scoring just three goals in 36 games for the club, but it was probably a time he doesn’t want to forget. Although the fans will likely be the opposite.
43. Jean-Michel Ferri – Signed from İstanbulspor, £1.5 Million
Jean-Michel Ferri was signed for £1.5m in 1998. However, fans likely don’t remember him much, as he only played twice. He played just 50 minutes and was sold to Sochaux the following summer for a similar fee.
The Reds got their money back quite quickly, but he is still one of the worst Liverpool transfers ever. Just like his career at Anfield, there isn’t much to write about.
42. Julian Dicks – Signed from West Ham, £1.5 million
Julian Dicks’ reputation at West Ham was excellent. He played over 200 games and scored over 40 goals, all from fullback. He was also voted as player of the year twice during his time.
He would turn out to be Graeme Souness’ last signing as Liverpool manager, bringing him in for £1.5 million. The defender struggled to stay fit, reportedly had a bad attitude and had started having a weight problem, all of which didn’t impress new boss Roy Evans.
Just a year after joining, Julian Dicks was resigned by West Ham for £1.26 million, and he was able to recapture his form.
41. Andriy Voronin – Signed from Bayer Leverkusen, Free
Andriy Voronin is a tough one to place, as his time was not terrible but it also wasn’t great. Factors such as injury and being behind Torres and Crouch proved difficult for the Ukrainian to overcome.
Arriving for free from Leverkusen, it would feel harsh to include him near the top end, as he was a hard worker when he played. In 40 games, though, he only scored six times.
40. Sebastien Leto – Signed from Lanus, £1.8 Million
In the January window in 2007, Liverpool forked out £1.8 million to bring young Argentinian midfielder Sebastien Leto to the club. The player wouldn’t move to the club until 7 months later, when the window reopened in July.
Unfortunately for both the player and club, a work permit was never granted for the following summer, and the player went on loan to Olympiakos. During the loan, another side came calling and the player was ultimately sold to Panathinaikos for about £3 million.
While it was good business by Liverpool, it was not a great signing, with the player only featuring four times.
39. Erik Meijer – Signed from Bayer Leverkusen, Free
With Gerard Houllier seeking a tall man up top, the Reds brought in Erik Meijer on a free transfer. In 27 games, he scored just twice, a far from ideal return. Although, he was competing for places against the likes of Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler and Emile Heskey. He left the club for free in 2000, signing for Hamburg.
The Dutchman, over the years, has become quite a cult hero, with fans remembering stories of him attending the UEFA Cup final in 2001 as a fan partying in the streets with Liverpool supporters.
Former teammate Jamie Carragher defended Meijer, saying, “He was just a great fella to have around the place and a great fella to have on the pitch when he did play, a real team player who’d really put himself about.”
38. Oussama Assaidi – Signed from Heerenveen, £2.4 Million
In the 2012/2013 Premier League season, Liverpool spent £2.4 million to recruit Moroccan winger Oussama Assaidi. While it was a relatively low fee, the player arrived with a lot of hype. Known for his flair and dribbling skills, the Anfield crowd was hoping he would take them out of their seats.
However, his career on Merseyside did anything but. Unfortunately, after some bad form and the breakthrough of Raheem Sterling, Assaidi quickly fell out of the squad. He made just 12 appearances in all competitions in his debut season.
The following two seasons, he was sent out on loan to Stoke City before being sold to Al-Ahli Dubai for £4.7 million.
37. Mark Gonzalez – Signed from Albacete, £1.5 Million
Following Liverpool’s famous Champions League win in 2005, Mark Gonzalez arrived from Albacete for £1.5m. However, after struggling to obtain a work visa for England due to Chile being outside of the top 70 nations in FIFA, he had to wait a year to play his first game.
His impact in that game was incredible; he came off the bench for Steven Gerrard in a Champions League qualifier and scored the winning goal. This would perhaps be his only highlight, though.
