Manchester United’s worst Premier League signings of all time

Manchester United have spent more than £2.5bn on transfers since the Premier League was created in 1992, and although a lot of their transfers were successful during Sir Alex Ferguson's era, the club's transfer activity since his retirement in 2013 has been largely disastrous.

Below, FootballWhispers counts down Manchester United's five worst signings of the Premier League era.

5) Donny van de Beek

Donny van de Beek was signed by Manchester United £35m + £5m in add-ons back in the summer of 2020.

He was brought in from Ajax on the back of some brilliant performances in the Champions League, but to say he failed to deliver at Old Trafford would be a monumental understatement.

On ability, you could make an argument that he should be number one on this list, but the transfer fee, which is dwarfed by some of the figures coming up, keeps him in fifth place.

After two years of hiding behind opposition midfielders, the Dutchman was moved on to Everton and then Eintracht Frankfurt on loan. He was eventually sold to Girona for just £500k.

4) Alexis Sanchez

The sight of Alexis Sanchez playing “Glory Glory Man United” on a piano led United fans to believe the good times were coming back in January 2018. In the end, his performances in a red shirt led the club to scrap cinematic player announcements.

The Chilean was one of the best players in the Premier League when he joined from Arsenal, but rarely delivered for United. There were a few impressive displays, including in the FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham the season he joined and in the 3-2 comeback win over Manchester City.

Ultimately, though, he was a major disappointment, and his wages of £560,000 per week caused issues for the club that they have only recently begun to overcome.

The former Arsenal man only lasted 1.5 years at Old Trafford and scored just three Premier League goals for the club.

3) Angel di Maria

Angel di Maria was signed during the summer of 2014, when Louis van Gaal was attempting to build his own version of the Real Madrid Galacticos.

After a miserable season under David Moyes, United were desperate to bounce back immediately, and brought in Radamel Falcao, Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw and Daley Blind, but Di Maria was seen as the crown jewel.

The reality was Di Maria never wanted to join United, and he was effectively shoved out the door by Real Madrid. For £60m, a British record at the time, United were expecting a difference maker, and they thought they'd hit the jackpot when he scored a scrumptious chip against Leicester in one of his first matches for the club.

United ultimately lost that match 5-3, prompting van Gaal to tear up his attacking plans for the season. Di Maria found himself stifled, and after a torrid season, where he scored just three Premier League goals, he moved on to PSG.

Want to know who Man Utd might sign this summer? Check out our Man Utd transfer targets page.

2) Antony

The signing of Antony came in the summer of 2022 when United were attempting yet another rebuild, this time under Erik ten Hag.

Ten Hag was desperate to sign the Brazilian, but United walked away from a transfer earlier in the window when they were quoted £40m. After a shocking start to the season, which saw them lose to Brighton and Brentford, the club hit the panic button and ended up paying £85m for the winger.

While it wasn't Antony's fault that United paid £85m for him, it does make him the worst value-for-money signing in the club's history.

He lacked the pace and physicality to beat his full-back in the Premier League, and was eventually sold to Real Betis for just £21m.

1) Man Utd's worst Premier League signing of all time: Jadon Sancho

Pipping Antony to top spot on the list of worst Man Utd signings in the Premier League era is Jadon Sancho.

Signed for £73m in 2021, Sancho arrived at Old Trafford to much fanfare after the club had pursued him for two years. His performances for Borussia Dortmund had made him one of the most coveted young players in world football, and given his English roots, United assumed they were signing a guaranteed success.

It isn't a stretch to say Sancho didn't have a single game for United in which he looked like a £73m player, and unlike Antony, he showed a serious lack of effort, indicating he wasn't at all bothered by his sinking reputation.

Sancho's final act in a United shirt was to miss a penalty against Manchester City in the 2024 Community Shield. He has since experienced two poor loan spells at Chelsea and Aston Villa and is now without a club.