Top 10 worst midfielders in football Premier League

Midfielders are always considered the heart of a team, where the decisive battles take place. In the history of the Premier League, there is no shortage of excellent midfielders such as Steven Gerrard or Roy Keane, who can change the game with just one shining moment. However, besides the legends, the tournament also witnessed many failed contracts. Below, Kingsoccertips shares a list of the 10 worst midfielders to ever play in the Premier League, names that could not meet expectations and left an unforgettable mark in the hearts of fans.

Top 10 worst midfielders ever

Top 10: Kim Kallstrom

Kim Källström was a brilliant midfielder, especially during his eight years at Lyon. However, his move to Arsenal in January 2014 turned out to be one of the club’s worst decisions. Arsenal were facing a midfield crisis and urgently needed a replacement. Under time pressure, they signed Källström on loan from Spartak Moscow, unaware that he had a back injury. The problem was discovered during a medical, but Arsène Wenger still decided to complete the deal, despite the Swede being sidelined for over a month.

Källström didn’t make his Arsenal debut until late March. However, he was not given enough time to settle in, making just four appearances in all competitions before returning to Spartak Moscow at the end of his contract. With little to show for his efforts, Källström’s signing is considered one of the most lopsided and confusing in Arsenal’s history.

Top 9: Bruno Cheyrou

Bruno Cheyrou joined Liverpool in 2002 for £4.5 million, with high expectations as Gerard Houllier hailed him as “the new Zidane”. However, the French midfielder failed to live up to those ambitious comparisons. Despite a few moments of brilliance, most notably the winning goal against Chelsea, he struggled to adapt to the Premier League and failed to maintain consistent form in his first season.

Over time, Cheyrou has become synonymous with Liverpool’s failed signings under Houllier. While the Frenchman brought a number of trophies to Anfield, his reign was also marred by mistakes in the transfer market, with Cheyrou being one of the most obvious examples. The burden of expectation became too much, and his Liverpool career quickly came to a halt.

Top 8: Antonio Nunez

Rafael Benítez made some impressive signings during his time in charge of Liverpool, but not all of them were successful. One of his most forgettable deals was Antonio Núñez, his second signing after taking over in 2004. Expected to bring quality from Real Madrid, Núñez failed to adapt to the Premier League environment and struggled to make any significant impact.

Despite limited playing time and failing to establish himself in the first team, Núñez did win a Champions League medal as Liverpool won the 2005 title. However, his lacklustre contribution made the deal one of Benítez’s worst signings.

Top 7: Luke Chadwick

Luke Chadwick was tipped to follow in the footsteps of academy stars such as David Beckham and Paul Scholes when he emerged from Manchester United’s youth system in the early 2000s. However, instead of becoming a regular in the squad, he struggled to make a lasting impression at Old Trafford. Despite showing some potential, Chadwick failed to break into the first team during a period when United were teeming with talent.

Despite winning two Premier League titles with the club, Chadwick’s contributions were limited, with just 24 appearances and two goals. He was more remembered for his youthful, acne-ridden appearance than his performances on the pitch. Ultimately, Chadwick failed to reach the level expected of him and left United without leaving much of a memorable mark.

Top 6: Alberto Aquilani

Alberto Aquilani joined Liverpool in 2009 with great expectations, seen as a replacement for Xabi Alonso after the Spaniard moved to Real Madrid. Aquilani had previously impressed at AS Roma with his passing and midfield control. However, he was plagued by injuries since arriving at Anfield, which slowed his integration. His continued fitness problems prevented him from regaining his best form, preventing him from establishing himself as a key player in the squad.

Aquilani’s situation worsened when Rafael Benítez left in 2010 and Roy Hodgson took charge. The new manager did not see him in the long-term plans, leading to the Italian midfielder being sent out on loan to Serie A sides. Ultimately, he never got the chance to fulfil his potential at Liverpool, making the move one of the club’s most disappointing signings. It wasn’t a matter of talent, but a combination of persistent injuries and high expectations that doomed Aquilani’s Anfield career.