He played 36 games that season, scoring three, but was eventually sold to Real Betis for £5 million.
36. Antonio Núñez – Signed from Real Madrid, £1.5 million
With Michael Owen moving to Real Madrid, Antonio Núñez moved the other way for £1.5m, although they weren’t connected deals. The Spanish player said, “Even if Owen hadn’t signed for Madrid, I already had an offer from Liverpool and I knew that the manager was keen to sign me, which is something to be proud of.”
His time at Anfield didn’t start great – he picked up a three-month-long knee injury on his first training session. He played just 27 games, scoring one goal, before moving back to Spain. But not before winning the Champions League with the Reds.
35. Bernard Diomede – Signed from Auxerre, £3 Million
Bernard Diomede was a seasoned pro when he arrived at the club for a £3 million transfer fee in 2000. He was part of the 1998 World Cup-winning France squad and was key for Auxerre when they won a league and cup double in 1996. However, the French international sought a new challenge and found himself on Merseyside.
He played just five times for Liverpool across two and a half seasons before he was loaned back to France for the remaining six months of his contract.
34. Bruno Cheyrou – Signed from Lille, £3.7 Million
Gerard Houlier calling Cheyrou the “new Zidane” probably didn’t help him settle into life at the club. After all, that is a big name to live up to. Houlier purchased the midfielder for £3.7 million in the summer of 2002 after some really impressive years at Lille.
However, it seemed those years were behind him and he could never live up to the performance levels he was signed to do. He played 48 times for Liverpool over two seasons, and he was then loaned out for the following two until his contract expired.
33. Paul Stewart – Signed from Tottenham, £2.3 Million
Paul Stewart was highly rated by Liverpool, who forked out a massive £2.3 million for his signature back in 1992. However, the faith would not be repaid. In four years at the club, he only managed 42 appearances, with his final two years being loan moves elsewhere.
His struggles may have had some outside factors; he later admitted in his book that at Liverpool, he was heavily drinking and using cocaine in an attempt to numb the trauma caused by sexual abuse he had endured earlier in his career. However, he will still go down as one of the Reds’ worst signings in Premier League history.
32. Josemi – Signed from Malaga, £2 Million
The signing of Josemi signalled the start of the new era under Rafael Benitez, as the new manager brought the right-back to the club for £2 million from Malaga.
He played just 35 times across all competitions, as injuries and the rise in form of Steve Finnan meant he lost his place in the starting squad. Subsequently, he was sent back to Spain after just 18 months, although he did leave with a Champions League winners medal.
The departure of Josemi was done so in a swap deal with Villarreal, which saw Dutchman Jan Kromkamp join in the other direction. Although, he does also feature on this list…
31. Christian Ziege – Signed from Middlesbrough, £5.5 Million
A Euros winner with Germany and twice a league champion with Bayern Munich, as well as a Serie A winner with AC Milan, on paper Ziege had all the tools to be Liverpool’s starting left-back for years. Gerard Houllier thought so too when he signed him for £5.5 million from Middlesbrough.
However, the German only lasted a year, playing just 32 times for the club. Amidst a blow of injuries and the rise of Jamie Carragher, the fullback was sold to Tottenham for a similar fee to what he was bought for.
30. Anthony Le Tallec – Signed from Le Havre, £2 Million
When Liverpool signed 18-year-old Anthony Le Tallec, they thought they were getting one of Europe’s hottest prospects. While this may have been true at the time, it certainly didn’t pan out that way.
Signing for roughly £2 million, the Frenchman struggled to make his way into the side after leaving Le Havre. Across six years at the club, he only played 32 times and was loaned out five times.
The forward explained in an interview that he feels that the sacking of Gerard Houllier and the arrival of Rafael Benitez was a key moment in his Liverpool career: “Everything started well for me at Liverpool but, unfortunately, the arrival of Rafa Benítez broke my entire career strategy.”
