The biggest Premier League clubs spend the most amount of money on coveted talent and usually reap the rewards with Erling Haaland enjoying a prolific start to life at Man City while Casemiro stakes his claim as the league’s best defensive-midfielder this season, but what happens when an expensive acquisition doesn’t perform to expectations?
Some players need more time to settle in England than others and there are plenty of big-money moves that haven’t gone fully to plan so far in 2022/23.
Here are six big-money summer signings who’ve struggled this season
Kalvin Phillips
Signed for £45m from Leeds United, the 27-year-old midfielder knew he was playing second-fiddle to Rodri upon his Man City arrival, but Phillips must be shocked with how badly his debut season has gone.
The England international was considered one of the league’s best defensive mids last year but now finds his stock incredibly low after an injury-laded campaign. Phillips has made just nine appearances from a possible 36, starting only once.
He’s amassed 168 minutes of playing time from a possible 3240 due to a shoulder injury and lack of fitness, so this season has been a major disappointment.
Raheem Sterling
Signed for £47.5m from Manchester City, the 28-year-old wide-man has been nothing short of disappointing for Chelsea with six goals and three assists from 24 games in all competitions this season.
Sterling has scored just one goal in the Premier League since August and has only started three league games since the turn of the year due to injury, so his London homecoming hasn’t gone to plan.
The England international netted 17 goals with nine assists for City last season but is likely to fall considerably short of that tally this campaign.
Richarlison
Signed for £60m from Everton, the 25-year-old striker is still awaiting his first league goal for Tottenham. Richarlison has made 20 appearances, scoring two goals with three assists, but he hasn’t bagged in the top-flight since making the switch last summer.
Big things were expected of the Brazilian international after he contributed 16 goals from 33 games in his last season on Merseyside, but he’s endured a calf injury and hamstring problem, resulting in him starting only six league games this campaign.
Marc Cucurella
Signed for £60m from Brighton & Hove Albion, the 24-year-old left-back joined Chelsea last summer after interest from Manchester City but hasn’t lived up to expectations.
Only two players have been dribbled past more than Cucurella per game (0.9) and no defender has made fewer interceptions (0.6). The Spaniard has only 35.7% success rate from dribbles and has averaged only 0.6 accurate crosses per game.
Graham Potter would follow Cucurella to Stamford Bridge months after his arrival and recently revealed off-field issues may be to blame for his poor form in London.
Alexander Isak
Signed for £63m from Real Sociedad, the 23-year-old striker hasn’t enjoyed the best debut season at Newcastle United. Isak has been short of playing time due to injury, spending most of the campaign sidelined with a hamstring problem, so fans haven’t been able to see why such a financial outlay was sanctioned.
Isak has three goals in 11 games for the Magpies but only has one in his last six since returning from injury. Big things were expected of the Swedish international, especially after he scored on his league debut, but he’s yet to deliver consistently. There have been fleeting moments of quality, but not enough to justify the transfer fee as of yet.
Antony
Signed for £86m from Ajax, the 23-year-old wide-man has fallen well below expectations at Manchester United with six goals and one assist from 24 appearances.
Antony has played in 12 Premier League games from a possible 24 this season, spending weeks out in November with a hip injury and weeks out in February with a leg injury.
The Brazilian international is only £3m off being United’s record-signing but hasn’t scored a league goal since October, so it’s not exactly money well spent just yet – even if he did net a crucial winner in midweek against Barcelona.
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