The Top Five Worst Signings From Portugal In Premier League History

David Tully

3 years ago

Categories: Galleries, Manchester City News, Transfer News

Tags: Arsenal, aston villa, Chelsea, Everton, leeds, Leeds United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Sheffield United, Southampton, spurs, West Ham, wolves

After going through the worst signings from the Bundesliga last week, we now turn our attention to Portugal.

Even though the Primeira Liga is not classed as one of the top five leagues in Europe, players have had success after making the transition to English football.

However, there have also been some expensive flops, and almost all of the signings we have included on this list left on loan within a year or so of arriving in the country.

Press the next page as we look at the five worst players to have signed from Portuguese teams.

5) Islam Slimani (Sporting Lisbon to Leicester – £28m)

The Foxes snapped up the Algerian international after he scored 31 goals for Sporting during the 2015/16 season, but his goals begun to dry up after his move to England.

Slimani had a relatively decent first season at the King Power, although he wasn’t a regular starter, but his game time began to diminish in his second year and he had three loan spells before leaving for Lyon on a permanent basis back in January this year.

4) Adrien Silva (Sporting Lisbon to Leicester – £22m)

The Portuguese midfielder initially signed for the Foxes on deadline day in August 2017 but, after failing to get international clearance from FIFA, the player had to wait until January to make his debut.

Silva really wasn’t worth the wait. He made just 21 appearances for Leicester before going on an 18-month loan spell at Monaco. The 32-year-old made a permanent move to Sampdoria back in October.

3) Gianelli Imbula (Porto to Stoke – £18.3m)

A club-record signing for the Potters in the 2016 January transfer window, the Congolese midfielder failed to live up to expectations and was shipped out on loan after an eighteen-month spell.

Imbulla was a regular in his time with Toulouse and Rayo Vallecano, although a third temporary move to Lecce was ended prematurely. He left the Bet 365 Stadium on a free transfer to Russian club Sochi in March last year.

2) Lazar Markovic (Benfica to Liverpool – £20m)

One of the many flops that were signed by the Reds following their failed title challenge in 2014, the Serbian only had one campaign at Anfield ahead of four loan spells at Fenerbahce, Sporting, Hull City and Anderlecht.

Markovic was eventually let go on a free transfer to Fulham midway through the 2018/19 season. The winger made just one appearance for the Cottagers before leaving after six months. He is currently back at his first club Partizan Belgrade.

1) Eliaquim Mangala (Porto to Manchester City – £42m)

The Frenchman was unable to handle the physicality and speed of the Premier League, and he lasted just two seasons before being loaned out to Valencia.

Mangala actually spent five years on City’s book, but most of his last three seasons were spent either out on loan or sidelined with injury. He eventually left when his contract expired in 2019.