20 Worst Tottenham Hotspur Signings Ever
13. Mbulelo Mabizela
Mbulelo Mabizela’s one and only goal for Tottenham—a perfectly struck edge-of-the-box effort in a 2-1 win over Leicester City in October 2003—ranks among the finest seen from a Spurs player in the Premier League era. Sadly, it was to be the South African’s only real moment of joy in England.
Clearly talented, Mabizela’s versatility allowed him to move between midfield and defence. The Leicester performance hinted at a quality performer at the making, yet the stars never quite aligned for him in North London in a way that would allow him to make the most of that potential.
12. Helder Postiga
Helder Postiga came to Spurs full of hope from Portuguese giants Porto in 2003. However, he proved to be £8.5 million down the drain, scoring just 1 goal in 19 games for the Lilly Whites.
Postiga was swiftly sent back to his former club Porto in exchange for Pedro Mendes. He will always be remembered among the worst Tottenham Hotspur signings ever.
11. David Jenkins
Jenkins was a young winger who came into the Arsenal side and quickly made an impact. He impressed Bill Nicholson enough that he included the excellent Jimmy Robertson, goalscorer in the 1967 Cup Final, in the deal to buy Jenkins.
Jenkins quickly faded and remains one of the worst Tottenham Hotspur signings ever. The point is before he left the scene he was given severe stick by the crowd, which could not have helped his development as a young man finding his way in the game.
10. Bobby Mimms
Bobby Mimms had good spells with Rotherham, Blackburn, Preston, York and Mansfield over the course of a 20 year career, but not at Tottenham. Spurs regard Mimms as one of the worst goalkeepers they ever had.
He spent two years at White Hart Lane, playing 37 league games, in which he made a number of blunders, most notably letting in a tame shot away at QPR. As it was on the plastic pitch at Loftus Road, he couldn’t even pretend that the ball had bobbled up. He was soon sold to second-division Blackburn Rovers.
9. Gary Doherty
Gary Doherty was signed by Tottenham from Luton Town for £1million in March 2000. There was a debate when Gary Doherty first joined Spurs as to whether he was a better centre-back or striker. Well, at least for Spurs, he was neither. He never found his rhythm playing for the Lilywhites and was eventually sold in 2004.
8. Gilberto
With all the incredible footballing talent Brazil has produced over the years, Spurs somehow managed to end up with Sandro, Paulinho, Heurelho Gomes and Gilberto.
Acquired from Hertha Berlin for nearly £2m in 2008, Gilberto struggled immensely at Spurs and was substituted at half-time in three of his 10 appearances for the club before his contract was mutually terminated in 2009.
Capped by 35 times by his country in a career that lasted the best part of 20 years, Gilberto was not a bad player. But he was clearly unprepared for the task of making it in the Premier League, fulfilling the bad and largely unfair stereotype that long surrounded the ability of Brazilians to acclimatise to the English game.
Bentley was worth every penny for that Arsenal goal!!
I can think of at least 5 others that are in front of any of the players in your list. Who thought this up, because they ain’t got a clue.
Chiriches
The N’Jie pic is actually N’Koudou.
“I can think of at least 5 others that are in front of any of the players in your list. Who thought this up, because they ain’t got a clue.”. Go on then….name your 5.
No Hassan ghlay??
How was Rebrov a bigger disaster than Ndombele? Right now you’d take his nine goals in 29 games over the sum contribution from Richarlison, surely?