Everton's Premier League history is littered with high-cost signings that failed to deliver, a recurring issue that has contributed to recent instability. With the club currently seventh in the standings on nine points, fans are reflecting on past transfer missteps as the team prepares for its next challenge away to Hull City in the fixtures.

Everton spent around £25 million to sign Yannick Bolasie from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2016. The winger suffered a serious ACL injury just months into his debut season, notching only two goals in 29 Premier League appearances before a series of loans and a contract expiry in 2021. More recently, the £15 million acquisition of Neal Maupay from Brighton in 2022 yielded just one league goal in 27 appearances before he was loaned out and eventually sold to Marseille for £5 million last summer.

The trend of underperforming signings stretches back decades. In 2005, defender Per Kroldrup cost £5 million from Udinese but made just two appearances, including a debut in a 4-0 Boxing Day defeat to Aston Villa, before being sold back to Italy. Midfielder Alex Nyarko, a £4.5 million signing from Lens in 2000, played only 11 more times after loan spells and was released when his work permit expired. Goalkeeper Richard Wright, a £3.5 million arrival from Arsenal in 2002, made 107 appearances but his time was marred by freak injuries, including falling from a loft and tripping over a pitchside sign.

Perhaps the most symbolic failure of the Farhad Moshiri era was Jean-Philippe Gbamin. The £25 million midfielder from Mainz in 2019 signed a five-year deal on substantial wages but played just one-and-a-half games before injuries kept him out for most of two seasons. After loans to CSKA Moscow and Trabzonspor, his contract was terminated early, having made only eight total appearances over four years. Striker Sandro Ramirez, a £5 million signing from Malaga in 2017, scored just one goal in 16 games and was allowed to join Huesca for free in 2020 to end his nightmare.

Beyond the numbers, several signings were defined by personal struggles and unusual incidents. Brett Angell, a £500,000 signing from Southend in 1994, scored one goal in 21 games before being sold to Sunderland. Club legend Neville Southall later reflected on his struggles. "The step up to the Premier League was probably too much for him," Southall said, "and he had a first touch like a tackle." Alex Nyarko's time ended memorably during a 4-1 defeat to Arsenal when a fan ran onto the pitch to swap shirts, prompting the midfielder to declare he was quitting football.

These costly errors in the transfer market have cast a long shadow, even as the current squad shows resilience. Sean Dyche's side is unbeaten in five, with recent 1-0 wins over Ipswich and Wolves underpinning their solid start. The hope now is that lessons have been learned, allowing the club to build on its present platform of 2 wins and 3 draws from its opening five matches.

This story first appeared at LiveScore