Explore 6 epic tales of Premier League flops returning as superstars, like Salah and De Bruyne. Can Viktor Gyokeres be the next to do it?
For many young talents, failing to adapt to the physical demands of the Premier League marks the end of their top-tier ambitions.
However, a select few possess a rare psychological resilience. Instead of fading into obscurity, they took the hardest path imaginable. They left England, rebuilt their confidence in foreign leagues, and forced Premier League clubs to swallow their pride and buy them back for millions.
Here are the six greatest Premier League flops returning as superstars.
6. Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba was the crown jewel of the Manchester United academy, but his first stint ended in frustration.
Believing he was ready for first-team football, a teenage Pogba clashed with Sir Alex Ferguson over a lack of playing time. When Ferguson opted to play a defender (Rafael) in central midfield over him, Pogba refused to sign a new contract and walked away for free in 2012.
Joining Juventus of Serie A, Pogba transformed into an absolute phenomenon. Surrounded by veterans like Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal, the Frenchman developed into a world-class box-to-box midfielder. He won four consecutive Serie A titles, showcasing a mesmerizing blend of physical dominance, flair, and spectacular long-range goals.
In 2016, Manchester United had to correct their historic mistake. They brought their academy graduate back to Old Trafford for a then-world-record fee of £89 million.
Pogba’s return is heavily debated, primarily because the astronomical price tag created unrealistic expectations. While he may not have single-handedly won United the Premier League, labeling him a flop is entirely inaccurate.
On his day, Pogba was the most naturally gifted midfielder in England. He was instrumental in winning the Europa League and League Cup, frequently led the team in assists and chances created, and provided moments of pure, undeniable world-class magic that few players could ever replicate.
5. Douglas Luiz
Douglas Luiz’s initial Premier League failure had nothing to do with his talent on the pitch. Signed by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in 2017, Luiz became a victim of strict English FA regulations. He was repeatedly denied a UK work permit, meaning he was legally barred from playing a single minute of competitive football for City.
Unable to play in England, City shipped him off on loan to Girona in Spain’s La Liga for two consecutive seasons. Away from the Manchester spotlight, Luiz matured immensely. He adapted to the tactical rigor of European football, learning how to dictate tempo and break up opposition attacks against top-tier Spanish midfields.
Realizing the work permit issues were a permanent roadblock for a player not featuring in their first team, City sold him to Aston Villa for £15 million in 2019.
The move to Villa Park unlocked his true potential. Luiz evolved into one of the most complete central midfielders in the Premier League. He became the heartbeat of Unai Emery’s revolutionized Aston Villa side, serving as the catalyst that drove the club into the UEFA Champions League before his lucrative move to Juventus.
4. Marcos Alonso
Marcos Alonso arrived in England as a young full-back looking to make his mark at Bolton Wanderers. However, he struggled to cope with the physical nature of English football. His defining moment during his early EPL days was heart-breaking: Bolton was relegated from the Premier League in 2012, and Alonso left the country shortly afterwards.
Alonso moved to Italy to join Fiorentina. Serie A is the global capital of tactical defending, and under the guidance of Vincenzo Montella and Paulo Sousa, Alonso learned the highly specialized role of a left wing-back in a 3-5-2 system. He was unleashed to attack, whipping in dangerous crosses and scoring goals.
When Antonio Conte took over Chelsea in 2016 and wanted to implement his famous 3-4-3 system, he specifically requested Alonso. Chelsea paid £24 million to bring the former Bolton player back to London.
At Stamford Bridge, Alonso became a regular starter and one of the deadliest goal-scoring defenders in Premier League history (25 goals in 154 games). His lethal left foot and late runs into the box helped Chelsea secure the Premier League title, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League.
3. Nemanja Matic
In his first spell at Stamford Bridge, Nemanja Matic was viewed as a slow and overly physical midfielder who lacked the technical refinement for an elite team. He made just two Premier League appearances before Chelsea’s board decided to sell him.
In 2011, they tossed him into a deal as a “makeweight” – alongside £21 million in cash – just to convince Benfica to sell them defender David Luiz.
