We all know that NUFC’s performance in the transfer market has been hit and miss over the years, but it’s only when you sit down and look at it more closely that you’realise the sheer number of absolutely shite deals the club has done. Surely our transfer record has to be one of the worst in the league?
Judging these flops has proved a challenge. I’ve tried take into account their ability, attitude and record for the club, and have compared that to their transfer fee to assess value for money. This list could quite easily have been 50 names long, but I’ve arrived at what I think is the top 10 worst signings of the Premier League era.
Honourable mentions go to Stephane Guivarc’h, Sol Campbell, Sylvain Marveux, Siem De Jong, Emmanuel Riviere and Henri Saivet, who were all shocking signings but have managed to evade the top 10 by the skin of their teeth.
Newcastle United – owned by its fans? At least in part? The people without whom it is nothing – why not – Excellent article from Scott Robson – https://t.co/MxCccM5qi8 #NUFC
— True Faith: Newcastle United Fanzine and Podcast (@tfNUFC) April 9, 2021
10. Yoshinori Muto
Muto was one of Rafa Benitez’s worst signings, managing only 2 goals in 28 appearances since his arrival in 2018. He hasn’t done much to justify his ‘9.5 million price tag and has always looked too lightweight to make an impact in English football. Currently on loan at Eibar.
9. Carl Cort
A ‘7m signing from Wimbledon in 2000, Cort only managed 26 appearances in 3 and a half seasons on Tyneside, scoring 7 goals. After suffering from a string of injuries,Cort was sold to Wolves in 2004 and spent the majority of the rest of his career playing in the Championship and League 1.
8. Florian Thauvin
Much was expected of Thauvin after his ’15 million arrival from Marseille in 2015. He famously turned up for a game in a tuxedo, but the St. James’ Park faithful were left shaken rather than stirred by his lacklustre performances. 1 goal in 16 appearances saw him packed off back to Marseille on loan for the next 18 months before re-signing permanently in 2017. He’s since gone on to make 10 appearances for France and has enjoyed significant success in Ligue 1.Now being linked with a summer move to Leicester.
7. Remy Cabella
One of our poorest signings from Ligue 1, Cabella had a disappointing season in 2014/15 after his ‘8 million arrival from Montpellier. 1 goal and 2 assists in 34 appearances was a meagre return and Cabella was shipped out on loan to Marseille after just one season in black and white (with Thauvin coming in the other direction). He left permanently in the summer of 2016.
6. Jean Alain Boumsong
Newcastle shelled out a hefty ‘8 million to sign the French centre back from Rangers in 2005, despite the fact that he was available on a free transfer 6 months before. After a decent first season, his form dipped in 2005/6 and his defensive lapses managed to make even Titus Bramble look like a solid defender in comparison. Somehow managed to get a move to Juventus in 2006 for ‘3.3 million.
5.Marcelino
‘5.8m was a fair amount of money back in 1999 and expectations were high for the Spain international centre back. His time on Tyneside was plagued with odd injuries, including a snapped finger tendon, and he managed only 21 appearances in 4 years before leaving for the Spanish second division.
4. Albert Luque
A ‘9m signing from Deportivo in 2005, Spain international striker Luque joined the club to much fanfare given his performances in La Liga. Unfortunatelyhe suffered with injuries andfailed to live up to his price tag, scoring a paltry 3 goals in 34 NUFC appearances. Left for Ajax in 2007.
3.Xisco
Possibly one of the worst Newcastle strikers ever, Xisco joined the club in 2008 for ‘5.1 million and left for free 5 years later. He scored on his debut against Hull but failed to add to his tally in any of his 10 further appearances for the club. Went on to become a decent striker in the Spanish second division for Mallorca, Cordoba and Osasuna.
2. Michael Owen
Owen was a record ’16 million signing from Real Madrid in 2005, but by that point in his career injuries had taken their toll he was a shadow of the player that had shone for Liverpool. He’s since admitted that he wanted to re-sign for the Reds at that time, but they wouldn’t pay the fee that Madrid wanted ‘ that goes a long way to explaining his attitude and performances in a black and white shirt. He’s since called his move to the north east a ‘downward step’ which he regrets ‘ so do we Michael.
Owen apparently refused to play in a crucial game during our relegation run-in in 2008, preferring to protect himself from a potential injury which might ruin his chances of getting a new club at the end of the season. Needless to say, we were relegated and he got his move to Manchester.
1. Joelinton
Some might say this is unfair. Some might defend ‘Big Jow’ and claim that the ’40 million transfer fee wasn’t his fault, that he’s not been played in his best position or that he has suffered under the prehistoric coaching methods of Steve Bruce. Whilst I do have some sympathy with the pressure that being United’s record signing must bring, there is no doubt in my mind that he is the worst signing in NUFC’s history. Joelinton’s goal scoring record was hardly prolific even in Austria or Germany, so to squander ’40 million on him as a no.9 was nothing short of criminal.You have to question whether anyone involved in that transfer should still be working in football.
His first touch is poor, his finishing lacks conviction, and for a big man he is unable to win headers or hold defenders off the ball. His record of 8 goals in 73 NUFC appearances (4 in the Premier League) speaks for itself. Joelinton’s only redeeming feature is that he does always appear to be giving his all on the pitch (and he seems to love playing against Spurs), but for ’40 million that is nowhere nearenough ‘ he surely has to be the worst value for money signing ever.
Jack Pearce
