The Saints had a good start to the season, but lately they have been struggling, and manager Russell Martin is coming under more and more pressure.
Martin was able to reinvest the significant transfer fees Southampton received for some of their departing players this summer, bringing in midfielder Shea Charles from Manchester City in a deal that could have cost up to £15 million and striker Ross Stewart from Sunderland for £10 million.
The Saints were known to spend big at times during their 11-year stay in the Premier League, and their high-profile additions experienced varying degrees of success at St Mary’s.
We ranked Southampton’s seven most expensive signings in order from best to worst.
Carrillo joined the Saints from Monaco for a reported £19 million in January 2018, but it is fair to say it did not work out for him at St Mary’s.
The striker made 10 appearances in the 2017-18 season without scoring, and he spent the next two years on loan with Spanish side Leganes before making a permanent move to Elche in September 2020.
Having failed to score a single goal for the club, Carrillo is one signing that Southampton fans will be keen to forget
Sulemana became Southampton’s record signing when he joined the club for £22 million from Rennes in February.
The winger struggled to make an impact in the Premier League, scoring just two goals in 18 appearances, with both of those coming on the final day of the season when the Saints were already relegated.
Sulemana is a player with a lot of potential and he could be a huge asset in the Championship, but the jury is still out at this stage.
Boufal arrived at St Mary’s from French side Lille in August 2016 for a fee of £16 million, which was a club record at the time.
The winger scored five goals and provided five assists in 84 appearances for Southampton, but he fell out of favour towards the end of his time at the club, spending the 2018-19 season on loan at Celta Vigo.
In October 2020, Boufal made a triumphant return to his boyhood club Angers, and it is difficult not to believe that his stint on the south coast was an opportunity missed.
