From Pepe To Pogba: Premier League Record Signings Ranked
Posted: 07:36 Thursday 27th January 2022
At £72m, he's Arsenal's most expensive player but, after two-and-a-half unsuccessful years in north London, where does Nicolas Pépé place in the rankings of best and worst Premier League record signings?
It’s easy to get excited when your football club breaks the bank to bring either a potential or established superstar to bolster the ranks. But of course, parting with the pennies does not guarantee success. For every Rio Ferdinand, there is a Juan Sebastián Verón. BettingOdds.com has taken a look at each current Premier League club’s record signing, broken down the individual player’s statistics, weighed them in relation to their cost and contribution, and provided a definitive ranking from worst to best.
There are 22 players from the 20 Premier League outfits to consider. Two clubs, Burnley and Brighton & Hove Albion, have joint-record signings. In total, this equates to a stonking £947,800,000 in transfer fees.
You can see how each player has been scored in the key below along with the definitive ranking of the 22 Record Signings for each current Premier League club participating in the 2021/22 season.
To determine which Record Signing made the biggest impact at their respective club, we’ve scored each signing by the following points structure:
- Amount paid - highest transfer fee gets 1 point, lowest gets maximum points (22);
- Amount made on sale by previous club - greatest profit gets 1 point, lowest gets maximum points (22);
- Age of signing - oldest gets 1 point, youngest gets maximum points (22);
- Average Minutes per Season - fewest gets 1 point, most gets maximum points (22);
- Average Number of Gameweeks missed per Season - most gets 1 point, fewest gets maximum points (22);
- Stats Compilation (See below)
Stats Compilation
Accumulated score divided by the number of seasons the player has had at their club. 2021/22 is counted as half (0.5) a season.
- Goal - Each goal scored by a signing resulted in 3 points being awarded.
- Assist - Each goal assist provided by a signing resulted in 2 points being awarded.
- Clean Sheet - Each clean sheet received by a signing resulted in 3 points being awarded. Only Goalkeepers or defenders have been awarded points for this criteria.
- Win - 2 points were awarded for every win the signing was involved in.
- Loss - -1 point was awarded for every loss the signing was involved in.
- Draw - 1 point was awarded for every draw the signing was involved in.
NOTE:
- Youri Tielemans’ initial loan period at Leicester City between 31st January 2019 and 7th July 2019 has not been considered;
- Danny Ings’ initial loan period at Southampton between 9th August 2018 and 1st July 2019 has not been considered'
- Ismaïla Sarr’s profile includes his 2020/21 Championship season with Watford.
Premier League Record Signings Ranked
22. Ben Gibson - Burnley - £15.00m
| category | result | score |
|---|---|---|
| Amount Paid: | £15.0m | 19th (19pts) |
| Profit Made by Previous Club: | £15.0m | 15th (15pts) |
| Age Signed: | 28 | 2nd (2pts) |
| Average Minutes per Season: | 21 | 1st (1pt) |
| Average Number of Gameweeks Missed per Season: | 37.7 | 1st (1pt) |
| Stats Compilation: | 0.3 |
TOTAL: 38.3
21. Tanguy Ndombele - Tottenham Hotspur - £62.80m
| CATEGORY | RESULT | SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Amount Paid: | £62.8m | 6th (6pts) |