In Portugal, Matic underwent a monumental tactical transformation. He refined his passing, improved his positional discipline, and became the most dominant defensive midfielder in the Primeira Liga, winning the league’s Player of the Year award.
Just three years after throwing him away, Jose Mourinho realized Chelsea desperately lacked a midfield enforcer. He forced the board to buy Matic back from Benfica for £21 million.
Matic returned as the finished article. He became the ultimate midfield anchor, a towering presence who protected the defense and dictated the flow of the game. He was the unsung hero of Chelsea’s midfield, providing the defensive stability that allowed players like Eden Hazard and Cesc Fàbregas to shine, ultimately winning two Premier League titles.
His Premier League success didn’t stop in London. In 2017, Mourinho paid £40 million to reunite with his trusted general at Manchester United. Matic went on to spend five years at Old Trafford, making over 180 appearances.
While United went through turbulent times, Matic was consistently praised as a rare voice of leadership and a stabilizing force in their midfield, cementing his legacy as one of the most reliable defensive midfielders in modern Premier League history.
2. Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah’s arrival at Chelsea in 2014 was a disaster. Under Jose Mourinho, the young Egyptian looked drastically out of his depth. He was fast, but easily bullied off the ball by Premier League defenders. Lacking the physical strength and clinical finishing required at the top level, he was frozen out of the squad and unceremoniously loaned out.
Salah moved to Italy, first to Fiorentina and then to Roma, where he completely rebuilt his career. He bulked up physically and refined his finishing. At Roma, his blistering pace was matched with genuine end-product, transforming him into one of the most lethal wide forwards in Europe.
In the summer of 2017, Jurgen Klopp identified Salah as the perfect fit for his high-octane system. Liverpool paid £36 million to bring him back to England, a fee many pundits criticized as a massive risk for a “Chelsea flop”.
Salah did not just succeed; he broke the Premier League. In his debut season for Liverpool, he shattered the single-season scoring record. He evolved into the “Egyptian King”, winning multiple Golden Boots, ending Liverpool’s 30-year wait for a Premier League title, and lifting the Champions League.
He went from a Chelsea outcast to a guaranteed future Premier League Hall of Famer.
1. Kevin De Bruyne
The story of Kevin De Bruyne is the most infamous transfer blunder in Premier League history.
Arriving at Chelsea as a highly-rated prospect, he was almost immediately cast aside by Jose Mourinho. The manager publicly criticized the young Belgian’s mentality and training habits, restricting him to just three league appearances before selling him to Wolfsburg for a mere £18 million.
De Bruyne channeled his anger into devastating performances in the Bundesliga. He became the undisputed creative king of German football, dragging Wolfsburg to a DFB-Pokal trophy. He was also named Germany’s Footballer of the Year.
In 2015, Manchester City paid a club-record £55 million to bring him back to the Premier League. Infamously, some British sports pundits dubbed him a “£55m reject”, questioning the massive investment.
De Bruyne silenced his critics and then transcended the sport entirely. Under Pep Guardiola, he became arguably the greatest passer the Premier League has ever seen. With a trophy cabinet overflowing with Premier League titles and a Champions League medal, De Bruyne’s journey from a discarded Chelsea youngster to the defining player of his generation is the greatest footballing redemption.
The Next Chapter: Viktor Gyökeres to Arsenal
Right now, the football world is watching the next iteration of this exact narrative unfold with Viktor Gyökeres.
Much like the players above, Gyökeres failed to make the grade early in his English career. Signed by Brighton, he could not break into the Premier League squad and was eventually sold to Coventry City in the Championship. However, his decision to leave the English system for Portugal changed everything.
At Sporting CP, Gyökeres dismantled the Primeira Liga and the Champions League with his relentless pressing, physical power, and clinical finishing.
Now, with Arsenal already bringing him back to the Premier League in a massive blockbuster transfer, the stage is perfectly set. Will Gyökeres crumble under the pressure of returning to the country that once overlooked him?
Only time will tell, but the blueprint for his success is already written in history.
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