The greatest clubs focus on transferring high-profile players who represent substantial financial investments as a key part of their financial strategy. While some of them succeeded financially, others didn't meet the performance expectations on the pitch. Whether due to injuries, poor performance, or difficulty adapting to a new team or league, these players face difficulties in justifying their hefty transfer fees. From Barcelona’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Manchester United’s Harry Maguire, here are the most expensive transfer flops in football history.

In December 2016, Carlos Tevez left Boca Juniors for Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League, reportedly earning £630,000 per week, making him one of the highest-paid players in the world. Despite high expectations, the former Argentine striker's time in China was disappointing as he played only 20 games in one season, scoring four goals and appearing unfit and disinterested. Tevez later described his time in China as a "holiday," faced criticism from Shenhua fans, and earned the nickname 'homesick boy.'

Alexis Sanchez joined Manchester United from Arsenal as a highly regarded talent in 2018 with a lucrative contract worth £30 million. Unfortunately, the Chilean forward's performance at the club declined, as he only scored three goals in 32 Premier League appearances and gained notoriety for a widely criticised announcement video. Sánchez was loaned to Inter Milan, where he now plays permanently.

The Ukrainian footballer Andriy Shevchenko was unforgettable as a prolific goalscorer who scored 173 goals during his first spell with AC Milan and won the Ballon d'Or in 2004. Unfortunately, the current Ukrainian football manager, Shevchenko, struggled with the pace of English football, scoring only nine Premier League goals, which led him to return to AC Milan and Dynamo Kyiv as his career faded away.

Danny Drinkwater's £35m move to Chelsea in 2017 was marked by disappointment, making only 12 league appearances and falling out of favour with managers Antonio Conte and Maurizio Sarri. His on-field struggles culminated in a red card during a Premier League 2 game against Spurs in 2020. Off the pitch, the English midfielder faced issues like a drink-driving charge and a nightclub fight that resulted in damaging his career.

The young Serbian striker, Luka Jovic, gained recognition in 2018/19 by scoring 27 goals at Frankfurt. Real Madrid made a significant investment to sign him as cover for Karim Benzema, but Jovic struggled with injuries in his first season, scoring only twice in 27 appearances.

The former Swedish striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s, transfer to Barcelona in 2009 stands out as one of the most disastrous deals in history, costing Inter Milan £59m. The off-field issues, including the transfer of Samuel Eto'o, conflict with Pep Guardiola, and frustration playing in Lionel Messi's shadow, led to Ibrahimovic's departure back to Italy after just one season.

Alvaro Morata's best league season came in 2016-17 when he scored 15 goals in La Liga, which prompted Chelsea to sign him for £60m from Real Madrid. However, his Premier League performance during an 18-month stint at Chelsea was disappointing, with just 16 goals.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was captivated by James Rodriguez's talent during the 2014 World Cup, leading to the transfer of the Colombian midfielder to Santiago Bernabéu Stadium for £68m. In his debut season, James Rodriguez excelled at Real Madrid, scoring 17 goals in 2014-15. However, his career took a downturn when Zinedine Zidane became coach and noted that Rodriguez had requested exclusion from a match against Athletic Club, marking the downfall of his time at the club.

In 2018, Kepa Arrizabalaga, the world's most expensive goalkeeper at £72 million, returned as the starting goalkeeper but faced competition from Robert Sanchez due to limited interest from other clubs. The Spanish goalkeeper's reputation is marred by his refusal to be substituted in the 2019 Carabao Cup final and his failure to save a crucial penalty in the 2022 final against Liverpool.

The Belgian striker, Romelu Lukaku, thrived at Manchester United in 2017 but his performance declined in his second season at the club. The 30-year-old striker felt mistreated by manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, while certain fans and pundits raised concerns about his suitability as the team's striker. His time at Manchester United ultimately proved disappointing given his £75m transfer fee.

Arsenal loaned Nicolas Pepe to Lille for £79 million in 2019 with a contract scheduled to expire in 2024. The Ivorian winger showed promise for Arsenal at the end of the 2020-21 season, but he struggled in his final season at the Emirates, scoring just one Premier League goal. As a result, he was replaced by more talented players, leading to his inevitable departure in the summer of 2022.

The English professional footballer Harry Maguire showcased his potential as a Premier League defender at Leicester, drawing interest from clubs like Manchester City in 2019. Maguire faced criticism from Manchester United fans during his four-year tenure and despite being named club captain, his performances were marred by disappointments.

Real Madrid signed Eden Hazard to replace Cristiano Ronaldo but scored only one goal in the 2019/20 season and had a total of five goals when the 2021/22 season began, along with multiple injuries. Real Madrid paid over £86m for the Belgian winger, but his overweight condition during the pre-season, as well as his lack of discipline, earned him the label of 'the greatest flop in Real Madrid history'.

Paul Pogba's departure from Manchester United is undeniable, and his £89m move to Old Trafford in 2016 is considered a disappointment. Throughout his six-year second stint at the club, the French versatile player's potential was unfulfilled. He was often associated with unhappiness, low effort levels, and a recurring desire to leave.

Ousmane Dembele is often considered football's first £100m flop, despite a promising start at Borussia Dortmund that led Barcelona to sign him with the most expensive contract. The French winger's four seasons at Camp Nou were marked by injuries and disciplinary issues, with 85 missed games due to injury between 2017 and 2021.

The transfer of Antoine Griezmann to Barcelona appeared doomed from the start due to tactical issues. The French forward and Lionel Messi often overlapped on the field, leading to positional problems, so he struggled to score goals during his two-year stint at the club. With a meagre 21 league goals and just 4 in the Champions League, Griezmann's performance didn't justify Barcelona's hefty investment. The club eventually sold him to Atletico Madrid at a significant loss in the summer of 2021.

Barcelona had overpaid for Philippe Coutinho, hoping to fill the gap left by Neymar, but soon realised he couldn't match Neymar's impact as his performance was consistently disappointing. The Brazilian winger joined Aston Villa on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.

Joao Felix joined Atletico Madrid in 2019 but struggled to justify his £113m transfer fee, scoring just 25 goals in 96 Liga appearances. Despite expressing a desire to "enjoy" his football, playing under manager Diego Simeone's demanding style didn't seem to be a good fit for the Portuguese forward, leading to a loan move to Chelsea for the 2022-23 season.

In 2017, Neymar initially impressed Paris Saint-Germain with his skills but ultimately had a disappointing tenure at the club. The Brazilian footballer emerged from Lionel Messi's shadow to lead PSG to a Champions League title but was overshadowed by Kylian Mbappe and later by Messi himself. PSG attempted to sell Neymar in 2022 and finally agreed to a deal worth around £77m with Saudi club, Al-Hilal.