Over the years, the Premier League has been home to exceptionally talented players. As a result, whenever a professional footballer in England becomes available for transfer, several Serie A giants are usually quick to consider a potential move. However, not every addition from English football’s top flight necessarily delivers.

In fact, we’ve seen a number of notable flops sign for some of Italian football’s biggest clubs. Despite fans selecting them in their Fantasy Premier League squads and using useful UK apps on FIRST.com to back some familiar faces to score first in major Premier League clashes, these additions failed to replicate the same type of form in Italy and adapt to the demands of such a challenging competition.

It should come as no surprise, either. Italian football culture is vastly different from what many players in England are accustomed to. The game is arguably more tactical, and the atmosphere in the stands is defined less by tourists with selfie sticks and more by the raw passion of devoted supporters. For these reasons, plus others, some players simply struggle to settle in Italy’s top league.

Starting with a more recent flop, Douglas Luiz’s €50 million move to Juventus from Aston Villa raised a few eyebrows. At the time, the Brazilian midfielder was in high demand, with several Premier League clubs also linked with his signature. Ultimately, it was Juventus who secured his services, hoping to build a formidable midfield partnership between Luiz and Teun Koopmeiners. However, both signings failed to live up to expectations. Luiz, in particular, managed just 496 minutes of Serie A football and conceded two penalties.

First things first: Andriy Shevchenko is one of the finest goal scorers Italian football has ever seen. However, after a disappointing spell at Chelsea, he returned to his beloved Milan on loan in 2008 and looked like a completely different player. With his confidence low and his physical sharpness fading, the Ukrainian’s fairytale return didn’t go as planned, as he failed to score a single Serie A goal during his final campaign with the club. Still, the former European Footballer of the Year will forever remain a Milan icon.

Signed from Tottenham in 2024 for €18 million, Milan clearly hoped they had unearthed the next Cafu when they brought in Emerson Royal. However, the attacking full-back turned out to be a disastrous signing. Royal was frequently exposed defensively, he struggled within a lackluster backline, and he will always be associated with one of Milan’s worst ever campaigns.

After two separate spells in England with Manchester United and Chelsea, Juan Sebastian Veron’s loan move back to Italian football with Inter made a lot of sense. The former Lazio hero enjoyed a stellar reputation in the country, yet he struggled to replicate the form he displayed during his time with the Biancocelesti. While no transfer fee was required for his acquisition, Inter clearly expected more from the Argentine. In the end, injuries and inconsistent performances prevented him from living up to those expectations.