Sports

Transfer Deadline: 10 Players Who Saw Their Careers Collapse After Switching Teams

Published

2 years ago

August 30, 2023

With the transfer window set to close at 11 pm, Friday, September 1, the world of football has seen a very busy transfer window, with top leagues spending big in the player market, including the Premier League, Saudi Pro League, the American League among others.

The PUNCH looks at 10 players, in the last seven years, who failed to live up to expectations after their transfer.

1. Ousmane Dembele (Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona, 2017)

Ousmane Dembele

The French winger joined Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 for a club-record fee of €105 million. However, he struggled to live up to expectations at Camp Nou, due to frequent injuries. Dembele joined PSG in August 2023 after roughly six years at Barcelona.

2. Eden Hazard (Chelsea to Real Madrid, 2019)

Eden Hazard

The Belgian winger joined Real Madrid from Chelsea for a club-record fee of €115 million in 2019. However, being plagued by injuries since his move to the Spanish capital, he failed to replicate his best form. He retired from the Belgian team in 2022 and currently is a free agent after terminating his contract with Real Madrid in 2023. Hazard, 32, is alleged to be considering retirement after he was said to have rejected offers from Saudian clubs and some Premier League clubs.

3. Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool to Barcelona, 2018)

Philippe Coutinho

Philippe Coutinho’s high-profile transfer from Liverpool to Barcelona in 2018 was touted as a game-changer. However, the Brazilian midfielder struggled to find his rhythm at Camp Nou. The weight of the transfer fee and the adjustment to Barcelona’s style appeared to have hindered his performance. Coutinho currently plays in Aston Villa, after his move to Bayern Munich did not yield the expected results.

4. Sadio Mane (Liverpool to Bayern Munich, 2022)

Sadio Mane

The Senegalese forward joined Bayern Munich from Liverpool in 2022 for a fee of £35 million. He has had a mixed start to his career at the Allianz Arena, scoring 10 goals in 22 appearances. However, Bayern chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen stated, “Because of his long (injury) lay-off, he also couldn’t have the impact at FC Bayern that we all and he himself had hoped for. That’s why we came to the joint decision that he’ll begin a new chapter in his career and make a new start at a different club. We wish him all the best and lots of success for the challenges ahead at Al Nassr.” He was released just after one year at Bayern.

5. Alvaro Morata (Real Madrid to Chelsea, 2017)

Alvaro Morata

Alvaro Morata’s transfer from Real Madrid to Chelsea in 2017 aimed to elevate his career. Yet, the pressure of filling Diego Costa’s shoes weighed heavily on the Spanish striker. His inability to regularly find the net eroded his confidence, resulting in a disappointing spell at Stamford Bridge.

6. André Silva (Porto to AC Milan, 2017)

André Silva

André Silva’s transfer from Porto to AC Milan in 2017 held immense promise. However, the Portuguese striker found it challenging to replicate his goal-scoring form in Serie A. Inconsistent playing time and managerial changes hampered his progress, leading to loan spells at Sevilla and Eintracht Frankfurt.

7. Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal to Manchester United, 2018)

Alexis Sanchez

The Chilean forward joined Manchester United from Arsenal in 2018 for a fee of £39 million. However, he failed to make an impact at Old Trafford and was loaned out to Inter Milan in 2019.

8. Memphis Depay (Lyon to Barcelona, 2021 & PSV Eindhoven to Manchester United, 2015)

Memphis Depay

The Dutch forward joined Barcelona from Lyon in 2021 for a fee of €30 million. However, he struggled at the Camp Nou, leading to his exit. Prior to this, he made a €16m move from PSV Eindhoven to Manchester United. However, he failed to meet expectations.

9. Angel Di Maria (Paris Saint-Germain to Juventus, 2022 & Real Madrid to Manchester United, 2014)

Angel Di Maria

The Argentine winger joined Juventus from Paris Saint-Germain in 2022 for a free transfer. However, he has also struggled to find his best form at the Allianz Stadium, and has been benched on several occasions. Earlier, The Argentine winger joined Manchester United from Real Madrid for a fee of £59.7 million in 2014. However, he failed to live up to expectations at Old Trafford, and was sold to Paris Saint-Germain after just one season.

10. Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich to Swansea City, 2017)

Renato Sanches

Renato Sanches’s journey from Bayern Munich to Swansea City in 2017 is a tale of misplaced potential. The Portuguese midfielder’s struggles to adapt to the physicality of the Premier League were evident, as his performances fell short of expectations.

PUNCH

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UCL 2023/24: Things To Know Ahead Of Draw

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Sports

UCL: Why I Snubbed Move To Real Madrid – Saliba

Published

2 days ago

November 3, 2025

Editor

Arsenal defender, William Saliba, has revealed why he turned down a move to Real Madrid.

Saliba recently put pen to paper on a contract extension with the Gunners.

The Frenchman has now claimed he wants to win silverware with the Premier League side, before he can think of leaving the Emirates.

“Of course it’s really tempting when a club like that is interested in you.

“But I wanted to win titles at Arsenal first before thinking about anything else,” Saliba told Telefoot.

Saliba might get his wish this season, as Arsenal look well on course to end their two-decade wait for the league title.

Mikel Arteta’s men are six points clear at the top after 10 matches.

Sports

UCL Matchday 4: Liverpool Host Real Madrid, Bayern Face PSG, Other Fixtures

Published

2 days ago

November 3, 2025

Editor

The league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League hits its halfway mark on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Matchday 4 arrives with drama scripted across Europe.