29. Jan Kromkamp – Signed from Villarreal, Free
Jan Kromkamp arrived as a makeweight for Josemi, who went the other way to Villarreal. There isn’t much to write about the Dutch defender other than he featured in the famous FA Cup final against West Ham, coming on as a 67th-minute sub.
Just seven months after arriving in the January window in 2006, he returned to the Netherlands, having only played 18 games for the Reds. He left the club for £2.5 million to join PSV.
28. Sebastián Coates – Signed from Nacional, £4.9 Milion
Coates was signed in the summer of 2011 for a fee around £4.9 million. He was targeted by multiple clubs but the presence of Luis Suárez at Liverpool was the reason he swapped Nacional for Merseyside. At the time, it seemed like a weird transfer, as Liverpool had quite a lot of depth at the back, and it was evident, as Coates only played 12 times in his inaugural season.
The following season, it was the same – just 12 appearances. Then in 2013/2014 a knee injury ruled him out for the rest of the season. This was then followed by a loan move to Sunderland during 2015/16, which was later made permanent for £2 million.
27. Torben Piechnik – Signed from Copenhagen, £500,000
After Denmark’s miraculous EURO 1992 success, Liverpool thought they had signed one of the best defenders in football in Torben Piechnik. The Dane arrived at Anfield to play for Graeme Souness for a fee in the region of £500,000.
He featured in just 23 games across all competitions and the following season only played once. In 94/95, he left on a free transfer back to Denmark to play for Aarhus. In an interview with LFCHistory, Danish teammate at both Liverpool and the national team, Jan Molby, said the biggest problem his compatriot had was “he didn’t want to listen.”
26. Robbie Keane – Signed from Tottenham, £19 Million
There is no doubt Robbie Keane is a terrific player and perhaps a Premier League legend, but unfortunately for him, his time at Liverpool is one of his poorer chapters. While it may not have been entirely his fault, his move to Anfield can only be deemed a failure.
The Irishman signed from Tottenham Hotspur for £19 million in the summer of 2008, and was coming in as competition, as well as a partner for Fernando Torres. Keane started 16 Premier League games out of 19 appearances for the Reds, scoring just 5 times in the league.
After just 6 months at Liverpool, it seemed all parties agreed it was not going to work out in the end, and the player was sold back to Tottenham for just £12 million plus £4 million in add-ons. A significant loss from just a six-month transfer.
25. Pegguy Arphexad – Signed from Leicester, Free
Pegguy Arphexad may be the most successful player to barely play. At Liverpool he won as many trophies as he did appearances (that is, if you allow me to count the Community Shield for the purpose of this joke.) Although he came on a free, it wasn’t the most fruitful signing the club has made.
During his time, he won the League Cup twice, the UEFA Cup, the FA Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, and the Community Shield. Interestingly, Liverpool manager Gerard Houlier signed the man because of an outstanding performance against his team in the 1999/2000 season, which in fact stopped them from qualifying for the Champions League.
He stayed at Anfield for three years, eventually leaving for Coventry upon his contract expiring. He did also go on loan to Stockport in 2001. He also barely played games at both.
24. Sean Dundee – Signed from Karlsruher, £1.8 Million
Liverpool fans often laud Sean Dundee as one of the worst players to ever sign for the club, and with only five games played, they could be correct. The South African was bought for £1.8 million from Karlsruher SC.
The striker’s performances were so bad that just three months after joining, he was linked with a move away. Former Liverpool manager Roy Evans had this to say about him: “One player I do regret signing was Sean Dundee; he was terrible on and off the pitch.”
After just one season, he returned to Germany in a £1 million move to Stuttgart, so at least Liverpool got some of their money back.
23. Iago Aspas – Signed from Celta Vigo, Around £7 Million to £9 Million
Many Liverpool fans will remember Aspas for that one corner. Yes, that corner against Chelsea. However, his time at Anfield will likely be remembered the same. Disastrous.
Arriving from Celta Vigo for a fee believed to be in the region of £7 to 9 million, the Spaniard was brought to bolster the Reds’ attacking options behind Suarez and Sturridge.
