Kai Havertz will play for Arsenal next season following the Germany international's £65million transfer from London rivals Chelsea.
Many Gunners fans are perplexed by the move due to his modest record at Stamford Bridge. The Blues paid £72m to sign Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen three years ago but he's scored just 19 goals and provided 10 assists in 91 Premier League appearances.
Havertz is a candidate for the flop category, with Chelsea taking a hit on their hefty investment. Yet he's not the first player to struggle at a so-called 'Big Six' club following a big move. A number of stars have failed to make the grade over the years.
Here, Mirror Football recalls five famous transfers that didn't work out as planned... including three Manchester United employees.
Romelu Lukaku
The phrase 'three times lucky' certainly doesn't apply to Lukaku. The Belgium international has completed a hat-trick moves to Big Six clubs... and he's still only 30. The first came in August 2011 when Chelsea signed him from Anderlecht in a £17m deal.
Lukaku failed to score a single goal for the Blues during his first spell at Stamford Bridge and spent time on loan at West Brom and Everton. He was prolific at both of those Premier League teams and went on to join the Toffees in a £28m deal in July 2014.
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After 85 Premier League goals in five seasons, Lukaku was signed by Man Utd in a £90m transfer in July 2017. He did OK at Old Trafford, finding the net 42 times in two years, yet more was expected of the pricey player and he was eventually sold to Inter Milan.
But just as when Lukaku's career in England seemed over, he was brought back to Stamford Bridge in a £97.5m deal in August 2021 after firing Inter to the Serie A title. It was another underwhelming spell, as he scored just eight Premier League goals.
Lukaku returned to Inter on loan last season but is back at Chelsea. He wants to rejoin the Italian giants, although it's unclear whether a deal will be agreed. Watch this space.
Nicolas Pepe
Arsenal's record signing is Pepe, who completed a £72m move from Lille in August 2019. It was a risky transfer, as the Ivory Coast international had enjoyed just one 20-plus-goal season in France. Unfortunately for Arsenal boss Unai Emery, the risk didn't pay off.
Pepe scored just five Premier League goals during his debut campaign at the Emirates and Emery was sacked in November 2019. He was loaned to Nice last season after three unconvincing years in London and, now 28, is unlikely to play for the Gunners again.
Harry Maguire
For a while, it seemed as if the £80m Man Utd gave Leicester for Maguire's services in August 2019 was a decent investment. The Englishman missed just four Premier League games during his first two years at Old Trafford and was viewed as a reliable defender.
Yet Maguire's career has stalled since helping England reach the Euros final in July 2021. He's slipped behind Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw in the pecking order and will need to leave Manchester to play regularly again.
Paul Pogba
Speaking of Man Utd, they broke the world-record transfer fee to re-sign Pogba from Juventus for £89m in August 2016. The France international was supposed to be the man to lead the Red Devils back to their former glories, but he failed to live up to his billing.
There were glimpses of Pogba's quality, but a lack of consistency and one notable spat with manager Jose Mourinho - which saw him stripped of the vice-captaincy - overshadowed his second spell in Manchester. He was released on a free transfer last summer.
Pogba managed just six Serie A games for Juventus during the most recent campaign. Still only 30, the World Cup winner will hope the best is yet to come.
Kalvin Phillips
Phillips joined Manchester City from Leeds in a £45m deal a year ago and picked up Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup winners' medals during his debut season at the Etihad. Yet it was still a nightmare campaign for the England international.
Phillips started just four games, with his two starts in the Premier League coming after Pep Guardiola's side had secured the title. Those damning facts have cast doubt over his future, yet the 27-year-old is determined to fight for his place in Manchester.
"My intention is to stay there," Phillips told reporters earlier this month. "We have just won the treble, so there is no reason for me to leave, other than if I am not playing I will obviously have to think about it... I will continue to work hard next season."
Ilkay Gundogan has left Man City for Barcelona, but the Treble winners acted swiftly by bringing in Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea. It's now up to Phillips to prove his worth.
