10 Biggest Aston Villa Transfer Flops of the Premier League Era
Aston Villa have had their fair share of memorable signings over the years, but not all transfers turn into success stories. Some looked great on paper but flopped on the pitch. Others were victims of bad timing, poor form, injuries, or simply weren’t good enough.
In this list, we’re focusing on the biggest Aston Villa transfer flops of the Premier League era, deals that just didn’t work out, whether due to high transfer fees, inflated wages, minimal impact, or off-field issues. These are not necessarily the worst players to wear the Villa shirt, but the most disappointing transfers when you factor in expectations, cost, and return on investment.
Here are the ten biggest Aston Villa transfer flops of the Premier League era.
10. Jean Makoun
Fee: £6 million (2011, from Lyon)
Makoun arrived with Champions League pedigree and was expected to control Villa’s midfield. Instead, he made just a handful of appearances, never adapted to the pace of English football, and was loaned out before quietly leaving. A big letdown during a turbulent season.
9. Moustapha Salifou
Fee: €500k (2007, from FC Wil)
After Togo secured their first-ever World Cup appearance in 2006, Aston Villa brought in Moustapha Salifou. The catchy “Sali… Salifou” chant – sung to the melody of “Daddy Cool” – probably echoed through the stadium more often than he appeared on the pitch. Still, despite not making a single league start during his four-year spell at the club, he has earned cult hero status in the Midlands.
8. Wesley
Fee: £22 million (2019, from Club Brugge)
Aston Villa broke their transfer record in 2019 to sign Brazilian striker Wesley from Club Brugge, hoping he would lead their attack after earning promotion to the Premier League. However, just six months into his stint, a serious cruciate knee ligament injury sidelined him, keeping him out of action for 480 days. Though he eventually returned, he was loaned out to regain form—a goal he has yet to achieve—making it unlikely that he has a future at Villa Park.
7. Charles N’Zogbia
Fee: £9.5 million (2011, from Wigan Athletic)
Seen as a creative spark to replace the outgoing Stewart Downing and Ashley Young, N’Zogbia arrived with big expectations. But he failed to deliver, showing only flashes of his talent and struggling with consistency, fitness, and attitude. Injuries didn’t help either, and his five-year stint at Villa Park ended with a whimper, making him one of the club’s most underwhelming signings.
6. Micah Richards
Fee: Free (2015, from Manchester City)
Richards came to Villa with Premier League and international experience, and was even made club captain. But his time at Villa Park was plagued by injuries, poor performances, and defensive errors. He failed to live up to his reputation and didn’t feature at all in his final two seasons before retiring. A symbol of Villa’s disastrous 2015/16 campaign that ended in relegation.
5. Eric Djemba-Djemba
Fee: £1.5 million (2005, from Manchester United)
Signed with the hope he could rediscover his early promise, Djemba-Djemba instead became a punchline among Villa fans. His performances lacked composure and quality, and he was quickly deemed surplus to requirements. One of the most forgettable midfielders to wear the claret and blue, his name is now more remembered for the disappointment than his play.
4. Sasa Curcic
Fee: £4 million (1996, from Bolton Wanderers)
Curcic came with flair, personality, and a hefty price tag for the time. But off-field distractions and inconsistent form meant he never made an impact at Villa. More famous for his eccentric behavior and media antics than footballing contributions, his stay was brief and disappointing — a classic case of unfulfilled potential and poor return on investment.
3. Joleon Lescott
Fee: Undisclosed (2015, from West Bromwich Albion)
Lescott arrived at the twilight of his career, but Villa fans hoped his experience could steady a struggling backline. Instead, his performances were shaky, and he infamously clashed with supporters on social media during the club’s relegation battle. His patronizing tweet of a luxury car after a heavy defeat became the final straw for many fans, cementing his place among Villa’s worst signings.
2. Ross McCormack
Fee: £12 million (2016, from Fulham)
Brought in to fire Aston Villa back to the Premier League after relegation, McCormack’s time at the club became a saga of missed training sessions, poor fitness, and off-field controversies — including the infamous “broken gate” excuse. Despite a huge price tag and proven Championship pedigree, he scored just three league goals for Villa and spent most of his contract out on loan. A disaster of a deal.
1. Bosko Balaban
Fee: £5.8 million (2001, from Dinamo Zagreb)
Arguably the worst Aston Villa signing of the Premier League era, Balaban arrived with a solid goalscoring record and high hopes. But he failed to make any impact whatsoever, not scoring a single goal in the league and making just eight appearances. Despite earning big wages, he was never trusted by successive managers and left without a trace. A complete flop and a cautionary tale in transfer history.
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