Most expensive Premier League XI of stars who lasted one season – including £60m Man Utd mistake and FIVE Chelsea flops

TIJJANI REIJNDERS is set to become the Premier League’s latest big-money one-season wonder – after edging towards quitting Manchester City. The midfielder, 28, only headed to the Etihad Stadium in a £46million deal last year. Tijjani Reijnders is leaving the Premier League after only one season Credit: Shutterstock Editorial The midfielder is swapping Manchester City for Al-Qadsiah Credit: Alamy But Man City are already preparing to flog Reijnders for a profit after agreeing a £52m fee with Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah. The Dutchman made 28 top-flight appearances in a Sky Blues shirt, notching five goals and two assists along the way. Sign up for the Man United newsletter Thank you! Reijnders could not inspire Man City to Premier League glory as Arsenal ended their 22-year wait to be crowned champions. As he prepares to head off after just a 12-month stay, SunSport has put together a starting line-up using the most expensive stars to have left England after only one season. MASSIMO TAIBI Manchester United forked out £4.5m to sign Massimo Taibi from Venezia in 1999. But, just weeks after his arrival, the goalkeeper made a comical error by allowing a weak Matt Le Tissier strike slip through his legs in a thrilling draw with Southampton. Taibi, 56, has since admitted that he still cannot understand how he made the costly mistake. The Italian was sent on loan to Reggina in January 2000 and he made the switch permanent at the end of the season. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS Massimo Taibi was guilty of a howler early in his Old Trafford career Credit: AFP – Getty ALEX JIMENEZ Bournemouth were forced to fork out £15m after Alex Jimenez triggered an appearance clause during a loan spell from AC Milan last season. But it appears the right-back’s Cherries career is already over as chiefs launched a probe into alleged messages sent to a schoolgirl in May. Jimenez did not make another appearance in a Bournemouth shirt and has been shipped out ahead of the new campaign. The Spaniard, 21, is now with Italian side Fiorentina on an initial loan deal which includes an option to buy. Alex Jimenez had a short spell with Bournemouth Credit: Alamy The Spaniard is now with Fiorentina Credit: Getty KALIDOU KOULIBALY Kalidou Koulibaly was seen as one of Serie A’s standout performers when he joined Chelsea in a £34m deal from Napoli. But, within 11 months, the defender had already headed through the Stamford Bridge exit door. Chelsea flogged Koulibaly to Al-Hilal for a cut-price fee of £17m after being desperate to get him off the wage bill. The Senegalese centre-back, 35, was limited to 23 Premier League appearances and picked up a red card during his forgettable spell in West London. Chelsea splashed the cash to sign Kalidou Koulibaly Credit: Alamy The defender joined Al-Hilal 11 months later Credit: Reuters DEAN HUIJSEN Unlike most of the other big-names in this starting line-up, Dean Huijsen was sold after a stunning season in the Premier League. Real Madrid triggered the £50m release clause written into his Bournemouth contract. Chelsea, Man Utd and Newcastle tried to keep Huijsen, 21, in England before it became clear he was only interested in a move to the Bernabeu. The defender made 32 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth following a £12.6m move from Juventus. Dean Huijsen waved goodbye to Bournemouth Credit: Getty The centre-back landed a dream move to Real Madrid Credit: Getty FILIPE LUIS Filipe Luis was brutally sacked by Flamengo after leading them to a thumping 8-0 win in March. But, back in July 2014, Chelsea parted with £15.8m to land the left-back from Atletico Madrid. Luis, 41, went on to make 15 Premier League appearances and bagged the title in his first season. And that proved to be his only campaign at Stamford Bridge as the Brazilian, who retired in 2023, made a quickfire return to Atletico. Filipe Luis won the Premier League title with Chelsea Credit: Getty TIEMOUE BAKAYOKO Tiemoue Bakayoko became Chelsea’s second-most expensive arrival when £30m tempted Monaco into selling. But the Frenchman, who has won trophies in three different countries, failed to live up to expectations during his 29 Premier League outings in the 2017/18 season. It resulted in Bakayoko, 31, being sent on loan to AC Milan TWICE, either side of spells with Monaco and Napoli. Chelsea were tempted to rip up his £110,000-a-week contract before his eventual move to Lorient as a free agent. Tiemoue Bakayoko flopped at Chelsea Credit: Reuters The Frenchman had two loan spells with AC Milan Credit: Getty TIJJANI REIJNDERS Reijnders was linked with Nottingham Forest before Al-Qadsiah splashed the cash. A move to the City Ground would have kept the creative midfielder in the Premier League. But Reijnders, who sensationally had a job at Aldi during the early stages of his career, is heading to Saudi Arabia. His Man City career is over just weeks after featuring for the Netherlands at the World Cup. Reijnders was wanted by Nottingham Forest before Al-Qadsiah made a big-money bid Credit: Reuters Play Dream Team this season! £100,000 in prize money up for grabs in 2026/27 Free to enter Play in Mini Leagues against your mates £60,000 jackpot for the overall winner £1,000 prize for winning Gameweek 1 PLAY DREAM TEAM NOW! JOAO FELIX Joao Felix only made 16 appearances during his single permanent season in the Premier League. Chelsea splashed out £42.6m to recruit the Portuguese playmaker, 26, from Atletico Madrid two years ago. It was Felix’s second chance to make an impression at Stamford Bridge after also having a loan spell with the Blues in 2023. But Chelsea jumped at the chance to add £43.7m to the coffers when Al-Nassr came calling. Joao Felix made a permanent switch to Chelsea in 2024 Credit: Getty The Portuguese playmaker joined Al-Nassr a year later Credit: Getty MOUSSA DIABY Moussa Diaby is another livewire who swapped the Premier League for the riches on offer in Saudi Arabia after one season. The Frenchman, 27, headed to Aston Villa for £43m following his decision to snub the chance to land a money-spinning contract in the Middle East. But, following 16 goal involvements in 38 top-flight appearances under Villans chief Unai Emery, Diaby had a change of heart. And Villa pocketed an eye-watering £60m when they allowed him to secure a £400,000-a-week deal at Al-Ittihad. Moussa Diaby made an instant impact at Aston Villa Credit: PA It allowed the livewire to bag a mega-money contract at Al-Ittihad Credit: Reuters ANGEL DI MARIA Angel Di Maria has revealed he hated being at Man Utd following his then-British record move for close to £60m in 2014. The Argentine, 38, headed to Old Trafford just months after winning the Champions League with Real Madrid. But Di Maria ended up being a Man Utd mistake and his wife Jorgelina Cardoso sensationally claimed she never wanted to move to England. The wantaway winger, who is now on Rosario Central’s books, was sold to Paris Saint-Germain. Angel Di Maria had an unhappy spell with Manchester United Credit: Action Images The winger’s wife Jorgelina Cardoso did not want to move to England Credit: Getty ROMELU LUKAKU Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku is the FIFTH Chelsea flop included in this starting line-up. He had already been with the Blues, West Brom, Everton and Man Utd earlier in his career before being offered a £97.5m route back to Stamford Bridge in August 2021. It did not prove to be a romantic return as, just 12 months later, Lukaku – who has shone elsewhere and netted three times at the World Cup – was shipped out to Inter Milan and then Roma. Chelsea then sold the marksman, who linked up with Fenerbahce earlier this week, to Napoli. Romelu Lukaku’s return to Chelsea did not go to plan Credit: Alamy The striker joined Fenerbahce earlier this week Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Comment now