Harry Maguire's move to Man United in 2019 named most embarrassing transfer of all time

Football fans have shared the transfer signings they consider to be the most embarrassing of all time – with Harry Maguire's £80 million move from Leicester to Manchester United, in 2019, topping the list.

With the transfer window now open for the upcoming football season, a study has looked back at some of the biggest flops of seasons gone by.

Paul Pogba came in second place with his 2016 return to Manchester United from Juventus, for £89.3 million.

And Andy Carroll rounded out the top three after switching from Newcastle to Liverpool in 2011, for £35 million.

But it is Chelsea that is considered to make the worst signings in the Premier League table – with three entries in the top 10 most embarrassing transfer signings, costing them a total £163.3 million.

This includes signing Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan in 2021, for £97.5 million, and Adrian Mutu from Parma in 2003, for £15.8 million – who was later sacked after failing a drug test.

But Erling Haaland signing with Manchester City last year was voted the most successful transfer ever (Marvin Ibo Guengoer/GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)

On the other hand, Manchester City are widely considered to get it right – with their signing of Erling Haaland last year, for £51.2 million from Borussia Dortmund, named the most successful of all time.

And other top signings fans that delighted fans include Eric Cantona's 1992 move from Leeds United to Manchester United, for £1.2 million, and Cristiano Ronaldo signing with Real Madrid from Manchester United in 2009, for £80 million.

The best and worst signings were voted for by a poll of 2,000 football lovers, commissioned by CopyBet.

And the betting platform has also created this quiz, so you can test your knowledge of some of the most iconic – or infamous – transfers gone by.

A spokesman for CopyBet.com said: “Transfers have a big impact on the global football landscape, and can be the difference between a club having a good or bad season.

“With transfer fees at an all-time high, there is a lot of pressure on players to perform, and they don’t always live up to expectations.

“Some manage to turn things around and make their move the right one, but we often see clubs selling for a reduced price as they attempt to cut their losses.”

Fans also reckon that, north of the border, Celtic are considered to make the best signings in the Scottish top flight, while Rangers tend to make the worst ones.

With the summer transfer window currently open, the study, carried out through OnePoll, found Harry Kane is the player fans want to move this summer – more than any other.

And a third of football fans reckon Harry Kane should leave Tottenham Hotspur in this summer's transfer window (Julian Finney/Getty Images)

As many as 32% think he should leave Tottenham, while 28% believe Harry Maguire should quit Old Trafford.

Of those who support an English Premier League side, 71% believe their team needs to invest in more players in the upcoming transfer window – to the tune of £91 million on average.

And they believe a centre forward (37%) should be a priority, followed by an attacking midfielder (33%), and a central defender (29%).

It also emerged 83% of all those polled are of the opinion the amount of money being spent on football players has gotten out of hand – and 76% think the FA should do more to regulate spending in the transfer market.

Fans believe a club’s manager (51%) should be responsible for handling the process of buying players – rather than a sporting director (16%), technical director (5%), or CEO (5%).

The spokesman for CopyBet.com added: “This summer transfer window is likely to be as busy as ever – with many expecting records to be broken.

“Speculation over which players will be leaving and where they’ll be going to is already rife, and will only increase in the coming weeks.”

TOP 10 MOST EMBARRASSING SIGNINGS OF ALL TIME:

1. Harry Maguire – Leicester to Manchester United for £80 million in 2019
2. Paul Pogba – Juventus to Manchester United for £89.3 million in 2016
3. Andy Carroll – Newcastle to Liverpool for £35 million in 2011
4. Ali Dia – free agent to Southampton in 1996
5. Romelu Lukaku – Inter Milan to Chelsea for £97.5 million in 2021
6. Eden Hazard – Chelsea to Real Madrid for £150 million in 2019
7. Adrian Mutu – Parma to Chelsea for £15.8 million in 2003
8. Fernando Torres – Liverpool to Chelsea for £50 million in 2011
9. Ángel Di María – Real Madrid to Man United for £59.7 million in 2014
10. Joey Barton – Burnley to Rangers on a free transfer in 2016

TOP 10 MOST SUCCESSFUL SIGNINGS OF ALL TIME:

1. Erling Haaland – Borussia Dortmund to Man City for £51.2 million in 2022
2. Eric Cantona – Leeds United to Manchester United for £1.2 million in 1992
3. Cristiano Ronaldo – Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United for £17.1 million in 2003
4. Cristiano Ronaldo – Manchester United to Real Madrid for £80 million in 2009
5. Kenny Dalglish – Celtic to Liverpool for £440,000 in 1977
6. Thierry Henry – Juventus to Arsenal for £14.5 million in 1999
7. Mo Salah – Roma to Liverpool for £34 million in 2017
8. Wayne Rooney – Everton to Manchester United for £33.3 million in 2004
9. Roy Keane – Nottingham Forest to Man United for £3.75 million in 1993
10. Diego Maradona – Napoli to Barcelona for £7 million in 1984

TOP FIVE WORST CLUBS IN THE TRANSFER MARKET:

1. Chelsea
2. Everton
3. Tottenham Hotspur
4. Manchester United
5. Nottingham Forest

TOP FIVE BEST CLUBS IN THE TRANSFER MARKET:

1. Manchester City
2. Brighton & Hove Albion
3. Liverpool
4. Newcastle United
5. Manchester United

TOP FIVE PLAYERS WHO SHOULD MOVE THIS SUMMER:

1. Harry Kane
2. Harry Maguire
3. Anthony Martial
4. Donny van de Beek
5. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang