10 Underwhelming player signings of the 2023/2024 season

Here are ten players signed in the 2023/2024 season who have not lived up to the expectations (underwhelming) of football fans worldwide.

Football is often about its ups as well as its downs every year we get players who excite us and also have those who didn't live up to their expectations or hype and as such have disappointed fans since joining the club.

These players who were signed on big-money moves are often expected to make an instant impact when they join their new clubs but our list indicates that this is not the case for some who have not lived up to the expectations.

10. Ansu Fati Brighton

Ansu Fati who was once hailed as the next Lionel Messi at Barcelona, debuting at Camp Nou as a 16-year-old sensation in 2019, has been struggling to go back to his breakout form in recent times.

Brighton however took a gamble and an unexpected decision to bring him to the premier league in the 2023/2024 season. Ansu immediately impacted the Premier League, scoring twice in his first five appearances for the Seagulls.

However, it soon became clear that the physical demands of English football were affecting his body. A calf injury kept him out for the festive period, and since his return in February, he has struggled to reclaim his spot in Roberto De Zerbi's lineup.

De Zerbi has openly voiced concerns about Ansu's fitness, raising further doubts about his ability to cope with the demands of top-tier football. At 21, Ansu's time at the Amex Stadium has only intensified scrutiny from critics who question his resilience and potential to achieve top-level status. His time at Brighton has been described as a blend of promise and disappointment.

Despite battling injuries, he managed to make 30 appearances across various competitions. His 4 goals and 1 assist demonstrated his talent, but inconsistency due to fitness issues limited his impact.

9. Sofyan Amrabat Manchester United

Sofyan Amrabat gained international acclaim during the 2022 World Cup, where he played a pivotal role in leading an underdog Morocco side to the semi-finals, notably making a viral lung-busting recovery run and tackle on Kylian Mbappe.

Manchester United fans were optimistic that Amrabat's loan move from Fiorentina would resolve their long-standing issues in defensive midfield.

However, Amrabat failed to live up to the expectations of many by demonstrating the same level of energy and commitment under Erik ten Hag.

Defensively, Amrabat has been a liability, frequently caught out of position and displaying careless ball handling.

The 27-year-old's struggles have been exacerbated by being deployed in various roles due to a spate of injuries to key players. Despite these challenges, he appears to lack the stamina for full 90-minute matches and the enthusiasm he once exhibited.

It remains to be seen if Man United will retain him in the 2024/2025 season as the club is poised to make a full overhaul of all squad activities.

8. Matheus Nunes Manchester City

Pep Guardiola described Matheus Nunes as "one of the world's best players" following his £53 million ($66 million) transfer from Wolves to Manchester City.

This high praise seemed exaggerated at the time and placed undue pressure on the Portuguese midfielder.

Unsurprisingly, Nunes has struggled to meet these lofty expectations, making only sporadic appearances. Guardiola primarily utilizes Nunes when City are comfortably ahead, indicating that the midfielder has yet to earn the manager's full trust.

Despite this, the 25-year-old still has the prime years of his career ahead of him and can turn the situation around.

Knowing the quality Nunes possesses it is expected that there could be a positive shift in his gameplay and time in the 2024/2025 season with some players linked out of the Etihad. To do so, he must fully embrace City's unique tactical philosophy and focus on improving his ball retention during pre-season.

7. Kalvin Philip West Ham

In the 2023/24 mid-season window, Kalvin Phillips saw an opportunity to gain some much-needed playing time.

Struggling to displace Rodri and Mateo Kovacic at Manchester City, the English midfielder chose a six-month loan to West Ham United. However, his stint in East London was disappointing.

The English player had initially spoken about how he struggled to play for Man City so many had anticipated a huge statement from him in his time at West Ham but he further put on display why he was relegated to the bench at Man City in the first place.

Two significant errors against Bournemouth and Manchester United marred the early stages of what was hoped to be a resurgence for the former Leeds United star.

As a result, David Moyes lost confidence in Phillips, limiting the former Champions League winner to just 319 minutes of play since his arrival in January.

6. Christopher Nkunku Chelsea

Christopher Nkunku was absent in 39 games in the 20923/2024 season for Chelsea due to injury, making it challenging to assess his first year at Stamford Bridge accurately. 

However, his fitness issues were evident during his time at RB Leipzig, but Chelsea overlooked them when they offered the French forward a six-year contract following a £52m ($65m) agreement with the Bundesliga team. 

Nkunku was a dynamic, agile forward who instilled fear in opposing defenders at Leipzig, and he is versatile enough to play as a winger, a No.9, or even as a traditional No.10.

