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Every Premier League campaign brings its share of brilliant signings and forgettable ones. Yet, some transfers leave fans scratching their heads, wondering what the clubs were thinking. This season was no exception, with a few moves that, in hindsight, look completely futile.

Take Harvey Elliot’s switch to Aston Villa, for instance. When the 23-year-old joined on loan from Liverpool with an obligation to buy, it appeared to be a win-win situation. Elliot would get the playing time he needed, Unai Emery would gain a versatile midfielder suited to his system, and Liverpool would secure a tidy £35 million at the end of the deal.

But things quickly went wrong. Emery soon decided that Elliot didn’t fit into his long-term strategy. Since the deal obligated Villa to buy the player once he reached a certain number of appearances—and with no recall clause—Elliot found himself glued to the bench for most of the season.

Villa reportedly attempted to renegotiate the agreement with Liverpool to save the player from stagnation, but no solution could be reached. As a result, Elliot featured only nine times throughout the season. Although he did collect a UEFA Europa League winner’s medal, an entire year of development was lost. It’s unfortunate for a player of his potential, and one wonders what might have been if he had joined RB Leipzig, West Ham United, or Fulham instead. Perhaps Andoni Iraola can help him rebuild his career.

Arsenal, meanwhile, spent last summer strengthening every department of their squad as part of their push for the Premier League title. The plan paid off, with the Gunners avoiding the injury issues that had derailed their previous campaign. However, not every signing was a success.

Christian Norgaard arrived from Brentford as a cost-effective addition to provide depth in midfield. But with Martin Zubimendi also coming in as a potential starter, the Danish midfielder found himself far down the pecking order. He made only nine league appearances—barely surpassing 100 minutes of play—with his sole start coming on the final day against Crystal Palace, a match in which he was substituted at halftime.

For James Trafford, a return to Manchester City seemed like a dream come true. After excelling at Burnley and helping them win the Championship in 2024/25—conceding just nine goals all season—City triggered their buyback clause following Ederson’s departure. Trafford looked set to finally become the first-choice goalkeeper for his boyhood club.

However, after a handful of Premier League starts, City signed Gianluigi Donnarumma, fresh off a UEFA Champions League triumph with PSG. From that point, Trafford was relegated to cup competitions. Though he did play in every domestic cup match—including the finals, all of which City won—he didn’t start another league game until the last day of the season. While not entirely pointless, the move left the England international likely wondering if a transfer to Newcastle United would have offered more regular football.

Then there’s Armando Broja, a player who continues to confound Premier League clubs. Managers seem drawn to his physical attributes and style of play, believing they can unlock his potential. Burnley were the latest side to take that gamble—and the latest to be disappointed. The Albanian striker managed just one league goal for the Clarets, bringing his total to six goals in 100 league appearances across six seasons. The club paid £20 million for the privilege, only to find themselves relegated to the Championship. One can’t help but marvel at Chelsea’s ability to offload unwanted players for substantial sums.

Speaking of Chelsea, their fascination with signing players from Brighton has become something of a running joke. That trend reached absurd levels when they brought in Facundo Buonanotte on loan last summer. The Argentine attacker had fallen out of favour at Brighton, having spent the previous campaign on loan at Leicester City. It was unclear what Chelsea saw in him—he wasn’t expected to start, didn’t fill any obvious role, and didn’t improve the squad. In the end, those doubts proved justified. Buonanotte was left out of Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League squad and made just one Premier League appearance before being sent back to Brighton in January.

Even Brighton didn’t have space for him, so they loaned him out again, this time to Leeds United, where he managed only three substitute appearances totaling around 40 minutes. It was a transfer that benefitted no one, perfectly fitting the definition of a pointless move.