The 10 worst transfers of the Premier League season

All of these transfers were made with the best of intentions, but for one reason or another, none of them truly worked out at their Premier League clubs.

With more spending money available to teams in the English top flight, the likelihood of making an expensive mistake is far greater than ever. Here's a look at the season's 10 worst signings:

10. Eder (Swansea City)

Reported £5-million transfer from Braga

After failing to make in impact in the first few months of the season, Eder left Swansea City to join Lille on loan. There's been a considerable difference in the output of the Portuguese striker. Eder scored a grand total of zero goals in his first 15 appearances with the Swans, and yet found the net six times in just 13 Ligue 1 matches with Les Dogues. It's fair to say the Premier League isn't for him.

9. Florian Thauvin (Newcastle)

Reported £13-million transfer from Marseille

The French influence at Newcastle United is starting to wear out. Florian Thauvin joined the Magpies in the summer as the club's latest francophone signing, continuing a tradition started by manager Alan Pardew. The 23-year-old winger couldn't adapt to the rigours of the Premier League, however, going 13 appearances without a goal before returning to Marseille on loan. It remains to be seen if he'll get another chance.

8. Charlie Austin (Southampton)

Reported £4-million transfer from QPR

Charlie Austin looked like the bargain of the January transfer window. Stuck in the Championship with Queens Park Rangers, he fielded interest from various Premier League clubs. Southampton won his signature in the end, and Austin duly scored the winner in his first match with the Saints, a 1-0 victory over Manchester United. He made just two more starts for the club as Graziano Pelle returned from injury to steal the starter's role at the striker position.

7. Oumar Niasse (Everton)

£13.5-million transfer from Lokomotiv Moscow

Signed to give Romelu Lukaku some support, Oumar Niasse arrived at Goodison Park in January with a hefty price tag. The Senegalese enjoyed a good start to the season with Lokomotiv Moscow, scoring eight goals in the Europa League alone. But he failed to register a tally on the scoresheet with Everton in the second half of the campaign. He didn't even make the bench for the Toffees' FA Cup semi-final against United, nor their last match of the Premier League season against the already-relegated Norwich City.

6. Gokhan Inler (Leicester City)

Reported £3-million transfer from Napoli

Leicester City didn't break the bank for Gokhan Inler, who left Napoli in hopes of securing more playing time. The club had pegged Inler as a replacement for Esteban Cambiasso, but fellow summer signing N'Golo Kante instead rose to the occasion and ran away with the opportunity - quite literally. Inler made just five Premier League appearances during the Foxes' title-winning campaign and will likely request a transfer.

5. Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City)

Reported £32-million transfer from Valencia

Nicolas Otamendi left Valencia with a reputation as one of La Liga's elite centre-backs, and his transfer fee reflected that. With a penchant to go into the tackle, Otamendi looked like the ideal physical force for Manchester City's backline. Except in his first season in England, he went to ground too often, leaving City vulnerable to the counterattack. Otamendi was hardly trustworthy beside Eliaquim Mangala, despite having experience as his defensive partner while playing for Porto. Incoming manager Pep Guardiola will likely overhaul the backline this summer.

4. Bastian Schweinsteiger (Manchester United)

£6.5-million transfer from Bayern Munich

It turned out that United spent less to acquire Bastian Schweinsteiger than previously imagined. His first club, TSV 1860 Rosenheim, confirmed the true value of the fee as £6.5 million. It appeared United had signed Germany's captain for a relative pittance - until Scwheinsteiger suffered a debilitating knee injury. The 31-year-old could only muster 13 Premier League starts for the Red Devils, and left a gaping hole in their midfield this season. Success at the club is contingent upon whether he can remain healthy.

3. Alexandre Pato (Chelsea)

Season-long loan from Corinthians

One of the Premier League's most superfluous January signings, Alexandre Pato had to wait more than two months to get his first start for Chelsea. Interim manager Guus Hiddink ordered the Brazilian to complete several weeks of training before considering him for selection. The nature of the signing made the move all the more baffling: He's only on a six-month loan from Corinthians, meaning he could depart London without making any impact. He failed to emerge as a reasonable backup for the often-suspended Diego Costa, with youth graduate Bertrand Traore earning more minutes than the Duck.

2. Christian Benteke (Liverpool)

£32.5-million transfer from Aston Villa

Villarreal manager Marcelino pointed to Liverpool's £32.5-million signing of Christian Benteke as an example of the Premier League's excess. Here was Benteke, a substitute for the Reds more than not, worth as much on his own as Villarreal's entire turnover for the year. Benteke was supposed to solve Liverpool's problems up front and give Daniel Sturridge some insurance, but aside from scoring a wonderful scissor kick against United, the Belgium international lacked the consistency to start under Jurgen Klopp.

1. Memphis Depay (Manchester United)

Reported £25-million transfer from PSV

For large parts of his maiden Premier League campaign, Memphis Depay cut a disinterested and confused figure. The Dutch winger missed several scoring opportunities during a trying season with United, and manager Louis van Gaal didn't hesitate to pull Depay from the matchday squad. Dutch legend Ruud Gullit also expressed his concern for the 22-year-old, whom Gullit believes is more preoccupied with leading a celebrity lifestyle.