The worst signings in the history of Barcelona

Last update 21 November, 2025 by Alberto Llopis

Who are the worst signings in the history of Barcelona? Throughout his long career, FC Barcelona club has had great players but also with some worthy firecrackers study. In this article, We remember some of the weakest they have worn the Barca zamarra and sure we leave many.

The worst signings in Barça history

Marc Overmars

The Dutchman was one of the best wingers in the world in the late 90's. This led to arrive to Barcelona from Arsenal in the year 2000, by staggering 6500 millions of old pesetas, which were many pelas. Joan Gaspart tried to cover the departure of Figo to Real Madrid by investing part of the 10.000 million admitted for the transfer of the Portuguese.

The move could leave him no worse. Overmars suffered a knee injury that cost of recovering and was not well. After that the successive string of injuries forced him to retire and leave the Barcelona. During his time the Barcelona did not win any title that detracted most his career as culé. He then served as Ajax's sporting director until heHe was fired for sexual harassment of a colleague.

Dmytro Chygrynskiy

In the summer of 2009, Guardiola encaprichó with the signing of a Ukrainian center chunky-looking rocker. Barcelona decided to follow the criteria of their successful trainer and pay 25 Shaktar million euros to Donetsk for him. The result was disastrous. Dmytro Chygrynskiy nHe never got to acclimatize in the Barcelona team and it was a failed signing. Ten matches in total were his poor baggage. It was sold back to its source computer, but this time for ten million euros less. Total failure.

Douglas Pereira

Juice 8 official matches with Barcelona in two years and ended loaned out there. He injured his ass once while riding the bus to a game and it's no joke.. His performance as FC Barcelona deserves no more than 3 lines.

Alexander Hleb

The player Belarusian He arrived from Arsenal in the summer of 2008 for almost 17 millions of euros. His time at Barcelona lasted one season, the rest is spent on loan until the free ended out in a really nefarious operation. It arrived at the same time Dmytro Chygrynskiy and it failed at the same time. offensive end, Nor could get quality at the Camp Nou.

Philippe Christanval

Barcelona invested in summer 2001 the disproportionate number of 3000 million pesetas in this plant that was a real tordo. The truth is that during that time came some of the worst players in the history of Barcelona, all under the command of Joan Gaspart.

Gaspart himself said that: "Here we have a moral obligation to win everything and for that we signed the best players in the world". But that didn't work for him. Philippe Christanvathe one who ended up being called “Christanmal” by some sports commentator of the time. then with 30 years he retired from football and opened a jewelry business in Paris.

Enmanuel Amunike

The Nigerian was one of the worst signings in the history of Barcelona. Known as the ‘Throw-in king‘, It was precisely this the most outstanding quality when assessing his move. Renowned player in Nigeria was signed for Barcelona for a 4 million of his time and there began to mark an epoch in the band Camp Nou. He did sitting in the box or displaying their wonderful throw-ins.

He spent three seasons with more pain than glory. He played twenty games in all those seasons and scored a goal. They later used his image for a television advertisement..

Emmanuel Petit

Along with Overmars also arrived this Frenchman with blonde hair and a ponytail from the 90 . It was about Petit, an international player and World Champion with France who was also successful at Arsenal. The signing was as expensive as failed. While the player himself described in an autobiography as the worst mistake of his life having signed for Barça, besides calling 'carpet sellers’ to the managers and 'incompetent clown’ to the coach of his time.

Winston Bogarde

In January 1998, Barcelona reached the Louis Van Gaal this central nearly two meters high not known for being a fine stylist ball. International with Holland, He looked more like a nightclub goalkeeper than an elite soccer player.. Bogarde It did not catch on in a Camp Nou that was used to another type of football.

Frédéric Déhu

This French center came to Barcelona 1998, just after France World Cup and to win the League in his country. Upon arrival was considered one of the best center of the moment, when he left, He played opposite was 11 matches with Barcelona and left at the end of that same season. Some have the worst starting lineup in the history of Barcelona. Then he returned to the league where he played one season in the Levant with the same result and retired.

Thomas Vermaelen

Belgian glass. He signed for Barca 2014 and he has since accumulated or not a season where not injured and most of the games were lost. He was placed on Vissel Kobe taking advantage of the Catalans played a friendly against the Japanese in the summer 2019. A disaster of signing.

Juan Roman Riquelme

The Argentine arrived in 2001 with compatriot Saviola. Gaspart, after his previous failure had not tired of throwing money and decided to invest another very high figure in bringing one of the most promising moment. The truth is that Riquelme was a player of some world-class and highly regarded in his country, Argentina, but passing through the Camp Nou was quite poor and insignificant. The best times in the Spanish League '10’ Villarreal were.

