Worst-value Premier League signings of 2026-27 so far as big-money Spurs flops and Man Utd dud feature

With the first international break of the 2026-27 season upon us, five Premier League gameweeks have given us our first proper chance to assess the summer transfer market.

While plenty of new arrivals have hit the ground running, others have struggled to justify the hefty fees their clubs paid.

Here, Football Whispers takes a look at some of the worst-value Premier League signings so far, based on their early performances, price tags and the lofty expectations that came with them.

Mateus Fernandes – £85m (West Ham to Tottenham)

Mateus Fernandes has had a remarkably turbulent few years, suffering relegation with Southampton in 2024/25 before going down with West Ham United just a season later. Tottenham Hotspur offered him a route back to the top level, but five games into his latest chapter, the £85m midfielder is struggling to make the desired impact.

Part of the problem is that he has been asked to operate higher up the pitch than he is accustomed to, but that sort of fee inevitably raises expectations.

With Spurs sitting rock bottom and scoring just twice, Fernandes needs to exert far more influence in midfield, particularly after being substituted at half-time in their latest 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa.

Savio – £75m (Manchester City to Tottenham)

Another Spurs incoming unsurprisingly makes the list.

Savio's career in north London began with real promise, as he came off the bench to score and assist in the EFL Cup win over Charlton Athletic. There have also been encouraging signs in the Premier League, with his creativity and willingness to take on defenders offering Roberto De Zerbi another attacking weapon.

The issue is that his early impact has not yet translated into the consistent production expected from a £75m signing. He has created opportunities, but until those chances start turning into goals and assists, there remains a feeling that Tottenham have paid a premium for potential rather than proven output.

Andrey Santos – £50m (Chelsea to Manchester United)

Manchester United identified the need for a more mobile defensive midfielder capable of protecting the back four and covering large areas of the pitch, making Andrey Santos a strange option. The problem is that the 22-year-old has done little so far to suggest he can immediately fill the void left by Casemiro.

Santos remains a player with plenty of time to develop, but £50m is a significant investment for someone who had not established himself as that type of midfielder at Chelsea.

With Transfermarkt valuing him at £35m, the deal already looks like a sizeable premium on his current market value and, at this early stage, could be interpreted as a costly gamble rather than a calculated and worthwhile addition.

Nicolas Jackson – £65m (Chelsea to Aston Villa)

Aston Villa‘s late – and arguably desperate – decision to replace Ollie Watkins led them towards Nicolas Jackson, with Unai Emery turning to a player he knows well from his Villarreal days.

The Midlands outfit paid £65m for the Senegal international, but he has scored just once in four Premier League appearances, with his only goal coming against a struggling Spurs side.

That is hardly enough evidence to write him off, particularly so early in the campaign, but the price remains difficult to ignore. Transfermarkt's £35m valuation is £30m below what Villa paid, while Jackson must quickly produce more if the move is to look anything other than an expensive solution to a problem that needed solving in a hurry.

Gonzalo Garcia – £36m (Real Madrid to Fulham)

Gonzalo Garcia made an ideal start at Fulham by scoring on the opening day, but the goals have dried up since, with four consecutive league appearances without finding the net. That is particularly concerning given he has quickly emerged as the Cottagers' first-choice No.9.

Fulham paid around £36m for the 22-year-old, despite Transfermarkt valuing him at just £26m, and his slow adaptation could become increasingly costly if the team continues to struggle for form.

There is still plenty of time for Garcia to settle into a new league, but Fulham will need his goals sooner rather than later, or they too could be looking down rather than up after the international break.