| Profit Made by Previous Club: | £54.47m | 5th (5pts) |
| Age Signed: | 22 | 16th (16pts) |
| Average Minutes per Season: | 1440 | 4th (4pts) |
| Average Number of Gameweeks Missed per Season: | 14.0 | 5th (5pts) |
| Stats Compilation: | 26.0 |
TOTAL: 62.0
20. Christos Tzolis - Norwich City - £10.00m
| category | result | score |
|---|---|---|
| Amount Paid: | £10.0m | 22th (22pts) |
| Profit Made by Previous Club: | £10.0m | 20th (20pts) |
| Age Signed: | 18 | 21st (21pts) |
| Average Minutes per Season: | 604 | 2nd (2pts) |
| Average Number of Gameweeks Missed per Season: | 22.0 | 2nd (2pts) |
| Stats Compilation: | -2.0 |
TOTAL: 66.0
19. Kristoffer Ajer - Brentford - £13.50m
| category | result | score |
|---|---|---|
| Amount Paid: | £13.5m | 21st (21pts) |
| Profit Made by Previous Club: | £12.85m | 16th (16pts) |
| Age Signed: | 23 | 14th (14pts) |
| Average Minutes per Season: | 1670 | 7th (7pts) |
| Average Number of Gameweeks Missed per Season: | 26.0 | 2nd (2pts) |
| Stats Compilation: | 12.0 |
TOTAL: 72.0
18. Nicolas Pépé - Arsenal - £72.00
| category | result | score |
|---|---|---|
| Amount Paid: | £72.0m | 5th (5pts) |
| Profit Made by Previous Club: | £63.67m | 3rd (3pts) |
| Age Signed: | 24 | 11th (11pts) |
| Average Minutes per Season: | 1650 | 6th (6pts) |
| Average Number of Gameweeks Missed per Season: | 10.8 | 10th (10pts) |
| Stats Compilation: | 47.2 |
TOTAL: 82.2
17. Sébastien Haller - West Ham United - £45.00m
| category | result | score |
|---|---|---|
| Amount Paid: | £45.0m | 7th (7pts) |
| Profit Made by Previous Club: | £39.18m | 7th (7pts) |
| Age Signed: | 25 | 7th (7pts) |
| Average Minutes per Season: | 2131 | 11th (11pts) |
| Average Number of Gameweeks Missed per Season: | 4.7 | 17th (17pts) |
| Stats Compilation: 36.0 |
TOTAL: 85.0
16. Rodrigo -Leeds United - £27.00m
| category | result | score |
|---|---|---|
| Amount Paid: | £27.0m | 15th (15pts) |
| Profit Made by Previous Club: | £2.0m | 21st (21pts) |
| Age Signed: | 29 | 1st (1pt) |
| Average Minutes per Season: | 1555 | 5th (5pts) |
| Average Number of Gameweeks Missed per Season | 12.7 | 7th (7pts) |
| Stats Compilation: | 42.7 |
TOTAL: 91.7
15. Romelu Lukaku - Chelsea - £97.50m
| category | result | score |
|---|---|---|
| Amount Paid: | £97.5m | 2nd (2pts) |
| Profit Made by Previous Club: | £24.5m | 11th (11pts) |
| Age Signed: | 28 | 2nd (2pts) |
| Average Minutes per Season: | 2174 | 12th (12pts) |
| Average Number of Gameweeks per Season: | 16.0 | 4th (4pts) |
| Stats Compilation: 64.0 |
TOTAL: 95.0
14. Paul Pogba - Manchester United - £93.00m
| category | result | score |
|---|---|---|
| Amount Paid: | £93.0m | 3rd (3pts) |
| Profit Made by Previous Club: | £93.0m | 2nd (2pts) |
| Age Signed: | 23 | 14th (14pts) |
| Average Minutes per Season: | 2089 | 10th (10pts) |
| Average Number of Gameweeks Missed per Season: | 12.7 | 7th (7pts) |
| Stats Compilation: | 59.3 |
TOTAL: 95.3
13. Joelinton - Newcastle United - £40.00m
| category | result | score |
|---|---|---|
| Amount Paid: | £40.0m | 9th (9pts) |
| Profit Made by Previous Clubs: | £38.0m | 8th (8pts) |
| Age Signed: | 22 | 16th (16pts) |
| Average Minutes per Season: | 2411 | 16th (16pts) |
| Average Number of Gameweeks Missed per Season: | 3.2 | 20th (20pts) |
| Stats Compilation: | 26.4 |
TOTAL: 95.4