The French star still has not lived up to the high expectations of fans with just three goals and no assists in the 13 fixtures he featured in for Chelsea across all competitions in the 2023/2024 season.

It remains to be seen if Chelsea can get the best out of Nkunku in the upcoming 2024/2025 season at the club under a new manager following the departure of Mauricio Pochettino.

 He also displayed potential in forming a strong partnership with fellow summer signing Nicolas Jackson during the preseason, but Chelsea requires attackers who can consistently deliver stellar performances.

5. Ryan Gravenberch - Liverpool

Following their failure to secure Jude Bellingham, Liverpool made a U-Turn and directed their focus to Ryan Gravenberch, who sought a fresh start after a challenging first season at Bayern Munich. 

The Reds splashed out £34m ($42m) on the Dutch midfielder, despite his struggles with the German giants at the Allianz Arena, and secured him on a five-year deal. 

Jurgen Klopp praised him as an "exceptional talent" with a promising future. Gravenberch has displayed flashes of his potential at Anfield this season. 

Regardless of his quality as a player of being able to transition from defence to attack actively, but has only been in the starting lineup for 12 Premier League games in the 2023/2024 season.

He finds himself behind Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, and Wataru Endo in the midfield pecking order.

4. Wataru Endo Liverpool

Wataru Endo might be a shocking name on our list but this is not far-fetched as his performance throughout the 2023/2024 season has sparked numerous discussions, encompassing both successes and failures. 

Liverpool's acquisition of Wataru Endo came as a surprise to many fans, who were eager to see how the Japanese midfielder would adapt to the demands of the Premier League.

He featured in a total of 43 matches, His versatility was evident as he primarily operated as a defensive midfielder but also adapted to other roles when required. 

He scored three goals and provided one assist, showcasing his occasional involvement in attacking play. Endo's inaugural season at Liverpool has been a learning experience. 

Initially, he grappled with the pace and physicality of the Premier League, leading to inconsistent performances. However, it remains to be seen if the 2024/2025 club football season will be different under the new management of Arnie Slot. 

3. Mateo Kovacic Manchester City

Arguably one of the most sought after player in the June 2023 transfer window, Mateo Kovacic's time at Man City in his first season (2023/2024) has not lived up to its full expectations as regards what the Croatian brings to the table at the club.

Kovacic struggled to earn playing time at Man City under Guardiola even in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne in the early part of the season.

Many often anticipate these players challenges in the early part of the season under Guardiola but for a player like Kovacic with more than enough experience as a player, it was concerning he was absent from key games for City and also not a huge contributor to Guardiola's extensive Premier League title campaign.

Kovacic is expected to have a better output in the upcoming 2024/2025 season at the club under Pep following his impressive run of form in the final games of the season.

2. Mason Mount Manchester United

One of the most forgettable signings of the 2023/2024 transfer window was Mason Mount's move from Chelsea to Manchester United. This transfer proved advantageous for Chelsea, who received over £50 million for the England international.

Mount had experienced a tumultuous final season at Chelsea before the surprising move. In his few appearances for Manchester United during the 2023/2024 season, it became evident that his situation had deteriorated further.

Mount's best performances at Chelsea came when he played in the No.10 role, leading their press and enjoying the freedom to express himself on the ball. However, at Old Trafford, Bruno Fernandes occupies a similar position, making it challenging for Erik ten Hag to integrate both players into his system.

Ten Hag's decision to sign Mount has continued to spark debates and conversations even at the end of the 2023/2024 season and Mount who had also pushed for the move according to the head coach, has appeared equally devoid of confidence at United.

Limited to a little over 14 appearances for Manchester United due to persistent fitness issues, Mount's impact in those games has been minimal.

1. Sandro Tonali - Newcastle

Sandro Tonali became Newcastle's most expensive signing in history with his £60 million ($75 million) transfer from AC Milan last summer, but the fee seemed justified.

Tonali had established himself as one of Italy's top playmakers during his time at San Siro and was the kind of high-profile acquisition the Magpies needed after qualifying for the Champions League.

He made an immediate impact by scoring on his debut against Aston Villa and quickly adapted to life on Tyneside. However, in October, he received a 10-month suspension for breaching gambling rules during his time at Milan.

The honeymoon for Newcastle quickly came to an end when Sandro Tonali was found guilty of violating betting laws during his time as a player for AC Milan.

This situation has been a significant embarrassment for Newcastle, who spent the majority of their summer budget on a player dealing with a gambling addiction.

Although Tonali will be eligible to play again from August 2024, the damage has been done and Eddie Howe's 2023/2024 campaign with Newcastle had been abysmal. The lack of cohesion in midfield contributed to Newcastle missing out on silverware and losing their place in the Champions League.

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