10 Worst Strikers in Premier League History [Ranked]

The Premier League has showcased some of the most exciting attacking talents in football history. Few sights were as thrilling as Alan Shearer smashing the net for Newcastle United or Thierry Henry producing moments of pure magic in Arsenal colors.

A striker’s role goes beyond scoring—leading the line and causing chaos in the box are also key responsibilities. Wayne Rooney mastered this at Manchester United, not only scoring but also creating chances for teammates.

However, plenty of Premier League forwards, past and present, have struggled with the pressures of being their team’s main scoring threat. Some endured frustrating goal droughts, while others had memorable misses that ended up in highlight reels they'd rather forget.

Here, we rank the top 10 worst strikers in Premier League history since its inception in 1992. Expect to see big-money disappointments like Roberto Soldado and homegrown flops like Francis Jeffers.

Ranking Factors

• Goal Record
• Career Expectations
• Transfer Fees
• Premier League longevity
• Contributions as part of the team
• More than 10 league appearances

10. Radamel Falcao

Clubs: Manchester United & Chelsea

Excitement, bemusement, and bewilderment—these three words capture how Manchester United fans felt when the club signed Radamel Falcao on loan from AS Monaco in 2014. The Colombian striker, one of Europe’s most coveted forwards, had terrorized defenses for Atletico Madrid in La Liga.

Falcao joined United at the beginning of Louis van Gaal’s tenure, raising eyebrows as the club already had star forwards in Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney. Despite his reputation as a two-time Europa League top scorer, Falcao struggled, managing only four goals and five assists in 26 Premier League appearances.

In 2015, Chelsea took a surprising gamble on Falcao, though the Blues are no strangers to misfiring striker signings. His troubles in England persisted, with just one goal in 10 league games at Stamford Bridge. Ultimately, English football proved a poor fit for one of Europe’s most feared finishers.

9. Afonso Alves

Club: Middlesbrough

At a glance, Afonso Alves' Premier League record of 10 goals in 42 games doesn’t seem too bad. The Brazilian striker joined Middlesbrough from Dutch club Heerenveen in January 2008 for a then-club record fee of £12.5 million. Alves arrived with a sky-high reputation, having scored 48 goals in 50 games in the Eredivisie, but he failed to replicate that form in England.

His struggles proved costly for Boro, who ultimately slipped out of the Premier League and into the second tier. Alves was emblematic of their relegation troubles, and a year after his high-profile signing, he departed for Al-Sadd SC in Qatar for roughly £6 million—at least allowing Boro to recoup half their investment.

8. Roberto Soldado

Club: Tottenham Hotspur

Gareth Bale's 2013 departure to Real Madrid for a then-world record £85 million gave Tottenham Hotspur the funds for a squad overhaul. Spurs wasted no time, spending £100 million on a "magnificent seven" signings in hopes of ushering in a new era under Andre Villas-Boas.

Out of those seven, several could contend for the title of biggest flop—except for Christian Eriksen, who proved to be a hit. Roberto Soldado, however, stands out after his arrival from Valencia for a then-club record £26 million. Known for his aerial prowess and goal-scoring record in La Liga, the Spanish striker looked poised for success.

Unfortunately, Soldado's time at White Hart Lane was disappointing, tallying just seven goals in 52 Premier League games. Spurs fans initially celebrated his signing but were soon disillusioned. A year later, Soldado was sold to Villarreal for £7 million, leaving supporters to reflect on what could have been.

7. Mido

Tottenham, Middlesbrough, Wigan Athletic, West Ham United

Tottenham fans have had their share of ups and downs, and Mido was certainly part of the rollercoaster. Known as one of the Premier League's most colorful figures, the Egyptian forward played for five different English clubs, though he’s most remembered for his time with Spurs.

Mido scored a respectable 14 goals in 48 Premier League appearances for Tottenham, but his relationship with manager Martin Jol soured. Jol famously labeled Mido "irresponsible and disrespectful" following controversial remarks he made about former Spurs defender Sol Campbell.

Mido’s “bad boy” reputation overshadowed much of his Premier League stint. His form became inconsistent, and his temper often flared. He scored just one goal during the 2006-07 season with Spurs, followed by six in 25 games for Middlesbrough, two in 12 for Wigan, and none in nine appearances for West Ham.

