10 Most Expensive Transfer Flops In Everton History

It goes without saying that becoming a club's record signing comes with certain expectations. Some players, usually world-class ones, take them in their stride, while others are crushed beneath the weight of them.

James Beattie looked like a sure-fire addition to the latter category following his £6 million move from Southampton in 2005. The striker struggled to settle in Merseyside and his early woes were compounded when sent off for a head-butt on Chelsea defender William Gallas on only his fifth Premier League appearance.

Beattie threatened to come good during his second season in blue, finishing as the club's top scorer for 2005–06 with 10 strikes, but his improved form was short lived.

He was in and out of David Moyes's starting XI in his third season, eventually leaving Goodison Park for Sheffield United in search of first-team football, with the Blues recouping £4 million of the record sum they coughed up in the deal.

The forward netted 13 Premier League goals in 76 appearances across three seasons, which isn't exactly the kind of return you shatter your transfer record for.