Ranking the 15 Worst Players in the Premier League

The Premier League prides itself on being the home to the world's finest football teams, a reputation supported by statistical evidence. Naturally, the best teams boast the best players.

Among the illustrious list of greats who have graced the Premier League since its inception in 1992 are names like Thierry Henry, Sergio Aguero, and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, not every player has lived up to expectations. The league has also witnessed its fair share of disappointments.

Join Betimate as we explore the darker side of the division's history. This is an examination of the goal-scoring droughts of ineffective forwards, the injury-plagued careers of those who spent years on the sidelines, and even one audacious impostor lacking any professional credentials. Here are the 15 worst players to ever take the field in the Premier League.

15. Francis Jeffers

Premier League career: 1997 - 2007

Francis Jeffers was anticipated to be a classic 'fox in the box' striker, bringing a lethal touch to Arsenal's forward line. However, his tenure with the Gunners didn't quite live up to expectations. Despite being the most prolific scorer for England's under-21s until Eddie Nketiah surpassed his record in 2020, Jeffers managed just four goals in 22 appearances for Arsenal.

His transfer to Arsenal in 2001 came with high hopes, especially considering the steep fee of £10m. Although he does possess a Premier League winners medal from Arsenal's triumphant 2001/02 campaign, earned through six appearances, this achievement stands out amidst an otherwise underwhelming career.

14. Roberto Soldado

Premier League career: 2013 - 2015

Arriving at Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 for a then club-record £26m fee, Roberto Soldado was the most expensive acquisition among the so-called 'Magnificent Seven.' These signings were made possible by the funds generated from Gareth Bale's world-record move to Real Madrid. Unfortunately, Soldado's tenure at Spurs turned out to be the most disappointing.

The Spaniard struggled to acclimate to the Premier League, managing just seven goals in 52 appearances. His inability to soften the blow of Bale's departure only added to the disappointment. Soldado fell far short of the high expectations set for him, solidifying his place among the Premier League's worst-ever players.

13. Ricky van Wolfswinkel

Premier League career: 2013 - 2014

Signed for a then-record £8.5m fee, Ricky van Wolfswinkel made a promising start to his Premier League career by scoring on his debut against Everton. This early success fueled high hopes among Norwich fans and even garnered praise from the club's manager, Chris Hughton, who hailed him as a proven goal scorer.

However, Van Wolfswinkel failed to find the back of the net again in his remaining 24 league appearances, ultimately contributing to Norwich's relegation that season. Despite the initial excitement generated by his debut goal, the Dutch striker's inability to maintain his scoring form solidified his status as one of the league's biggest disappointments.

12. Junior Lewis

Premier League career: 2001

Junior Lewis's stint at Leicester City was largely forgettable. Joining the club in January 2001 after a stint of 18 months in the Football League with Gillingham, the midfielder made 13 appearances during the second half of his first - and only - top-flight season. Unfortunately, he failed to score or provide any assists during his time on the pitch.

The jump in quality proved to be too much for Lewis. Prior to joining Leicester, he had spent six years playing outside of England's top four professional tiers, primarily with amateur clubs such as Dover Athletic and Hendon. Eventually, he was released on a free transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion, bringing an end to his underwhelming Premier League career.

11. Corrado Grabbi

Premier League career: 2001 - 2003

When Corrado Grabbi arrived at Blackburn Rovers in 2001, there were high hopes for the former Juventus forward to replicate his goal-scoring success in Italian football. Coming off a prolific season with 20 goals for Ternana in Serie B, Grabbi was seen as a promising addition to Rovers.

However, Grabbi failed to acclimate to English football, managing to score only two goals in 30 league appearances. His underwhelming performance made him a symbol of Blackburn's struggles, especially considering the club's Premier League title win just six years prior. Grabbi's stint at Blackburn is largely forgotten, and he certainly won't be remembered as one of the top players in the division.

10. Jean Makoun

Premier League career: 2011

After making a name for himself at Lyon, Jean Makoun arrived at Aston Villa with high hopes of bolstering their midfield and elevating the team's performance to new heights. However, his Premier League tenure turned out to be a complete disaster.

Despite his promising reputation, Makoun made only seven appearances for Villa, accumulating three yellow cards and receiving a red card, all without contributing a single goal or assist. Gerard Houllier, Villa's manager at the time, defended Makoun's tumultuous start, stating, "I don't think it was a malicious tackle, it was just a reckless tackle." However, Houllier was sacked before the season's end, and Makoun was subsequently loaned out to Olympiacos after just six months at the club.

9. Kostas Mitroglou

Premier League career: 2014

Fulham made a bold move by breaking their transfer record to acquire Kostas Mitroglou for £12 million on deadline day in January 2014. However, this decision came at the expense of pursuing Antoine Griezmann, who would later become a World Cup winner with France and establish himself as one of the premier strikers in the world. In hindsight, it proved to be the wrong choice.

Mitroglou, the club's marquee signing, struggled to make an impact, featuring in only three matches due to fitness and form issues. He failed to score in any of those appearances. Fulham endured a dismal season, suffering relegation after losing 24 of their 38 league games, and Mitroglou's underwhelming stint became emblematic of their failed 2013/14 campaign.

8. Christian Poulsen

Premier League career: 2010 - 2011

Liverpool's acquisition of Christian Poulsen in 2010 raised hopes among fans that they had secured a dependable presence in midfield, capable of partnering Steven Gerrard in the heart of the team. The Danish international arrived with experience from top leagues in Germany, Spain, and Italy, adding to the anticipation surrounding his Premier League debut.

