Fulham’s worst Premier League signings of all time

Fulham have generally been shrewd in the transfer market, but their Premier League history also features some notorious and costly mistakes.

Some arrivals boasted impressive reputations but failed to deliver on the pitch. Others were derailed by injuries, while a handful proved especially damaging as Fulham splashed out at completely the wrong time.

Here, Football Whispers counts down Fulham's five worst signings of the Premier League era.

5. Ivan Cavaleiro – LW

Ivan Cavaleiro may be the least disastrous name here, but his signing epitomises the dangers of overpaying for underwhelming returns.

Initially joining on loan from Wolves in 2019, Cavaleiro helped Fulham win promotion but managed only five goals. Despite modest output, the club sanctioned a permanent deal reportedly worth £12 million in January 2020.

His goal tally never justified the investment: 11 goals in 104 appearances is a poor return for a forward signed at that price.

There was little hope of recouping the fee either. Following a forgettable loan at Alanyaspor, Cavaleiro left for Lille in 2023, meaning Fulham saw almost no return on their outlay.

4. Bryan Ruiz – AM

Bryan Ruiz arrived as a marquee signing. The Costa Rican was an Eredivisie champion with FC Twente and considered one of the continent's most skilful playmakers outside Europe's elite leagues.

Fulham paid £10.6 million for Ruiz in August 2011, making him one of the club's costliest arrivals up to that point.

There were glimpses of class – Ruiz had technique and vision in abundance – but his impact was far too sporadic to justify the hype.

Thirteen goals in 108 games speaks for itself. Ruiz never established himself as a consistent Premier League threat and was ultimately loaned to PSV Eindhoven in January 2014.

3. Steve Marlet – ST

Steve Marlet's transfer remains one of the most controversial in Fulham's Premier League history.

Fulham shelled out £11.5 million to sign the French international from Lyon in 2001 – a staggering sum for a newly promoted club.

Expectations were sky-high. Marlet was a French international and a proven goalscorer in Ligue 1 and on the European stage.

At Fulham, he never came close to living up to the billing. Eleven goals in 55 league games was a bitter disappointment for a record signing.

The situation worsened as Marlet was loaned to Marseille for two years, leaving Fulham with a costly asset who contributed nothing on the pitch.

2. Jean Michael Seri – DM

Jean Michael Seri's Fulham career is a cautionary tale of how a promising signing can unravel when the club and player are misaligned from day one.

Seri arrived in 2018 as Fulham's record signing, having starred for Nice and attracted interest from bigger clubs. Fulham reportedly paid around £25 million to land him.

He was expected to dictate play and elevate the midfield. Instead, both Seri and Fulham toiled; the team lacked structure, and Seri failed to impose himself.

Seri made 32 Premier League appearances in 2018/19, scoring once, but Fulham finished 19th and were relegated.

Loan spells at Galatasaray and Bordeaux followed before Seri eventually left for Hull City in 2022.

He later played a role in Fulham's promotion push after returning from his loan stint, but by then the original investment had long since failed.

1. Kostas Mitroglou – ST

No Fulham signing has ever unravelled quite as spectacularly as Kostas Mitroglou. He arrived from Olympiacos in January 2014 after scoring 17 goals in 19 appearances in the first half of the season.

Fulham paid £12.4 million for the Greek striker, making him the club's record signing at the time.

With Fulham in a desperate relegation fight, Mitroglou was billed as the saviour. Instead, he barely featured.

He made just three appearances for Fulham during the 2013/14 season, scored zero goals, and in the end, Fulham were relegated.

Injuries curtailed his chances, but that is exactly what makes the move so disastrous: Fulham broke the bank for a saviour who was unavailable when they needed him most.