Xavier Escaich, Jose Mari, Igor Korneyev, Xavier Eskurza, Ronnie Ekelund and Sanchez Jara

Here we can make a pack. With six players rarely doubtful level They reached a Barcelona of Johan Cruyff, great successes alternated with absurdities of made huge dimensions. None had any level to play in the Catalan giant and had a prolific career after. So much, more than one reading this article, you can not even put a face.

Other worthy players from this list:

Samuel Knowledge

Van Gaal odd bet, He coincided in time with Bogarde, Reiziger the Déhu. They won the League to Real Madrid Baljic, Geremi Bizarri. So was the level at that time. discreet player to be generous.

Francesco Coco

This Italian surname muñecote with Sesame Street, He went rather unnoticed by the Camp Nou turf. He arrived on loan from AC Milan and had a brief spell at Barça.

Dragan Ciric

The story of this player is limited to Barca 26 games and no goals in two seasons.

Keirrison and Henrique

Barcelona signed several seasons by 20 million euros to the Brazilian who was the new pearl of the sunny South American country . He never got to play at Barca after umpteen assignments. Same path as Henrique, which cost 10 million euros and no one ever saw him play either.

Other of the worst signings in the history of Barcelona

Richard Dutruel

Another esperpento over Barcelona in the beginning of the XXI century. Barcelona he paid 700 Celta Vigo million by a porter who spent two seasons in Barcelona and one of them did not play in training.

Roberto Bonano

They brought him to supply Dutruel two seasons and played a total of 51 League matches (56 goals conceded) and disputed 23 Champions League parties (20 goals Allowed). lamentable numbers for a goalkeeper of Barcelona. Also harvest was Joan Gaspart.

Simao Sabrosa and Ricardo Quarema

Neither Portuguese managed to highlight ends in Barcelona. Both arrived very young and left without getting exploited.

Malcom

Barcelona fought with Rome in the summer of 2018 this Brazilian player who recently demonstrated in rows azulgranas. Cost 40 million euros and only played one season as FC Barcelona, participating in 24 matches and scoring just one goal. At least economically it was not a ruin, because in the summer 2019 He was transferred to Russian Zenit virtually the same amount it had cost.

Frequent questions (FAQs) on the worst signings in the history of FC Barcelona

1. What is considered a “bad” signing at FC Barcelona?

Usually, A signing is considered negative when the player does not perform at the expected level, has a disproportionate cost, does not fit into the game system or has minimal impact on the team, despite the investment made.

2. Are expensive signings the ones that tend to disappoint the most??

Not always, although they tend to attract more attention when they fail. A low-cost signing can go unnoticed, but a millionaire generates greater pressure and expectations, which makes any failure more evident.

3. What are some names that usually appear on lists of Barcelona's worst signings??

Without exactly repeating the content of any source, Some players frequently mentioned in football debates are:

• Philippe Coutinho

• Dmytro Chigrinskiy

• Arda Turan

• Andre Gomes

• Alfonso Alves
  Each era has its own cases depending on the sporting and economic context..

4. Why some signings don't work out for a big club like Barcelona?

Reasons may include:

• Lack of adaptation to Barça's technical style.

• Media pressure and too high expectations.

• Recurrent physical problems or injuries.

• Bad sports management or signings for convenience rather than necessity.

5. Does Barcelona's playing system influence the success or failure of a signing?

Yes, lot. Barça has a very specific style based on possession, short pass and tactical vision. Players who succeed on other teams may not fit into this demanding system..

6. Are failures the player's fault?, of the club or both?

It depends on the case. Sometimes the footballer does not have the expected level, other times the club uses him out of position or without a clear plan. In many cases, responsibility is shared.

7. Can a bad signing recover and end up performing well?

Yes. Some players start badly but with time, adaptation and trust manage to reverse the situation. Others, despite improving, They do not reach the level that justified their initial signing.

8. How do bad signings affect the club's economy??

Failed signings can generate:

• Millionaire losses.

• Salary difficulties.

• Limitation on future signings.

• Structural financial problems if several errors accumulate at the same time.

9. Are there “bad” signings that still become loved by the fans??

Yes. Some players do not perform athletically, but they win the affection of the fans for their attitude, professionalism or personality. Performance does not always define the emotional bond.

10. What can Barcelona do to avoid disastrous signings in the future??

Among the most effective measures:

• Better statistical and technical analysis.

• Transfers that adapt to the system and philosophy.

• Avoid impulsive or media decisions.

• Greater prominence of the quarry when there is no ideal profile on the market.