When West Ham splashed £27 million on Niclas Füllkrug in the summer of 2024, eyebrows were raised across the football world. Now, as the German limps off to AC Milan on loan with his tail between his legs, it's time for a proper verdict: this is the worst transfer in Premier League history.
A doomed gamble from day one
Füllkrug was 31 when he signed. A striker of that age, with such an atypical physique and such a one-dimensional style, never stood a chance of adapting to the relentless pace of English football. Tim Steidten, the technical director who orchestrated this disaster, left the club in January 2025. Now we know why.
The numbers are damning: three goals in 28 matches. For £27 million. Do the maths – that's £9 million per goal. At that rate, West Ham might as well have installed a money printer on the London Stadium pitch.
Worse than Antony, worse than Mudryk
We love comparing flops. Antony at Manchester United? Sold for £21.6 million to Sevilla. Mudryk at Chelsea? Buried in an bloated squad. Nicolas Pépé at Arsenal? Released for free. Those clubs can absorb their mistakes. West Ham cannot.
Füllkrug's loan to Milan includes no obligation to buy. In six months, he'll return to London, unsellable, with two and a half years left on his contract. The Hammers will be paying for this blunder for years to come.
One memorable moment – and not for the right reasons
If there's anything to remember from the Füllkrug era at West Ham, it's his explosive interview after the 1-1 draw with Southampton. The "Big F*ckin' German", as supporters briefly christened him, called his teammates "sh*t". Graham Potter then publicly slapped him down. What a lovely atmosphere.
That's his entire legacy: a controversy. No crucial goals, no standout performances, not a single positive memory. Just a massive wage packet and a seat on the bench.
West Ham never learns
The most worrying thing about this saga is that West Ham seems destined to repeat the same mistakes. The latest rumour? Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolverhampton. Another striker from a struggling club who'll probably be overpaid on an overlong contract.
The Sullivan-Gold method has been the same for years: wait until deadline day, snap up players nobody else wants, and pray it works out. Spoiler alert: it never does.
A club stuck in the past
In an era where recruitment relies on data, youth academies and high-potential young talents, West Ham continues shopping at major international tournaments. Füllkrug had shone at Euro 2024 with Germany. Six months later, he was invisible in the Premier League.
This transfer symbolises everything that's wrong with the Hammers' management. A short-term vision, an inability to properly evaluate profiles, and a stubborn refusal to break free from the same disastrous patterns.
The verdict
Niclas Füllkrug isn't the first flop in English football history, and he won't be the last. But given the context, the price paid, the contract signed and the financial consequences for a club like West Ham, this is undoubtedly the worst transfer in Premier League history.
AC Milan will enjoy an experienced striker for six months. West Ham will pay for this mistake for years. And somewhere in Germany, Tim Steidten must be glad he jumped ship before it sank completely.
