Buckle up, footy fans – because 2025 was a Premier League season packed with jaw-dropping blunders that could have rewritten the entire script for some of England's biggest clubs. From transfer flops that left defenders scratching their heads to managerial mishaps that had supporters questioning everything, these missteps highlight how one wrong move can send shockwaves through a team's campaign. But here's where it gets controversial: are these really 'mistakes,' or just bold gambles that didn't pay off in hindsight? Stick around as we dive into the biggest errors of the year, and trust me, you'll be nodding along – or furiously disagreeing – by the end.
That said, let's unpack what we see as the worst decisions for each club, drawing from botched transfer pursuits, completed deals gone sour, entire windows wasted, and even some quirky wardrobe choices that might seem trivial but say a lot about team culture. For a flip-side look, check out our piece on the best moves here (https://www.football365.com/news/every-premier-league-club-best-decision-move-of-2025-review) – but only after you've digested this list, obviously. We'll break it down club by club, with a friendly nudge to beginners: transfers aren't just about names; they're strategic chess pieces that can define a season.
Starting with Arsenal (https://www.football365.com/arsenal): Opting for Viktor Gyokeres over Hugo Ekitike. Looking back, the Gunners might have kicked themselves for not pushing harder for Ekitike. It came down to a choice between Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko for head scout Andrea Berta, who was adamant about the former. But Ekitike was available too – and the Frenchman has since lit up Liverpool after Newcastle passed on him, netting eight goals in 16 Premier League outings and scoring in six different matches to boot. Gyokeres, on the other hand, has managed just a handful: two (including one penalty) against Leeds, one versus Burnley, one against Nottingham Forest, and another (penalty) against Everton (https://www.football365.com/news/arsenal-unprofessionalism-shines-through-again-havertz-gyokeres-arteta). He's been accused of being a 'flat-track bully' – meaning he shines against weaker sides – and seems far from the prolific striker who dazzled at Sporting. Sure, some might argue that manager Mikel Arteta and his squad aren't maximizing Gyokeres' potential; he's making clever runs that go unnoticed, and the ball delivery from stars like Bukayo Saka, Ebere Eze, and Martin Odegaard hasn't been spot-on. He's not fluffing easy chances every match, and his presence has made a positive impact. But let's be real – most high-priced strikers could achieve that much. For more on this, see our take on predicted storylines that unfolded (https://www.football365.com/news/arsenal-top-tottenham-freakout-assorted-flops-10-of-the-2025-storylines-we-did-see-coming). And this is the part most people miss: Was Gyokeres a talent mismatch, or could better integration have turned him into a hero?
Over to Aston Villa: Bringing in Harvey Elliott on loan. This one was a disaster all around. At first, it seemed ideal – Elliott poised to step into a key role at a solid outfit like Villa, who offered him the stage to perform. But they quickly nixed the idea of activating his buy option. Now, a return to Liverpool (https://www.football365.com/news/harvey-elliott-back-to-liverpool-rotting-in-aston-villa-reserves) after his January loan cutoff feels imminent, and the Reds could have used his energy during a tough start to the 2025/26 campaign. For newcomers, loans are risky bets where the 'buy' clause can make or break a deal.
Next, Bournemouth: Failing to extend Andoni Iraola's contract. If you're not up to speed, Iraola's deal expires next summer – and it's slipping under the radar! During his tenure, he's been linked to Europe's elite clubs, but his reputation has dipped lately. The Cherries are winless in eight league games (https://www.football365.com/premier-league/table/form-table), epitomizing inconsistency, which means no big offers are flying in. Yet, imagine them hitting an 11-match unbeaten streak soon – suddenly, the Spaniard becomes Europe's hottest managerial prospect again. Their current slump could be the perfect moment for bosses to renegotiate, showing unwavering support and pocketing a big compensation fee if Manchester City or another giant comes calling (https://www.football365.com/news/predicting-where-every-premier-league-boss-will-be-in-five-years-guardiola). Beyond money, retaining Iraola makes sense – he's guided them to 12th and 9th place finishes. But here's where it gets controversial: Is holding onto a manager during poor form a sign of loyalty, or just delaying the inevitable?
