The worst signing ever for every Premier League team
By Ty Finch
Brighton & Hove Albion: Elvis Manu, £1 million
Similarly to Bournemouth and other clubs that have toiled away in the lower leagues for most of their past, Brighton don’t have a rich history of transfers. Last season, the Seagulls reached the top flight of English soccer for the first time in 34 years. With little recent history in the higher leagues, it is tough to reach a consensus for their worst signing. Elvis Manu, however, is certainly in the discussion.
Manu is primarily a winger who can play either side of a front three. Manu spent most of his youth career playing with Feyenoord in the Dutch leagues and was promoted to the first team in 2012. He also played for the Netherlands U-16 to U-21 in international competition. After scoring seven goals and assisting on four in the 2014-15 league season, Manu was considered an up-and-coming prospect.
Transfermarkt has Manu’s signing fee just above £1 million, even though it was reported as undisclosed initially. While £1 million certainly seems paltry in comparison to other clubs, every pound counts in the Championship. Considering Brighton’s most expensive signing ever happened this season — keeper Matthew Ryan for £5.1 million — a fee of £1 million isn’t small for them.
His move to Brighton in 2015 can only be described as a failure. Manu only made 10 appearances in the league and has only netted twice for the Seagulls in cup competitions. The winger made two loan moves to Huddersfield and Go Ahead Eagles, but rarely saw the pitch. He was released from Go Ahead Eagles last season after unprofessional conduct.
At age 23, Manu still has time to turn his career around, but will need to impress Brighton this season to have any future at the club, as he has one year left on his contract.