However, Poulsen, one of Roy Hodgson's initial signings, struggled to adapt to the pace and intensity of English football. His 12 appearances for Liverpool failed to leave a significant mark. After just one season, he was swiftly offloaded to French side Evian, with Liverpool taking a £4.7 million loss on their investment. Poulsen's stint at Anfield was widely regarded as a disaster, leaving little doubt about its overall impact.

7. Massimo Taibi

Premier League career: 1999

Massimo Taibi's tenure at Manchester United was brief but filled with regrettable moments. The Italian goalkeeper's four appearances for the club were marred by errors, with the most infamous being his failure to stop Matt Le Tissier's tame shot, which slipped through his legs in a 3-3 draw with Southampton.

Arriving at United as the successor to the legendary Peter Schmeichel, Taibi faced immense pressure to perform. Reflecting on his time, Taibi admitted, "There was so much pressure on me." Unfortunately, his performances fell short of expectations, and United swiftly decided to part ways with him after just five months, unwilling to tolerate such subpar goalkeeping standards representing the club.

6. Igors Stepanovs

Premier League career: 2000 - 2003

When Igors Stepanovs joined Arsenal in 2000, there was optimism that the Latvian defender would strengthen their defensive line. However, his four-year spell at the club turned out to be a harsh lesson in the challenges of adapting to the highest level of English football, even for experienced internationals.

The nadir of Stepanovs' disappointing tenure came in a disastrous 6-1 loss to Manchester United, where his deficiencies were ruthlessly exploited. In 31 appearances for Arsenal, the Latvian center-back failed to make a significant positive impact and gradually fell out of favor. Stepanovs' time at the club was marked by inconsistent performances and a noticeable lack of quality, firmly earning him a place on this list of underwhelming Premier League players.

5. Bebe

Premier League career: 2010

Bebe's time at Manchester United was a colossal disappointment after his astonishing £7.4m signing in 2010, a move orchestrated by Sir Alex Ferguson without having watched him play in person. The Portuguese forward, known for his trigger-happy style, managed just seven appearances across all competitions.

Billed as a potential successor to Cristiano Ronaldo, who had departed for Real Madrid the previous year, Bebe failed to live up to expectations. He scored only two goals and was loaned out three times during his four-year spell at the club, cementing his status as one of the Premier League's biggest flops. Despite his struggles at United, Bebe found stability in Spain with Rayo Vallecano and went on to enjoy a promising international career with Cape Verde.

4. Milton Nunez

Premier League career: 2000 - 2001

Milton Nunez's Premier League career was nothing short of bizarre. Making just one appearance for Sunderland against Wimbledon in April 2000, which lasted a mere 15 minutes, the Honduran striker left an indelible mark for all the wrong reasons.

Rumors suggest that Nunez's signing was a case of mistaken identity. While he vehemently denied these claims initially, in 2017, reports surfaced that he may have been confused with two other players: his former teammate at PAOK, Adolfo Valencia, and his international colleague, Eduardo Bennett. Adding to the confusion, both Valencia and Bennett were significantly taller than Nunez. Despite Sunderland paying £1.6m for the diminutive forward, he failed to make any meaningful impact on the pitch.

3. Savio Nsereko

Premier League career: 2009

Savio Nsereko's arrival at West Ham in 2009 for a hefty £9m fee quickly turned into a nightmare for the club. The Uganda-born German winger managed only 10 appearances for the Hammers, failing to find the net and displaying little of the quality expected in the Premier League.

Nsereko's lackluster performance was compounded by his underwhelming resume prior to joining West Ham. At just 20 years old, he had limited experience, having played only two seasons of senior football for the second-tier Italian side Brescia. His brief stint at West Ham ended after just six months when he was transferred to Fiorentina, leaving behind a bitter taste for everyone involved.

2. Eric Djemba-Djemba

Premier League career: 2003 - 2006

Eric Djemba-Djemba arrived at Manchester United with high expectations, touted as the heir to the iconic Roy Keane. However, the Cameroon international's stint at the club proved to be a disappointment. In his two seasons, Djemba-Djemba managed just 20 appearances without scoring a single goal, leaving fans longing for the return of Keane's brilliance.

Despite Sir Alex Ferguson's initial optimism about Djemba-Djemba's suitability for Manchester United, his lack of technical prowess and game intelligence became apparent on the pitch. After 18 months, United decided to offload him to Aston Villa. Unfortunately, his fortunes didn't improve much at Villa Park, where he struggled to secure regular playing time, making just four league starts.

1. Ali Dia

Premier League career: 1996

The tale of Ali Dia is one that remains etched in Premier League folklore, much to the chagrin of Graeme Souness. Dia managed to secure a contract with Southampton in 1996 under dubious circumstances, allegedly claiming to be the cousin of footballing legend George Weah.

Matt Le Tissier, initially mistaking Dia for a competition winner, witnessed his lackluster performance firsthand during training. Dia's moment in the spotlight came when he replaced an injured Le Tissier during a match against Leeds United. However, his stint on the pitch lasted a mere 52 minutes before he was substituted off.

Souness later conceded that Dia's performance was subpar, while Le Tissier described his on-field antics as akin to "Bambi on ice" – an apt and damning assessment of Dia's brief and embarrassing Premier League career.