Now that we’ve established what makes a signing “bad,” let’s take a closer look at the worst 10 signings made by Tottenham Hotspur under Daniel Levy. I did the best signings under Levy here
These signings are ranked in no particular order.
Roberto Soldado
Roberto Soldado was signed from Valencia for a club-record fee of £26 million in 2013. The Spanish striker had a great reputation in La Liga, where he was known for his goal-scoring prowess. However, he struggled to adapt to the Premier League and could not replicate his form in front of goal. In his two seasons at Tottenham, he managed just seven Premier League goals in 52 appearances. He was eventually sold to Villarreal for a loss in 2015. His signing is considered one of the biggest disappointments under Daniel Levy’s tenure.
Vincent Janssen
Vincent Janssen was signed from AZ Alkmaar for a fee of £17 million in 2016. The Dutch striker was expected to provide backup for Harry Kane, but he struggled to make an impact and managed just two Premier League goals in 31 appearances. He was eventually loaned out and then sold to Mexican club CF Monterrey in 2019. His signing is widely regarded as one of the worst under Daniel Levy’s tenure.
Moussa Sissoko
Moussa Sissoko was signed from Newcastle United for a club-record fee of £30 million in 2016. The French midfielder was expected to add dynamism and creativity to Tottenham’s midfield. However, he failed to live up to expectations and struggled to make an impact in his first season. He gradually improved but remained inconsistent, and his performances were often criticized by fans and pundits. While he has had some good moments, his signing for such a high fee is still regarded as a disappointment, making him one of the worst signings under Daniel Levy’s tenure.
Fernando Llorente
Fernando Llorente was signed from Swansea City in 2017 for a fee of £12 million. The Spanish striker was brought in to provide backup for Harry Kane and to offer a different option up front with his physical presence and aerial ability. While he did make some important contributions, including scoring crucial goals in the Champions League, he was largely underwhelming and struggled to make a consistent impact. He left the club in 2019 after two seasons, and his signing is widely regarded as one of the worst under Daniel Levy’s tenure.
Georges-Kevin Nkoudou
Georges-Kevin Nkoudou was signed from Marseille in 2016 for a fee of £11 million. However, the French winger failed to impress during his time at Tottenham, making just 27 appearances and failing to score a goal before being loaned out and eventually sold.
Paulinho
Paulinho was signed from Corinthians for a club-record fee of £17 million in 2013. The Brazilian midfielder was highly regarded in his home country and had helped Corinthians win the Club World Cup in 2012. However, he struggled to adapt to the Premier League and was largely ineffective during his time at Tottenham. He managed just six Premier League goals in 67 appearances and was criticized for his poor performances. He was eventually sold to Guangzhou Evergrande in 2015 for a loss, and his signing is widely regarded as one of the biggest disappointments under Daniel Levy’s tenure.
Vlad Chiriches
Vlad Chiriches was signed from Steaua Bucharest for a fee of £8.5 million in 2013. The Romanian defender was highly rated in his home country and was expected to provide solidity and composure to Tottenham’s defense. However, he struggled to adapt to the pace and physicality of the Premier League and made several high-profile errors during his time at the club. He also suffered from injury problems and was often unavailable for selection. After two seasons at Tottenham, he was sold to Napoli for a loss, and his signing is widely regarded as one of the worst under Daniel Levy’s tenure.
Clinton N’Jie
Clinton N’Jie was signed from Lyon for a fee of £8.3 million in 2015. The Cameroonian forward was highly rated and was expected to provide pace and goals to Tottenham’s attack. However, he struggled to adapt to the Premier League and made just eight appearances in his debut season. He was then loaned out to Marseille, where he had a slightly better season, scoring four goals in 23 appearances. However, he failed to make a significant impact and was eventually sold to Marseille permanently, signing for an undisclosed fee. His signing is widely regarded as one of the worst under Daniel Levy’s tenure.
Benjamin Stambouli
Benjamin Stambouli was signed from Montpellier for a fee of £4.7 million in 2014. The French midfielder was expected to provide defensive cover and midfield solidity to Tottenham’s squad. However, he struggled to make an impact and managed just 12 Premier League appearances in his debut season. He was then sold to Paris Saint-Germain for a profit in 2015, after just one season at the club. His signing is widely regarded as one of the worst under Daniel Levy’s tenure, as he failed to make a significant impact and was sold for a lower fee than he was signed for.
David Bentley
David Bentley was signed from Blackburn Rovers for a fee of £15 million in 2008. The English winger was highly rated and was expected to provide creativity and goals from midfield. However, he failed to live up to expectations and struggled to make an impact at Tottenham. He managed just three Premier League goals in 42 appearances and was criticized for his poor performances and lack of work rate. He was eventually loaned out to several clubs and was sold to FC Rostov in 2013 for a loss, and his signing is widely regarded as one of the worst under Daniel Levy’s tenure.
See you in the next one.