6. Andriy Voronin

Club: Liverpool

Andriy Voronin was the player who seemed to show up endlessly in every new pack of Match Attax cards, much to the frustration of kids hoping for a shiny Rooney. Instead, they got this Liverpool fringe player, who managed just five goals in 27 Premier League appearances.

Liverpool's recruitment was hit-and-miss in those days, and Voronin was a free transfer from Bayer Leverkusen in 2007. Unfortunately for him, his arrival coincided with that of Fernando Torres, and competing with the prolific Spaniard was a losing battle. Over three years, he spent one season on loan at Hertha Berlin and eventually left for Dinamo Moscow in 2010. Voronin later joked that his teammates' strong Scouse accents might have contributed to his rocky time in England.

5. Francis Jeffers

Clubs: Arsenal, Everton, Charlton Athletic, Blackburn Rovers

Our sole English player on this list is a classic case of unfulfilled potential. Francis Jeffers was once one of the country’s brightest forward prospects, which prompted a hefty £10 million move from Everton to Arsenal in 2001. At the time, this was a significant fee, but Jeffers couldn’t deliver at Highbury, managing just four goals in 22 Premier League appearances for Arsène Wenger’s Gunners. Competing for a spot was a tall order, with stars like Thierry Henry, Nwankwo Kanu, and Sylvain Wiltord already leading the line.

Jeffers has openly admitted that signing for Arsenal may not have been the best choice, and his career sadly declined from there. His story has since become a cautionary tale of talent that never reached its potential.

4. Jo

Clubs: Man City & Everton

It’s hard to fault Manchester City’s current owners for the £18 million signing of Jo, as the Brazilian striker arrived just two months before the Abu Dhabi United Group took charge. In a way, his acquisition felt like a fitting farewell from the previous regime.

Jo's impact in Manchester was minimal, netting just once in 21 Premier League appearances. A loan spell at Everton saw him fare a bit better with five goals in 27 games, though not enough to earn a permanent deal. Surprisingly, Jo managed to revive his career after leaving England and even went on to earn 20 caps for Brazil.

At least Jo had no trouble identifying which Manchester team he was joining—unlike compatriot Robinho, who arrived amid the takeover chaos later that summer.

3. Franco Di Santo

Clubs: Chelsea, Wigan, Blackburn

South America is known for producing dazzling attacking talents, but some have struggled to live up to the hype in the Premier League. Franco Di Santo is a prime example—initially likened to Diego Maradona, he quickly found himself on the outskirts of first-team football at Chelsea.

Di Santo’s stint at Stamford Bridge saw him play 16 games across all competitions, including eight in the league, without a single goal. The 6'4" striker fared somewhat better at Wigan Athletic, scoring 13 times in 92 league appearances, but his one goal in 22 games for Blackburn Rovers underscored his disappointing spell in England. While he can claim two FA Cup wins, Di Santo’s time in the Premier League, especially at Chelsea, likely had club officials double-checking his credentials.

2. Jozy Altidore

Clubs: Sunderland & Hull City

There was plenty of excitement at Sunderland when Jozy Altidore arrived from AZ Alkmaar for £9 million. The Black Cats had secured a promising young American forward with impressive strength and pace, qualities that were expected to trouble Premier League defenders. Or so they thought.

Altidore’s time at Sunderland was disappointing, with just one goal in 47 Premier League appearances. His spell at Hull City wasn't much better, managing only one goal in 28 league matches, though he did provide seven assists. It seemed that English football just wasn’t the right fit for Altidore, despite his successful international career, where he scored 42 goals in 115 caps. Sunderland and Hull’s recruitment teams must be left wondering why he thrived elsewhere but struggled in the Premier League.

1. Yaya Sanogo

Clubs: Arsenal & Crystal Palace

Arsenal's academy has a rich history of producing some of the Premier League's most iconic attackers, so there was much anticipation when Yaya Sanogo joined from Auxerre in 2013. Hopes were high that the former France U21 international could follow in Thierry Henry's footsteps. Unfortunately, his Premier League career never took off.

Sanogo made just 11 league appearances in four years at Arsenal, failing to score a single goal. During his time at the club, he was loaned out four times, but the goals never came, including a goalless spell at Crystal Palace in 10 league matches.

Now playing in second-tier Chinese football with QD Red Lions, Sanogo’s Premier League record remains a sobering one—lacking the clinical edge needed to make an impact at the highest level. His career in England is a reminder of what might have been.