With the transfer window still open, clubs are scouting for top talents to revamp their squads ahead of the 2022/2023 campaign.
Many top clubs are known to spend big in order to recruit some of the best talents in the market with expectations they will be worth the money used in their purchase.
However, that has not been the case in some clubs after acquiring signing players who end up underperforming, injured or even fail to adapt to the country.
TeamKenya.co.ke takes a look at five players who failed to prove their worth after moving to top-tier clubs.
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1. Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona
Coutinho became Barcelona’s most expensive signing in history back in January 2018, costing the Catalans Ksh16 billion (€135 million).
During his move, Coutinho issued transfer request to leave Liverpool for Barcelona.
The Brazilian failed to replicate his form from Liverpool forcing Barcelona to loan him out to Bayern Munich. Coutinho is currently playing for Premier League side Aston Villa.
Villa acquired Coutinho in January on a six months loan deal before signing him on a permanent deal from Barcelona at Ksh2.4 billion (£17 million).
2. Donny van de Beek to Manchester United
Donny van de Beek’s move to Manchester United in August 2021 cost the Red Devils Ksh4 billion (€35 million).
The Dutch midfielder after failing to adapt to United was sent on loan to Everton but has returned to Old Trafford.
However the midfielder is hopeful to get back to his form after Manchester United brought in his former manager Eric Ten Haag as their new manager.
3. Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea
Chelsea acquired the services of the Belgian striker from Inter Milan at a fee of Ksh13.7 billion (£97.5 million).
During Lukaku’s reign at Inter, he reached top levels resulting in him being named the most valuable player of Serie A in 2020/2021.
After failing to reach the same levels at Chelsea, Lukaku has been loaned back to Inter at a fee of Ksh1.4 billion (£10 million).
4. Eden Hazard to Real Madrid
Real Madrid signed the former Chelsea forward in 2019 at a fee of Ksh14 billion (£100 million).
Since joining Madrid Hazard has had a difficult time attaining his match fitness.
Hazard has been at the Bernabeu for three seasons and has only played a total of 66 matches.
5. Nicolas Pepe to Arsenal
In 2019 Arsenal went out of their way to break their transfer record by signing Ivorian international Nicolas Pepe from Lille.
Arsenal was reported to have signed Pepe at a cost of Ksh10 billion (£72 million) for five seasons.
The Ivorian winger is currently three years into his contract but has failed to replicate his past form before joining the Premier League side.
Various transfer reports have suggested that Arsenal is considering parting ways with the Ivorian either on loan or at a lower price.
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