Newcastle United forward Yoane Wissa has been named the worst signing of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign by the Daily Mail, following a disappointing debut year at St James' Park. The 29-year-old, who joined from Brentford for an initial fee of £55 million last summer, has struggled to justify the expenditure after Newcastle sanctioned the British record £125 million sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool. The report highlights a difficult season for several high-profile arrivals, with Liverpool's Isak and Aston Villa loanee Harvey Elliott also featuring in the top four of the publication’s ranking of transfer failures.
Wissa's output fails to match the £55m valuation
According to the Daily Mail, there was "never any chance of Wissa missing out" on the top spot following a season where he managed just three Premier League goals. The transfer has drawn significant criticism due to the sheer scale of the investment compared to Wissa's age and historical ceiling. For context, the £55 million fee paid to Brentford represents more than triple the £17.5 million Everton spent on Iliman Ndiaye, a comparable attacking profile. While Newcastle pursued a 'Premier League proven' strategy to mitigate the risk of losing Isak, Wissa’s inability to replicate his Brentford form has left Eddie Howe’s side struggling to maintain their previous top-four trajectory. This follows a pattern of recruitment scrutiny for the club, echoing the 2023/24 season when Sandro Tonali was widely labelled the worst signing after his £60 million move from AC Milan was derailed by a long-term gambling suspension.
Liverpool and Villa deals under scrutiny
The ranking of 2025/26 signings also places heavy scrutiny on Liverpool’s summer business. Despite Alexander Isak’s established quality, his £125 million move to Anfield sits fourth on the list, likely due to the astronomical fee and the pressure of replacing existing squad dynamics. More surprising is the inclusion of Harvey Elliott in third place; the midfielder is currently on a season-long loan at Aston Villa from Liverpool, where he has reportedly struggled to make the expected impact under Unai Emery. The list suggests a wider trend of Premier League clubs overpaying for domestic talent, with Newcastle’s recruitment specifically highlighted as having "multiple spots" on the list. With Wissa’s contract reportedly running until 2029, the Tyneside club now faces a significant challenge in recouping their investment or reintegrating a player whose market value has sharply declined over the last ten months.
Newcastle must now decide whether to persist with Wissa or seek a cut-price exit during the upcoming summer window.