The Six WORST Premier League Debuts in History

Every year, we’re given more and more Premier League debuts as new players ply their trade in England’s top flight. However, not everyone can make a shining start at new clubs.

Players often need to get used to their new surroundings – today, we’re looking at six of the worst Premier League debuts in the history of the league.

We’re not looking at players’ first time in the league – we’ll be looking at the first time they made an appearance for their respective clubs.

Chelsea have recently had a horror debut. We’ll also be including a couple of former Blues stars on this list – can you guess who they are?

Joao Felix

Let’s get the obvious entry in the list out of the way – it’s no secret that Joao Felix had a thoroughly humiliating debut for Chelsea against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Truth be told, initially, he didn’t look too bad – but one moment of madness spoiled it all. After a poor first touch, Felix chased the ball and caught Fulham’s Kenny Tete with a raised boot.

It was a shocking challenge and Felix thoroughly deserved his dismissal – Chelsea went on to lose the game 2-1.

Teddy Sheringham

Teddy Sheringham is a Premier League legend – but his time at Manchester United didn’t get off to the best of starts.

He signed for the Red Devils from Tottenham for £3.5 million in 1997 – wouldn’t you know it, his first league game came against none other than the club who’d just sold him.

Sheringham put in a stinker of a display against his former club, spurning a couple of good chances and missing a penalty. Despite the jeers from the Spurs fans, United ultimately won the game 2-0.

Chris Sutton

Chris Sutton at Chelsea just did not work out. Despite an excellent run at Blackburn Rovers, he could not replicate this form at Stamford Bridge.

He was signed for £10 million – but on his debut, the writing was already on the wall.

He missed two excellent chances to win the game – some said he was unfit, others said he had lost his confidence. One thing is for sure – he never found his feet at Chelsea.

Garry Flitcroft

It doesn’t get much worse than this. Garry Flitcroft marked his debut at Blackburn Rovers by promptly elbowing Everton’s Duncan Ferguson squarely in the face, earning him a red card after just three minutes.

Flitcroft would, however, go on to have a successful career at Blackburn.

He remained with the club for another ten years – which just goes to show that a bad debut does not have to define your entire stint at a club.

Wayne Bridge

Wayne Bridge, on the other hand, did not go on to have a long, fruitful time at West Ham.

Signed on loan to help stave off relegation, his debut was littered with defensive errors.

Ultimately, West Ham would not avoid relegation and Bridge was promptly sent back to Manchester City’s bench. He retired just a couple of years later.

Ali Dia

Ultimately, no Premier League debut will ever be quite as bad as Ali Dia’s. Despite their flaws, every other player on this list could be considered a top-level player on their best day.

Ali Dia, on his best day, might have gotten a game for your local pub team. Infamously posing as George Weah’s cousin, Southampton and Graeme Souness decided to take a punt on the unknown quantity that was Ali Dia.

He was visibly out of his depth, with a woeful first touch and virtually no positional sense. He lasted just 32 minutes before he was hooked, never to be seen in the Premier League again.