Aspas, unfortunately, struggled to adapt to the league and, in just 14 Premier League appearances, didn’t manage a single goal. With his competition in front of him firing on all cylinders, Aspas was merely a bit-part player as Liverpool unexpectedly challenged for the Premier League.
He was loaned back to Spain the following year, joining Sevilla and winning the Europa League, but still struggled to recapture his form. He eventually returned back to Celta Vigo for £5 million in 2015 and has since become a Celta Vigo legend.
22. Salif Diao – Signed from Sedan, £4.7 Million
Salif Diao’s time at Liverpool was a mixed bag. While he showed more promise than the other signings in the summer of 2002, such as Cheyrou and El Hadj Diouf, it was still not a great purchase.
Arriving from Sedan for £4.7 million, the midfielder played 61 times across a five-year spell at Anfield. However, two and half of those years were spent on loan.
Steven Gerrard knew almost instantly that Diao wouldn’t work at Liverpool, saying, “With Salif, I knew after a week of training that he wasn’t going to be good enough.”
He left the club in 2007 after he was released.
21. Philipp Degen – Signed from Borussia Dortmund, Free
Phillip Degen joined Liverpool on a free transfer after his contract at Borussia Dortmund ended in 2008, and he was an unknown quantity before arriving. And the same can be said for when he left. His Anfield time was riddled with injuries; he broke two ribs on his debut and then injured his foot on his return.
He played just 13 times for the Reds and went out on loan to Stuttgart in August 2010, and his contract was ripped up the following summer.
20. Gabriel Paletta – Signed from Banfield, £2 Million
Although eventually declaring for Italy, Gabriel Paletta caught the eyes of Liverpool’s scouts while playing for the under-20 Argentina team at that age group’s World Cup in 2005. The defender was excellent throughout as they won the tournament with a side that also included Lionel Messi and Sergio Agüero.
The defender made the switch to England for £2 million, joining from Club Atlético Banfield. However, his time at Anfield was not great. He played just eight times in his one and only season and eventually left to return to Argentina to play for Boca Juniors in a deal worth £1.2 million.
19. Fernando Morientes – Signed from Real Madrid, £6.3 Million
Fernando Morientes was widely regarded as one of the best forwards in the world for some time, and when he joined Liverpool, it was seen as a real coup by Benitez. Unfortunately for the Spaniard, his time as the best was long overdue before he joined the Reds.
In the years prior, he had lost his starting spot to Ronaldo Nazario and Raul, often finding himself as fourth choice. But signing for Liverpool was meant to be his renaissance.
It turned out it wasn’t and his £6.3 million move was ultimately a failure. He scored just 12 goals across 61 games, a far cry from his previous world-class seasons.
18. Jari Litmanen – Signed from Barcelona, Free
Jari Litmanen was of interest to Liverpool on multiple occasions and in 2001, he finally joined the club. The Finnish attacking midfielder was well-known across Europe, having had excellent spells for Ajax across 7 seasons. His signature was eventually captured by Barcelona, but only for a few years.
After being frozen out by Louis van Gaal, he completed a free transfer to Liverpool, which was a deal that excited then-manager Gérard Houllier.
“We have signed a world-class player. He comes with a massive reputation and I believe he’s one of the most exciting signings we have made.”
– Gérard Houllier
The excitement would turn out to be premature, as after multiple injuries, he found himself barely starting games. He played 43 times for the Reds and eventually left to return to Ajax in 2002 for free. In terms of falling below expectations, this is one of the worst Liverpool transfers ever.
17. Stewart Downing – Signed from Aston Villa, £18.5 Million
In July of 2011, Liverpool spent a hefty £18.5 million on Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing. However, his time was nothing short of terrible. In his first season, he registered no goals or assists in 36 Premier League appearances.
In fact, across his time, he scored just seven goals and assisted nine in 91 games. In the end the club cut their losses, selling him for £5 million to West Ham in 2013. Safe to say this was one of the worst Liverpool transfers ever.
