Arsenal’s worst ever transfers

Shkodran Mustafi, 29, playing for Arsenal against Manchester City

Arsenal’s worst ever transfers

By Jonny Bray

There was a time when Arsenal’s recruitment team was among the most respected in Europe. 

From Wright to Fabregas, some truly magnificent players have signed for the Gunners during the club’s history, however, the club have also had their fair share of shockers. 

It feels like those shockers have become increasingly common over the last 15 years, but they are by no means exclusive to recent times. 

All that’s really changed is how much these failed transfer have ended up costing the club. 

Lists like this have been made before and have often been unfair on players who have signed for the club in the last 15 years. 

Marouane Chamakh, for example, is a common inclusion in lists of this ilk despite being a free transfer with a relatively average record of eight league goals in 40 appearances across three years. 

He didn’t set the world alight but is he one of Arsenal’s worst every transfers? 

No, he’s just an average player and it’s worth noting that the club never fell out of the top four whilst he was in the squad.


Henrikh Mkhitaryan


It’s easy to forget that, prior to his move to Manchester United, Henrikh Mkhitaryan was one of the most highly rated attacking midfielders in European football. 

Even after a disappointing spell in Manchester, Arsenal fans could have been forgiven for expecting a lot from the Armenian superstar after he signed as part of the deal that saw an out of contract Alexis Sanchez head in the other direction. 

He scored 8 goals in 39 appearances, but unlike Chamakh, Mkhitaryan arrived with a big reputation and even bigger shoes to fill considering Sanchez’s departure that same window. 

Since having his contract at Arsenal cancelled, Mkhitaryan has moved to Roma in the hopes of reinvigorating his career. 


Francis Jeffers


Arsenal signed Francis Jeffers from Everton for £8 million in 2001 after an impressive start to his professional career on the blue side of Liverpool. 

That was a significant transfer fee at the time, and it warranted more than the disappointing return of four goals in 22 appearances that Jeffers produced between 2001 and 2003. 

What makes the entire transfer even worse from and Arsenal perspective is that Jeffers’ was signed instead of a certain Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Van Nistelrooy would go on to sign for Manchester United that summer. 

Jeffers went on to plummet down the footballing pyramid shortly after leaving Arsenal.


Shkodran Mustafi


Shkodran Mustafi’s move to Arsenal is the worst transfer in the history of Arsenal Football Club. 

It has the eye watering fee, it has the shocking performances, it has the lack of any sell on value. 

Everything you need to be considered a disastrous transfer is present in Mustafi’s case. 

In August 2016, Mustafi joined the Gunners for an undisclosed fee, reported to be £35 million. 

Even now, that’s a high fee for a defender and you’d expect to get a half decent player in return.

What Arsenal got was a meme. 

There’s a reason why most of Arsenal Fan TV’s most iconic moments relate in some way to a Mustafi performance. 
In 102 Premier League appearances, Mustafi has been involved in just 26 clean sheets whilst being involved in three errors leading directly to goals. 

In February 2021, Mustafi joined German side Schalke on a permanent transfer. 

The Bundesliga giants have since been relegated for the first time in 30 years. 

Photo Credit: Getty Images


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