12. Christian Benteke - Crystal Palace - £32.00m
| category | result | record |
|---|---|---|
| Amount Paid: | £32.0m | 13th (13pts) |
| Profit Made by Previous Club: | -£0.5m | 22nd (22pts) |
| Age Signed: | 25 | 7th (7pts) |
| Average Minutes per Season: | 1881 | 8th (8pts) |
| Average Number of Gameweeks Missed per Season: | 9.8 | 13th (13pts) |
| Stats Compilation: | 34.5 |
TOTAL: 97.5
11. Jack Grealish - Manchester City - £100.00m
| category | result | score |
|---|---|---|
| Amount Paid: | £100.0m | 1st (1pt) |
| Profit Made by Previous Club: | £100.0m | 1st (1pt) |
| Age Signed: | 25 | 7th (7pts) |
| Average Minutes per Season: | 2494 | 18th (18pts) |
| Average Number of Gameweeks Missed per Season: | 14.0 | 5th (5pts) |
| Stats Compilation: | 66.0 |
10. Emiliano Buendia - Aston Villa - £38.00m
| category | result | score |
|---|---|---|
| Amount Paid: | £38.0m | 11th (11pts) |
| Profit Made by Previous Club | £36.65m | 9th (9th) |
| Age Signed: | 24 | 11th (11pts) |
| Average Minutes per Season: | 2300 | 14th (14pts) |
| Average Number of Gameweeks Missed per Season: | 4.0 | 19th (19pts) |
| Stats Compilation: | 36.0 |
TOTAL: 100.0
9. Fabio Silva - Wolverhampton Wanderers - £35.00m
| category | result | score |
|---|---|---|
| Amount Paid: | £35.0m | 12th (12pts) |
| Profit Made by Previous Club: | £35.0m | 10th (10pts) |
| Age Signed: | 18 | 21st (21pts) |
| Average Minutes per Season: | 987 | 3rd (3pts) |
| Average Number of Gameweeks Missed per Season: | 10.7 | 12th (12pts) |
| Stats Compilation: | 50.7 |
TOTAL: 108.7
8. Adam Webster - Brighton & Hove Albion - £20.00m
| category | result | score |
|---|---|---|
| Amount Paid: | £20.0m | 16th (16pts) |
| Profit Made by Previous Club: | £12.0m | 17th (17pts) |
| Age Signed: | 24 | 11th (11pts) |
| Average Minutes per Season: | 2501 | 19th (19pts) |
| Average Number of Gameweeks Missed per Season: | 10.8 | 10th (10pts) |
| Stats Compilation: | 38.0 |
TOTAL: 111.0
7. Gylfi Sigurðsson - Everton - £45.00m
| category | result | score |
|---|---|---|
| Amount Paid: | £45.0m | 7th (7pts) |
| Profit Made by Previous Club: | £45.0m | 6th (6pts) |
| Age Signed: | 27 | 4th (4pts) |
| Average Minutes per Season: | 2269 | 13th (13pts) |
| Average Number of Gameweeks Missed per Season: | 7.8 | 15th (15pts) |
| Stats Compilation: | 66.4 |
TOTAL: 111.4
6. Youri Tielemans* - Leicester City - £40.00m
| category | result | score |
|---|---|---|
| Amount Paid: | £40.0m | 9th (9pts) |
| Profit Made by Previous Club: | £20.0m | 12th (12pts) |
| Age Signed: | 22 | 16th (16pts) |
| Average Minutes per Season: | 3018 | 22nd (22pts) |
| Average Number of Gameweeks Missed per Season: | 2.0 | 22nd (22pts) |
| Stats Compilation: | 37.2 |
TOTAL: 118.2
5. Virgil van Dijk - Liverpool - £75.00m
| category | result | score |
|---|---|---|
| Amount Paid: | £75.0m | 4th (4pts) |
| Profit Made by Previous Club: | £62.0m | 4th (4pts) |
| Age Signed: | 26 | 6th (6pts) |
| Average Minutes per Season: | 2047 | 9th (9pts) |
| Average Number of Gameweeks Missed per Season: | 9.8 | 13th (13pts) |
| Stats Compilation: | 82.5 |
TOTAL: 118.5
4. Chris Wood - Burnley - £15.00m
| category | result | score |
|---|---|---|
| Amount Paid: | £15.0m | 19th (19pts) |
| Profit Made by Previous Club: | £12.0m | 17th (17pts) |
| Age Signed: | 25 | 7th (7pts) |
| Average Minutes per Season: | 2408 | 15th (15pts) |