16. Charles Itandje – Signed from Lens, Free
Charles Itandje played just 7 games for Liverpool, but his appearance during the 2009 Hillsborough service will leave a bad taste in any Liverpool fan’s mouth. The French goalkeeper was caught laughing during the memorial, and quickly fans rightly turned on him.
He may have been a free transfer, but his actions make him one of the most despised signings in the history of the club. Liverpool tried to sell him multiple times, but he would reject any incoming offers. He was happy to just sit and collect his money, rather than play.
15. Christian Benteke – Signed from Aston Villa, £32.5 Million
A year after the failed signing of Balotelli, the Reds set their sights on Christian Benteke for a fee of £32.5 million, the Belgian’s release clause.
Benteke hit the ground running, scoring in just his second league game for Liverpool against Bournemouth in a 1-0 win. A couple weeks later, he scored a stunning overhead kick against Manchester United in a 3-1 loss.
Then on 8 October 2015, Jürgen Klopp joined the Anfield club, essentially signalling the end of the former Aston Villa player’s time at Liverpool. Although he made 42 appearances across all competitions, most were off the bench.
The newly appointed German coach didn’t see Benteke as the style of No. 9 for the way he wanted to play. Benteke scored 10 goals for Liverpool across his 42 games.
The following summer Liverpool pretty much recouped their money for Benteke, as Crystal Palace paid a reported £27m with the chance to rise with add ons of £5m, bringing the total fee to £32m
14. Milan Jovanovic – Signed from Standard Liege, Free
Although arriving on a free transfer, Milan Jovanovic is widely regarded as one of the worst signings ever at Liverpool. He was part of the infamous summer that saw Roy Hodgson make quite a few blunders in the market.
However, it wasn’t Hodgson who actually brought him to Anfield; the Serbian had already agreed to join the club before Rafael Benitez was sacked. Perhaps a reason he didn’t quite work out. He was signed by a manager who was sacked and was brought in under one who didn’t approve of his transfer. Overall, he played just 18 games, scoring twice, and left the next summer, joining Anderlecht for approximately £674,000.
13. Joe Cole – Signed from Chelsea, Free
Joe Cole had a high reputation across England as one of the most explosive wingers, but by the time Anfield came calling, he was well past his best. Cole was one of the infamous Hodgson men and arrived on a free transfer.
His time at the club could only be described by the events of his debut, a red card after just 45 minutes against Arsenal. In the next game, he missed a penalty against Trabzonspor in Europe. He started just 19 games across the season, and his time was cut short by sending him out on loan to Lille for the following season.
Liverpool then reportedly paid off Joe Cole £3 million to terminate his contract, and the winger made a move to West Ham shortly after.
12. Lazar Markovic – Signed from Benfica, £20 Million
Lazar Markovic came to Anfield with a tonne of hype surrounding him. Signing from Benfica for £20 million, fans of As Águias, or in English, the Eagles, were sad to lose such a talent so early.
The Serbian was so highly rated that Portuguese journalist Luís Pedro Ferreira believed he had the ability to become as good as Ángel Di María. However, unfortunately for Markovic, his time in England would be the only thing in common with the Argentinian, a disappointment, making him one of the worst Liverpool transfers ever.
Former Chelsea manager Avram Grant, who coached Markovic at Partizan, even went as far as comparing him to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, saying, “I can say that, apart from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, Markovic is one of the best talents I’ve ever seen at 19 years of age.”
He played just 34 games for Liverpool, scoring three goals and getting one assist. Despite being at the Merseyside club until 2019, his final game for the club was as an 84th-minute substitute against QPR near the end of the 2014/2015 season.
The rest of his career was filled with loan moves until the expiry of his contract in 2019. The Serb was clearly unhappy with how his Anfield career panned out and blasted the club for pricing him out of a move away, saying, “It’s OK to take it personally when you are not let go because they’re asking for an unrealistic transfer amount.”