Eighteen games, countless storylines, and a stage where heroes, heartbreak, and history are never far apart.

From Anfield to Paris, Turin to Prague — the world’s greatest club competition enters its next act.

These preview details were obtained from the UCL website on Monday.

1. Liverpool vs Real Madrid

A rivalry defined by glory and grief — from Kyiv to Paris to Anfield’s famous nights.

Last season, the Reds finally broke their curse, a 2-0 victory ending an eight-game winless run against Los Blancos. Now, Jürgen Klopp’s men return to Anfield, chasing a 16th straight European home win — an Anfield fortress roaring under the lights.

Mohamed Salah stands on the brink of greatness: two goals from becoming the first African player to reach 50 in the Champions League. Across the pitch, a familiar face wears white now — Trent Alexander-Arnold, the Scouser turned Galáctico, facing the Kop for the first time.

Madrid’s own prodigy, Jude Bellingham, could rewrite history too. At 22 years and 128 days, he’s set to become the youngest ever player to make 50 Champions League appearances — eclipsing Iker Casillas, the symbol of Madrid’s golden past.

It’s not just a match. It’s memory, emotion, and destiny colliding.

2. PSG vs Bayern Munich

Paris have lost just two of their last 41 home Champions League group stage games, and the Parc des Princes is again a fortress. But Bayern are serial conquerors, with 13 wins in their last 15 meetings against French opposition.

All eyes will be on Ousmane Dembélé, who’s lived every twist of this rivalry — scorer, provider, even villain. He faces his old Bundesliga tormentors with something to prove. Meanwhile, Lucas Hernández meets his former teammates after switching red for blue.

At the other end, Harry Kane continues his European rampage — 11 goals in his last ten UCL appearances — while Joshua Kimmich eyes his 100th Champions League match for Bayern, joining legends Müller, Neuer, Lahm, and Kahn in elite company.

It’s a battle of old foes and new ambitions — with the scent of late drama thick in the Paris air.

3. Slavia Praha vs Arsenal

In Prague, memories of 2021 linger — when Arsenal crushed Slavia’s quarter-final dreams with a 4-0 rout.
Four years later, the Czech champions seek payback on home soil.

Slavia have found their scoring rhythm — goals in 26 of their last 27 European home games — but face an Arsenal side in imperious form. The Gunners are unbeaten in ten against Czech clubs, with seven straight UCL league-phase wins.

Gabriel Martinelli has found the net in all three of Arsenal’s group games — and the Brazilian’s fearless energy has made him Mikel Arteta’s symbol of this new Arsenal: vibrant, ruthless, relentless.

History favors the Gunners — but Slavia’s home spirit, under the lights of Eden Arena, makes this more than a formality. It’s redemption, reimagined.

4. Juventus vs Sporting CP
In Turin, it’s about legacy.

Juventus, chasing their 500th European Cup goal — the first Italian team to do so — meet Sporting CP, winless against Italian opposition since 2011.

The Bianconeri have stumbled on the continental stage lately — only two wins in their last 11 European games — and must rediscover their old ruthlessness. Sporting, ever daring, have scored in 19 straight group-stage matches, and will not come quietly.

For both sides, this isn’t just a fixture. It’s a test of belief.

Elsewhere Across Europe on Tuesday:

Tottenham vs Copenhagen
Napoli vs Frankfurt
Atlético Madrid vs Union Saint-Gilloise
Bodø/Glimt vs Monaco
Olympiacos vs PSV Eindhoven
PUNCH Online reports that the remaining games will take place on Wednesday.

Pafos vs Villarreal and Qarabağ vs Chelsea kick off early.
Ajax vs Galatasaray
Club Brugge vs Barcelona
Inter vs Kairat
Man City vs Dortmund
Newcastle vs Athletic Club
Marseille vs Atalanta
Benfica vs Leverkusen. Also reports that only five teams have maintained a perfect start winning all three games from the previous match days.

Sports

Okpebholo Bags SWAN Governor of the Year Award

Published

1 week ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

National Leadership of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has named the governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, as the Distinguished Governor of the Year in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of sports in Nigeria.

The award will be formally presented to the governor on Friday, October 31, during SWAN’s 60th Diamond Jubilee Anniversary.

Edo State Chairman of SWAN, Comrade Kehinde Osagiede, disclosed this on Tuesday in Benin when he led members of his executive on a courtesy visit to the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua.

Osagiede said the visit was aimed at officially introducing the Edo SWAN Executive — which assumed office about a year ago — to the commissioner and to strengthen collaboration between the association and the state government.

“Governor Monday Okpebholo was carefully selected for this honour because of his remarkable contributions to sports development in Nigeria within his first year in office.

“We also came to congratulate you, Mr. Commissioner, on your well-deserved appointment, and to inform you, as the spokesperson of the state government, about the forthcoming award to the governor,” he said.

He further assured that the Edo SWAN chapter would continue to collaborate with the state government to promote sports development across the state.

In his response, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, thanked SWAN for the recognition accorded Governor Okpebholo and for its support towards sports promotion in Edo State.

Afegbua, who disclosed that the governor was currently on official duty in Ekiti State, promised to brief him about the honour.

He urged sports journalists in the state to give balanced and positive coverage to the activities of Bendel Insurance Football Club, Edo Queens, and other sporting programmes initiated by the state government.

“The Edo State Government will continue to partner with SWAN to advance sports development in the state,” the commissioner assured.