Real Sociedad's £85m transfer nightmare: The players failing to deliver at Anoeta
La Real have splashed nearly £85 million on players who are contributing next to nothing this season through injuries, poor form, or falling out of favour.
Almost £85 million worth of talent sitting on the treatment table or warming the bench while Real Sociedad struggle in the league. Talk about money for old rope.
Transfer Flops Piling Up
Real Sociedad’s recruitment team must be feeling the heat as a staggering amount of their recent investments have failed to deliver. The Basque club has splashed close to €100 million on players who are currently contributing next to nothing to their 2025-26 campaign, either through injuries or simply not featuring in the manager’s plans.
The Big-Money Disappointments
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Sadiq Umar (€20m) - Signed in summer 2022, the Nigerian striker has barely kicked a ball in anger due to a serious injury and subsequent disputes with the club. All signs point to a January or summer exit, though La Real will struggle to recoup much of their investment.
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Orri Óskarsson (€20m) - The Icelandic forward showed promising signs last season and in pre-season, but has been plagued by a series of injuries, keeping him sidelined for most of the current campaign.
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Arsen Zakharyan (€10m+) - The Russian talent arrived in 2023 with high expectations but has yet to show the quality that prompted his signing. After barely featuring last season, he continues to make minimal impact when given opportunities.
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Luka Sucic (€12m) - Signed in 2024, the Croatian midfielder started brightly but has since faded dramatically. Both on-pitch performances and off-field issues have led some supporters to call for his departure already.
Injuries Decimating the Squad
Yangel Herrera represents perhaps the most frustrating case. Signed from Girona for around €12 million at the end of the last transfer window, the Venezuelan arrived injured and has since suffered two more significant muscle problems. In four months at the club, he’s managed just 90 minutes in the txuri-urdin shirt.
Carlos Fernández, who cost around €10 million in 2021, is currently on loan at Mirandés after suffering the same injury as Sadiq, followed by persistent muscle problems. With a contract until 2027, he’s another expensive asset providing no return.
The Road to Recovery
New manager Pellegrino Matarazzo has a mountain to climb to rescue La Real from their current position in the table. Club president Jokin Aperribay and sporting director Roberto Bretos are reportedly keen to salvage some value from Zakharyan and Sucic in particular.
With 2026 just around the corner, the club desperately needs these expensive assets to start delivering on their potential – both to justify the significant investment and to help pull the team away from danger.