11. Charlie Adam – Signed from Blackpool, £6.75 Million
Charlie Adam was James Ward-Prowse before James Ward-Prowse was James Ward-Prowse. He was well known for his effective set pieces. He was so good even Sir Alex Ferguson said his corners were “worth £10 million alone”.
So when Liverpool forked out £6.75 million for the Blackpool midfielder in 2011, many thought the Reds had secured a bargain. But he struggled to impress the Anfield crowd upon signing.
The Scotsman was a regular starter during his time, playing 37 games across the season in all competitions, but his season ended early in March 2012 after picking up a knee injury. He was then sold to Stoke City in the following transfer window for £4 million, where he ended up staying for the next seven years
10. Darwin Nunez – Signed from Benfica, £85 Million
Some might say including Darwin Nunez in this list is harsh; others will totally agree, and that perfectly sums Nunez up. He is an enigma. You either adore him or loathe him.
Arriving as Liverpool’s record transfer for a total package of £85 million , the Uruguayan had big shoes to fill, stepping into the side as a replacement for Sadio Mané.
His career at the club looked set to be a success, scoring in the club’s Community Shield win against Manchester City, followed by a goal and assist off the bench in a 2-2 draw against Fulham. However, in the following game, he was sent off for headbutting Joachim Anderson.
A span of games that foreshadowed his time at Liverpool, a mixed bag. There is no doubt that the former Benfica man has had some brilliant moments, but he has equally had some terrible ones.
In over 140 games, he has scored 40+ goals and got 20+ assists. In general, not a bad return, but for a record transfer fee? It leaves a lot to be desired. Due to the expectations and the fee, this puts him quite near the top of the worst Liverpool transfers ever.
And he may even be one of the Premier League’s all-time worst transfers too.
9. Christian Poulsen – Signed from Juventus, £4.5 Million
Christian Poulsen was the epitome of the Roy Hodgson era at Liverpool, a time period where, in fact, all of the signings have made this list of the worst Liverpool transfers.
Signed for £4.5 million, the Dane came with a lot of experience and prestige. He was a regularly capped player for his national team, but being 30 years old at the time meant he struggled to adapt to the intensity of English football.
He was a cautious player, mainly making sideways or backwards passes, much to the annoyance of the Anfield crowd. There definitely weren’t any tears in the stands when he left the club after a year.
Christian Poulsen was once a decent player, but his time at Liverpool came too late in his career, and the Reds will only remember him when asked to name obscure players who featured for them.
8. Fabio Borini – Signed from Roma, £10.4 Million
Upon the signing of Fabio Borini for £10.4m from AS Roma, the then Liverpool manager said he was signed because he “scores goals”. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The Italian had a terrible time on Merseyside, only scoring three times in 38 appearances across three years, although one of those years was spent on loan at Sunderland.
The same team he went on loan to, Sunderland tried to sign him with a £14 million bid in the summer of 2014, which was accepted by the club. However, the Italian decided he wanted to fight for his place at Liverpool.’
The following year Sunderland came back, and a deal worth £8 million, potentially rising to £10 million was accepted and Borini left Liverpool.
7. Loris Karius – Signed from Mainz 05, £4.75 Million
When Liverpool fans think of Loris Karius, they think of that 2018 UCL final. While there are some sympathies for him, as he was deemed to have been concussed for most of the match, his career at the club was far from a success.
The German joined the club in 2016 for £4.75 million and was expected to be the long-term No. 1 goalkeeper, but in his first season, he lost his place to Simon Mignolet, with the new arrival only playing 16 times in all competitions.
The following year, he seemed to win back his spot as the favoured goalkeeper, and his form was starting to tick upwards. He played 33 games, including every game of Liverpool’s run to the European final in Kiev. However, after the events of the game unfolded, it was the end of his time at the club.
He was shipped on a two-year loan to Besiktas in 2018 and then to Union Berlin in 2020. He left the club when his contract expired in 2022.
