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Worst foreign transfers

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 02/03/2009

Some of the world's greatest players have illuminated the Premier League and made the English top-flight arguably the best in the world.

But not every overseas signing has been sprinkled with stardust as, for every Gianfranco Zola there has been an Ali Dia, and for every Cristiano Ronaldo a Marco Boogers.

So who are the ten worst overseas players brought to England by Premier League clubs?

1. Ali Dia

After persuading Southampton manager Graeme Souness that he was a top-class Senegal international striker, he played just 53 minutes of a match against Leeds United in 1996 before, as a substitute himself, he was hauled off. His contract was cancelled 14 days later. His next appearance was for non-league Gateshead.

2. Marcelino

Played just 17 games in three-and-a-half years at Newcastle despite costing £5million. The Spain international is regarded as the Magpies' worst ever signing - beating off plenty of stiff competition.

3. Marco Boogers

Red carded in only his second West Ham appearance for a horror tackle on Manchester United's Gary Neville, the £1million Dutch striker headed home with depression and never returned to Upton Park.

4. Massimo Taibi

Sir Alex Ferguson's pursuit of a replacement for Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel led him to signing the Italian keeper for £4.5million. Four months later and, after a string of high-profile gaffes, he was on his way back to Serie A.

5. Tomas Brolin

Leeds boss George Graham paid £4.5million for the Sweden striker in 1995. Unfortunately he arrived overweight and well past his sell-by date and was released less than two years later, having made just 19 appearances.

6. Florin Raducioiu

The Romanian striker lasted just six months at West Ham in the mid-1990s after angering manager Harry Redknapp by missing training to go shopping at Harvey Nicholls with his girlfriend. He cost the Hammers £2.4million.

7. Stephane Guivarc'h

Joined Newcastle fresh from winning the 1998 World Cup with betting favourites France but was sold on following Ruud Gullit's arrival as manager having played just four times. The £3.8millon striker's lasting memory was the confusion over how to pronounce his name.

8. Sean Dundee

Regarded as Liverpool's worst ever signing, the South African-born German striker had a blink and you've missed it three-game Premier League career on Roy Evans' ill-fated managerial watch.

9. Alex Nyarko

The Ghanaian asked for and was granted a transfer after an unhappy Everton fan ran on to the pitch and asked to swap shirts with the £4.5million midfielder so upset was he at a perceived lack of effort.

10. Albert Luque

The Spanish winger cost Newcastle around £500,000 for each of his 21 appearances after spending the majority of his three-year spell on Tyneside, following his £9.5million signing, in the treatment room.

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