| Average Number of Gameweeks Missed per Season | 5.8 | 16th (16pts) |
| Stats Compilation: | 50.7 |
TOTAL: 124.7
3. Ismaïla Sarr* - Watford - £32.00m
| category | result | score |
|---|---|---|
| Amount Paid | £32.0m | 13th (13pts) |
| Profit Made by Previous Club | £16.0m | 14th (14pts) |
| Age Signed: | 21 | 20th (20pts) |
| Average Minutes per Season: | 2607 | 20th (20pts) |
| Average Number of Gameweeks Missed per Season: | 11.6 | 9th (9pts) |
| Stats Compilation: | 62.0 |
TOTAL: 138.0
2. Neal Maupay - Brighton & Hove Albion - £20.00m
| category | result | score |
|---|---|---|
| Amount Paid: | £20.0m | 16th (16pts) |
| Profit Made by Previous Club: | £18.40m | 13th (13pts) |
| Age Signed: | 22 | 16th (16pts) |
| Average Minutes per Season: | 2714 | 21st (21pts) |
| Average Number of Gameweeks Missed per Season: | 3.2 | 20th (20pts) |
| Stats Compilation: | 56.0 |
1. Danny Ings - Southampton - £20.00m
| category | result | score |
|---|---|---|
| Amount Paid: | £20.0m | 16th (16pts) |
| Profit Made by Previous Club: | £12.0m | 17th (17pts) |
| Age Signed: | 27 | 4th (4pts) |
| Average Minutes per Season: | 2490 | 17th (17pts) |
| Average Number of Gameweeks Missed per Season: | 4.5 | 18th (18pts) |
| Stats Compilation: | 73.5 |
TOTAL: 145.5
Stats Compilation:
| club | record signing | goal (3PT) | ASSIST (2PT) | CLEAN SHEET (2PT) | WINS (2PT) | DRAW (1PT) | LOSS (-1PT) | NUMBER OF SEASONS | Stats Average (total divided by number of seasons) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | Nicolas Pépé | 45 | 16 | N/A | 60 | 18 | -21 | 2.5 | 47.2 |
| Aston Villa | Emiliano Buendia | 6 | 6 | N/A | 14 | 2 | -10 | 0.5 | 36.0 |
| Brentford | Kristoffer Ajer | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | -5 | 0.5 | 12.0 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | Adam Webster | 15 | 2 | 34 | 38 | 30 | -24 | 2.5 | 38.0 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | Neal Maupay | 75 | 14 | N/A | 46 | 36 | -31 | 2.5 | 56.0 |
| Burnley | Ben Gibson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.3 |
| Burnley | Chris Wood | 150 | 14 | N/A | 90 | 42 | -68 | 4.5 | 50.7 |
| Chelsea | Romelu Lukaku | 15 | 0 | N/A | 16 | 4 | -3 | 0.5 | 64.0 |
| Crystal Palace | Christian Benteke | 105 | 22 | N/A | 98 | 37 | -72 | 5.5 | 34.5 |
| Everton | Gylfi Sigurðsson | 75 | 34 | N/A | 108 | 31 | 51 | 4.5 | 66.4 |
| Leeds United | Rodrigo | 30 | 6 | N/A | 42 | 11 | -25 | 1.5 | 42.7 |
| Leicester City | Youri Tielemans* | 42 | 24 | N/A | 43 | 19 | -35 | 2.5 | 37.2 |
| Liverpool | Virgil van Dijk | 36 | 8 | 106 | 170 | 20 | -10 | 4 | 82.5 |
| Manchester City | Jack Grealish | 6 | 4 | N/A | 22 | 3 | -2 | 0.5 | 66.0 |
| Manchester United | Paul Pogba | 84 | 72 | N/A | 154 | 41 | -25 | 5.5 | 59.3 |
| Newcastle United | Joelinton | 21 | 10 | N/A | 44 | 29 | -38 | 2.5 | 26.4 |
| Norwich City | Christos Tzolis | 0 | 0 | N/A | 4 | 2 | -7 | 0.5 | -2.0 |
| Southampton | Danny Ings | 102 | 12 | N/A | 52 | 11 | -30 | 2 | 73.5 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | Tanguy Ndombele | 18 | 10 | N/A | 44 | 17 | -24 | 2.5 | 26.0 |
| Watford | Ismaïla Sarr | 69 | 34 | N/A | 66 | 16 | -30 | 2.5 | 62.0 |
| West Ham United | Sébastien Haller | 30 | 2 | N/A | 32 | 11 | -21 | 1.5 | 36.0 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | Fabio Silva | 12 | 6 | N/A | 30 | 6 | 22 | 1.5 | 50.7 |
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