6. Andy Carroll – Signed from Newcastle, £35 Million
Once upon a time, Andy Carroll was Liverpool’s record transfer, coming in at £35 million. Following the departure of Fernando Torres, the Reds had to replace him quickly. They spent the money they received on two players, Carroll and Luis Suárez.
Carroll was considered an excellent replacement at the time, scoring 11 goals in 19 games for Newcastle United in the league, but his time at Anfield was frankly a disaster.
Across 58 appearances, he only managed 11 goals, a far cry from the expected return of a record signing. During the 2012/13 season, he was sent on loan to West Ham and wouldn’t play another game for Liverpool.
All in all, one of the worst Liverpool transfers ever.
5. Naby Keita – Signed from RB Leipzig, £52.75 Million
Naby Keita was meant to be the man to propel Liverpool to great things, and while he was at the club, they did, but without his help. The Guinean was subject to interest in the summer of 2017 but Leipzig refused to sell. Instead the clubs decided to agree to a pre-transfer arrangement, meaning the midfielder joined in 2018 for a fee which ended up being £52.75 million.
There was a lot of hype surrounding him. The one-year pre-arrangement meant Reds supporters could take a year to watch their new man in action, and he was impressive. His time at Liverpool, however, was marred with multiple injuries and he could never find himself fit for a decent number of games. In five years, he only managed to start 49 games, a disaster all round.
4. Alberto Aquilani – Signed from Roma, £17 Million
Alberto Aquilani signed for Liverpool for £17 million after the Reds lost Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009, but due to signing while injured, he didn’t debut until late October.
He played just 28 times before two loan moves to Italy the following two seasons and was eventually let go for free, making his way to Fiorentina.
It was a terrible deal. An expensive, at the time, midfielder coming in to replace a world-class player, only to be injured for the first few months and then subsequently let go for free three years later.
3. El Hadji Diouf – Signed from Lens, £10 Million
We are not sure there are many fanbases that like El Hadji Diouf, as he seems to cause controversy everywhere he went. And at Liverpool it was the same. His most notable moment being spitting on a Celtic fan during a fifth-round match in the UEFA Cup.
He was signed in 2002 for £10 million, which back then was a hefty amount. In 80 games he only managed six goals, which is a godawful return for a striker. To make matters worse, Gerard Houllier decided against keeping Nicolas Anelka at the club in order to sign the Senegalese man.
He is definitely up there as one of the worst Liverpool transfers ever.
2. Mario Balotelli – Signed from AC Milan, £16 Million
After losing Luis Suarez, Liverpool fans were hoping they would break the bank for a big name to continue their push for the Premier League title. They were linked with Alexis Sanchez but lost out to Arsenal. So in came one of the worst Liverpool transfers of all time, Balotelli.
The Italian signed for £16 million, and expectations were pretty high for the former Manchester City striker. However, it took until February for his first Premier League goal.
As always, controversy followed the No. 45. He was blasted by manager Brendan Rodgers for swapping shirts with Real Madrid centre-back Pepe at half-time in the Champions League and was then banned for one game and fined £25,000 for an antisemitic Instagram post.
In the end, he scored just four goals from 28 games in all competitions. Why Always Me? Liverpool fans asked, “Why him?”
1. Paul Konchesky – Signed from Fulham, £4 Million
The less said about Paul Konchesky, the better. Arriving in the summer of Roy, a time Liverpool fans want to forget, the fullback only cost about £3–£4 million, according to reports. £3–£4 million too much if you ask most Reds.
His relationship with supporters was soured when his mother labelled them “Scouse scum” in a Facebook post. He played just 18 games for the club. After Roy Hodgson was let go, he was deemed surplus and loaned to Nottingham Forest and then sold to Leicester City for an undisclosed fee.
While not the highest transfer fee, the sheer idea of Paul Konchesky makes him one of the worst Liverpool transfers ever.
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