Brentford: Delaying the full deployment of their secret weapon. Betting on Keith Andrews as Thomas Frank's successor felt foolproof, and their internal style hasn't backfired entirely. Despite predictions of relegation (https://www.football365.com/news/pre-season-predictions-revisited-wrong-liverpool-arsenal), the Bees have outperformed expectations post-departures like Frank, Yoane Wissa, Bryan Mbeumo, and captain Christian Norgaard. Still, not unleashing Mads Roerslev's long-throw prowess sooner (or more consistently last season) ranks as their biggest 2025 blunder. For context, they're 10th in throw-ins this term with 325, but Roerslev tops the individual chart with 191 – that's a whopping 58.77% of their total, and 33% higher than any other player's in the league. His throws were a Brentford staple last year, but they've ramped up massively now. This is the part most people miss: Could early adoption have propelled them even higher?
Brighton: Allowing Fabian Hurzeler to pick his matchday outfits. Let's crunch the numbers: In tracksuits, Hurzeler's Brighton record is six wins, four draws, two losses, 29 goals scored, 12 conceded. Dressed in his boohooMAN getups? One win, two draws, three defeats, six goals in, ten conceded. Someone needs to intervene – or just cancel his boohooMAN subscription. Quirky? Sure, but it underscores how even small choices can influence morale.
Burnley: Skipping a Granit Xhaka signing. Landing a player like Xhaka post-promotion isn't straightforward for Burnley, but Sunderland managed it, making him captain right away. Their savvy moves – including that signing – have kept them afloat, unlike teams that splurged unwisely. Xhaka's experience could have been a game-changer for Burnley. Amazingly, it might have been the difference between survival and struggle. For beginners, midfield maestros like Xhaka stabilize teams with leadership and skill.
Chelsea (https://www.football365.com/chelsea): Being overly frugal with AC Milan. It's puzzling why, after shelling out big bucks, Chelsea still lacks a top-tier striker or keeper. Joao Pedro flashed brilliance as a No.9 at the Club World Cup (https://www.football365.com/news/opinion-chelsea-potential-world-champions-joao-pedro-transfer-arsenal-gyokeres), though he hasn't featured there much this season. Robert Sanchez is solid as No.1, but their penny-pinching on France's Mike Maignan baffles us – he's a world-class shot-stopper, available for about £20m, yet they balked at going over £12m (https://www.football365.com/news/chelsea-blow-transfer-off-agreement-one-key-reason-increased-bid). He's a free agent next summer, but why not shell out an extra £8m for a star? Scattergun spending elsewhere makes this sting more. And this is the part most people miss: Is frugality smart business, or a lack of vision?
Crystal Palace: Sealing Oliver Glasner's exit prematurely. It's clear Glasner will depart soon (https://www.football365.com/news/opinion-glasner-crystal-palace-exit-how-matters-more-when) – likely end of 2025/26, destination unknown. After clinching their first trophy (https://www.football365.com/news/opinion-16-conclusions-crystal-palace-win-fa-cup-glasner-eze) and earning a European spot, he sought more transfer backing. Feeling betrayed by chairman Steve Parish, he voiced his frustrations publicly. Parish couldn't defend strongly without risking disaster. A poor summer window has cemented Glasner's intent to seek bigger pastures, not renewing come June or earlier. But here's where it gets controversial: Was Glasner's public discontent a cry for help, or a power play that backfired?
Everton: Chasing the wrong striker. They've long lacked a reliable goal machine, so last summer's signing of promising youngster Thierno Barry seemed apt. Unfortunately, it hasn't clicked yet. Star Dominic Calvert-Lewin peaked at 16 Premier League goals in 2020/21 – their best since Romelu Lukaku's 25 in 2016/17. Perhaps Everton should focus on English-sourced strikers: their top scorers list includes names like Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison (repeatedly), Rooney, Lukaku (four times), Jelavic, Cahill, Saha (again), Yakubu, Johnson, Beattie (again), Radzinski, Ferguson, Campbell (thrice), Rideout, and Cottee (twice). Jelavic and Ferguson came from Scotland, Radzinski from elsewhere, but mostly homegrown talent. The lesson? Local recruitment might yield better results – think familiarity with the league's pace.
Fulham: A lackluster summer window. Watching Palace's FA Cup triumph must have sparked envy, but Fulham's deals suggest complacency – happy with mid-table stability over chasing glory. Kevin and Samuel Chukwueze are solid, but overall, it was underwhelming (https://www.football365.com/news/fulham-transfer-struggles-perfectly-illustrate-growing-issue-for-premier-leagues-middle-class). For context, mid-table teams often need sparks to climb higher.
Leeds: Missing out on Harry Wilson. Alphabetically after Fulham, Leeds' oversight fueled the latter's success (https://www.football365.com/news/every-premier-league-club-best-decision-move-of-2025-review). Leeds eyed Wilson but couldn't seal it; he's been a star at Fulham since. Manager Daniel Farke felt shortchanged after a decent start, needing more firepower. At least Calvert-Lewin is shining now – ironic, given Everton's struggles.