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Top 5: Istvan Kozma

István Kozma is one of the most disappointing signings in Liverpool’s history. After impressing at Dunfermline in Scotland, the Hungarian midfielder was brought to Anfield by Graeme Souness with the hope of adding a creative touch to his midfield. However, he quickly found English football to be too much of a challenge. Kozma made just 10 appearances for Liverpool and barely made an impact before leaving the club.

Souness’s time at Liverpool was marked by a number of poor transfer decisions, with Kozma being one of the most notable examples. Along with other failed signings such as Dean Saunders and Julian Dicks, Kozma’s lacklustre displays were emblematic of a turbulent period for Liverpool under Souness. His failure to adapt and contribute made the move one of the club’s lowest points in the club’s transfer history.

Top 4: Junior Lewis

Junior Lewis had a lacklustre spell at Leicester City, leaving little mark on the club’s history. Joining in January 2001 after playing in the Football League with Gillingham, the midfielder quickly found the jump to the Premier League too much. In the second half of that season, he made 13 appearances but failed to score or assist, underscoring his lack of class when compared to the top flight.

Before turning professional in 1993, Lewis spent most of his time playing amateur football at clubs such as Dover Athletic and Hendon. However, his brief Premier League career lasted just a few months before Leicester decided to let him leave for free to join Brighton & Hove Albion. This was arguably one of Leicester’s least valuable signings of the period, marking a brief and forgettable chapter in Lewis’s career.

Top 3. Jean Makoun

Jean Makoun joined Aston Villa from Lyon with the hope of bringing solidity to the midfield, but his time in the Premier League quickly turned into a disappointment. In seven appearances, Makoun failed to score or assist, but picked up three yellow cards and one red card, leaving him remembered more for his poor discipline than his professional contributions.

Despite initially receiving the backing of manager Gérard Houllier, Makoun’s situation worsened when Houllier left Villa at the end of the season. With no place in the new plans, he was loaned out to Olympiacos after just six months, ending a forgettable chapter in his English football career.

Top 2: Kleberson

Kleberson arrived at Manchester United in 2003 with great expectations after playing a part in Brazil’s 2002 World Cup triumph. Luiz Felipe Scolari praised his role in the national team, prompting interest from a number of big clubs. United eventually signed the Brazilian midfielder from Athletico Paranaense, hoping he would bring creativity and dynamism to the midfield.

However, things quickly turned sour. An injury in his second Premier League game saw Kleberson lose his footing and he never really adapted to English football. He made just 20 appearances for United and failed to make a significant impact. Far from the energetic midfielder the club had hoped for, Kleberson became one of the most forgettable flops in Manchester United’s transfer history.

Top 1: Eric Djemba-Djemba

Eric Djemba-Djemba arrived at Manchester United in 2003 with the expectation of becoming Roy Keane’s successor, but his time at Old Trafford was a complete failure. The Cameroonian made just 20 appearances across two seasons without making a significant impact. His lacklustre performances only served to make fans miss Keane’s intensity and influence in midfield even more.

Sir Alex Ferguson believed Djemba-Djemba had the right qualities for United, but the midfielder quickly revealed his technical and tactical weaknesses. Unable to adapt to the pace of the Premier League, he was sold to Aston Villa after just 18 months. However, things did not improve as he made just four league appearances before drifting around a number of smaller clubs, making him one of United’s most disappointing signings.

Final Thoughts

Despite being expected to elevate their teams, the midfielders on this worst midfielders list have become symbols of disappointment. From wrong deals in the transfer market to lackluster performances on the pitch, they have left their mark in ways no one expected. The Premier League is a harsh arena, where only players with real talent and character can shine. The names on this list are clear evidence that not everyone can conquer the most attractive tournament in the world.

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