Costly players: Wilfried Zaha one of most expensive players per games played at Manchester United

Wilfried Zaha has ended his Manchester United career, making him one of the most expensive signings per games played in the history of the Premier League.

The England international was bought by Sir Alex Ferguson for £10million – potentially rising to £15m – in January 2013 but made just two substitute appearances for the club in the Premier League. Zaha, who signed a five-year deal with former club Crystal Palace on Deadline Day, cost United £5m per appearance in transfer fees.    

Juan Veron’s Chelsea career, Alberto Aquilani’s Liverpool stint and Roque Santa Cruz’s Manchester City spell also proved less than cost effective, while Nicolas Medina (£3.5m), David Unsworth (£3m) and Joey Beauchamp (£1m) failed to play a single game for Sunderland, Everton and West Ham, respectively.

Here are selection of players whose games-to-transfer fee ratios proved costly…    

(Premier League appearances only)

Wilfried Zaha – Man Utd, £10m, 2 apps (0 starts) = £5m per appearance

Per Kroldrup – Everton, £5m, 1 app (1 start) = £5m per app, £5m per start

Juan Sebastian Veron – Chelsea, £15m, 7 apps (5 starts) = £2,142,857 per app, £3m per start

Massimo Taibi – Man Utd, £4.5m, 4 apps (4 starts) = £1,125,000 per app

Alberto Aquilani – Liverpool, £20m, 18 apps (9 starts) = £1,111,111 per app, £2,222,222 per start

Robbie Keane – Liverpool, £20.3m, 19 apps (16 starts) = £1,068,421 per app, £1,268,750 per start

Andreas Cornelius – Cardiff, £7.5m, 8 apps (0 starts) = £937,500 per app

Roque Santa Cruz – Man City, £17.5m, 20 apps (6 starts) – £875,000 per app, £2,916,666 per start

Andy Carroll – Liverpool, £35m, 44 apps (26 starts) = £795,454 per app, £1,346,153 per start

Andriy Shevchenko – Chelsea, £30m, 48 apps (30 starts) = £625,000 per app, £1m per start

Bosko Balaban – Aston Villa, £5m, 8 apps (0 starts) – £625, 000 per app