Liverpool (https://www.football365.com/liverpool): The Marc Guehi transfer delay. Blunders like picking Jeremie Frimpong over Trent Alexander-Arnold, Florian Wirtz instead of Rayan Cherki, and a major flop were bad, but waiting until deadline day for Guehi tops them. His Palace exit might have destabilized Glasner, and he could have shielded a struggling Ibrahima Konate at Liverpool. Alongside Virgil van Dijk, he'd boost the backline's comfort. They can sign him for free next summer (https://www.football365.com/news/best-footballers-available-free-transfers-contract-summer-2026), but they needed him desperately this term. This is the part most people miss: Was it indecision or overconfidence?
Manchester City: Re-signing James Trafford. Not a colossal mistake, but hindsight stings for the young keeper. Rejecting Tottenham's bid for Savinho is another oddity – what were they thinking? For beginners, goalkeepers are lifelines in high-stakes football.
Manchester United (https://www.football365.com/manchester-united): Poor Europa League final prep. With a laundry list of issues – Sir Jim Ratcliffe's quirks, Ruben Amorim's near-sackings, attacker-heavy spending, missing a January keeper – we pinpoint their final build-up. Amorim stuck with his best XI for continuity (https://www.football365.com/news/opinion-chelsea-aston-villa-sweat-champions-league-race-blues-star-maresca-wrong), while Ange Postecoglou rested Spurs for freshness. The result? Spurs won £100m and Champions League entry (https://www.football365.com/news/opinion-16-conclusions-spurs-manchester-united-europa-league-amorim-postecoglou); United might have forfeited that prize. Amorim claims he didn't covet it, but ouch. But here's where it gets controversial: Continuity over rest – strategy or stubbornness?
Newcastle: Dropping £55m on Anthony Elanga. The PL's wealthiest side had a rough transfer year, and this stands out. Elanga has struggled immensely – we'll spare him further criticism, but it hurts.
Nottingham Forest: Hiring Ange Postecoglou. Eight games: no wins, two draws, six losses, no clean sheets, seven goals scored, 17 conceded, sacked after a defeat just 39 days in. Enough said – a managerial experiment gone horribly wrong.
Sunderland: Signing too many AFCON-affected players. Despite promotion via solid January deals and strong summer recruitment (top of the table after 17 games (https://www.football365.com/premier-league/table)), their AFCON roster hit hard (https://www.football365.com/news/afcon-premier-league-clubs-affected-players-missing-dates). Stars like Bertrand Traore, Noah Sadiki, Reinildo, Habib Diarra, Chemsdine Talbi, and Arthur Masuaku were absent, impacting form.
Tottenham (https://www.football365.com/tottenham-hotspur): Employing Thomas Frank. Their squad looks strong on paper, but execution falters. Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus brought unpredictability, yet they've been inconsistent. Hiring Frank is symptomatic; he's adaptable but lacks a clear identity, switching tactics often. For a possession-focused team, his defensive leanings don't fit Brentford's style. We hope he proves us wrong, but early signs worry us. And this is the part most people miss: Is Frank the victim of mismatched expectations?
West Ham: Choosing Graham Potter. It feels ages ago, but his January 2025 appointment over Julen Lopetegui showed promise despite an opening loss (https://www.football365.com/news/opinion-rubbish-aston-villa-win-graham-potter-west-ham-right-for-each-other). Sacked in September from 19th place, with a dismal 24% win rate, they amassed 23 points – worse than Wolves above them. Nuno Espirito Santo has steadied things, but relegation fears linger since 2011/12.
Wolves: Poor replacements for Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri. Replacing stars is tough; Wolves botched it. David Moller Wolfe (£10m) emerged under Rob Edwards, but Ait-Nouri's loss was noticeable. Cunha was central to their system – irreplaceable. Jhon Arias and Fer Lopez (£34m combined) haven't delivered, with Wolves on two points. For context, teams like Leeds survived with standouts (e.g., Raphinha); Wolves lacked that spark.
There you have it – a season of 'what ifs' that could've tilted the Premier League balance. But what do you think? Are these genuine errors, or just hindsight bias? Do you agree Arsenal should have chased Ekitike, or was Glasner's Palace exit inevitable? Share your hot takes in the comments – is loyalty over ambition the real mistake, or something else entirely? We'd love to hear your side! For more, check our revisited predictions (https://www.football365.com/news/pre-season-predictions-revisited-wrong-liverpool-arsenal).
