The worst European transfers of this season

As the 2022/23 season draws to a close, it is now time to compile our list of the most disappointing transfers from the past year.

Mykhaylo Mudryk

After an impressive start in Shakhtar Donetsk, where he displayed remarkable skills, the 22-year-old Ukrainian winger earned recognition. Within 19 matches in the domestic and Champions League, Mudryk contributed significantly with ten goals and eight assists for his Ukrainian team. Such outstanding performances caught the attention of Chelsea, who were persuaded to invest 70 million euros in acquiring him in January. However, since joining The Blues, Mudryk’s form has been disappointing.

Certainly, he has brought another disappointment to Chelsea’s lackluster season. Despite playing in nine Premier League matches, he has failed to score a single goal and has only managed one assist. Previously hailed as ‘the Ukrainian Neymar’ by the media due to his impressive dribbling abilities and knack for outmaneuvering defenders with agility, Mudryk’s performance since joining London has proven those comparisons to be completely inaccurate.

Kalvin Phillips

After experiencing successful seasons at Leeds, Kalvin Phillips made a transition to Manchester City. The Citizens made a substantial investment of nearly 50 million euros in July, signaling a promising move. Phillips was anticipated to serve as an apprentice to Rodri, primarily at the beginning of the season, while also partnering with the talented Spaniard on occasion.

Regrettably, this season has been filled with numerous challenges for Kalvin Phillips. Initially, he suffered a shoulder injury which caused him to sit out almost every game until the World Cup. Following his 40-minute play for England in Qatar, Phillips faced criticism from Pep Guardiola for returning to Manchester City overweight. Consequently, he was sidelined for a few more matches.

Phillips has only featured for a total of 65 minutes across six Premier League games so far. With Guardiola opting for alternative players during Kalvin’s absence, it appears likely that the Englishman might depart from Manchester City by the conclusion of the ongoing season.

Richarlison

Richarlison had spent four seasons at Everton before making a move to Tottenham. During his time at Goodison Park, the Brazilian forward managed to score 43 goals in 135 matches. Tottenham invested 58 million euros last summer to acquire Richarlison’s services, however, he has yet to prove his worth to that extent. The primary objective behind bringing Richarlison to the team was to provide support to Harry Kane in the attacking department, while also adding depth to positions such as left and right wing.

Despite being a highly skilled attacker, the Brazilian player for Tottenham has yet to score a goal in the Premier League. However, he has managed to score two goals in the Champions League, which is considerably below what is expected from someone of his caliber.

Richarlison’s issue lies in Antonio Conte predominantly deploying him on the wing, as he thrives more as a dedicated forward. Unfortunately, at Tottenham, where Kane holds the frontline, Richarlison’s potential to excel in this role will likely be constrained.