The worst Premier League signings this season

The conclusion of the Premier League season is just around the corner, and as is so often the case, fans have been treated to an incredibly competitive, entertaining and unpredictable nine months of top-flight football in England.

If you asked fans before the season who they believed would be challenging for the title, vying for a Champions League spot and fighting to avoid relegation – there are a number of teams they wouldn’t have been able to foresee. That’s due to the fact that there has been several surprise packets in 2022/23 – of which in large part have been influenced by each team’s key signings and whether they’ve been a success or a failure.

It’s the latter we’ll be taking a look at in this article. Therefore, with that in mind, read on as we dissect the worst Premier League signings this season.

Raheem Sterling

When Chelsea signed star winger Raheem Sterling from Manchester City last summer, there was a feeling among fans at Stamford Bridge that they had finally gotten that missing piece in attack that had eluded them for several seasons.

Coming off the back of an exceptional couple of years that included 26 goals in 60 appearances as part of a star-studded City squad – Sterling’s speed, firepower and control with the ball at his feet when making driving runs has made him one of the most formidable wingers and forwards in the Premier League today.

However, the 28-year-old’s first season at Chelsea has been one to forget. With just six goals in 26 appearances, Sterling hasn’t quite lived up to the preseason expectations. Nor has the majority of the squad for that matter, and despite breaking the record for the most money spent in a transfer window, Chelsea will finish in the bottom half of the Premier League for the first time since 1995/96.

That’s a far cry from where they were tipped to finish, with Chelsea the fourth favourites in the premier league betting odds prior to the season starting.

Richarlison

After a strong finish to last season in which they secured third, Tottenham Hotspur were hoping to further build on that form and potentially go one or two better in 2022/23. With Heung-min Son and Harry Kane already upfront for the north London club, a third goal threat was clearly Spurs’ intention in the summer.

They did just that when they acquired Brazilian Richarlison, who impressed mightily during his time at Goodison Park. As is the case with many players who hail from the famed footballing nation, the 26-year-old boasts a level of flair and creativity in and around the box that has made him must-see tv at both the club and international level.

With that being said, he has failed to live up to expectations at Tottenham. With just one goal in 25 appearances this season, there have been certain periods of the season where he has been largely unplayable.

Couple that with the fact that he garnered a £60 million price tag, and Richarlison’s signing at this point appears to be the wrong move.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Given Chelsea’s abysmal season in 2022/23, there’s no surprises to see multiple Blues players on this list. When Chelsea announced the signing of striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in September last year – despite his age – there were some fans who felt he still had enough in the tank to provide their squad with a dangerous 1-2 punch in he and Sterling upfront.

And while the 33-year-old started relatively well, netting his first goal for the club in an away win against Crystal Palace. That was followed by a brace against his former club AC Milan in the Champions League stages. It’s been downhill since, with the Frenchman failing to get on the scorer’s sheet in the Premier League since scoring in the aforementioned fixture against Palace.

Back to the drawing board for Chelsea if they’re to compete for a Champions League spot next season.