Probably the most illustrious of names on this list, Andy Van de Meyde is the best example of how some footballers go on to waste their prodigious talent. Formerly of Ajax and Inter Milan, the signing of Andy Van de Meyde was actually met by optimism from the Goodison faithful who were aware of his talents. At a paltry £2m fee, this could have turned out to be one of the smartest signings by David Moyes, especially considering he had managed to beat both Monaco and Tottenham Hotspur to the wingers signature. Ultimately though Moyes will have wished he hadnt, as off-field antics proved the undoing of the Dutchman, who preferred partying to playing football, all of which meant he ending up spending more off the pitch than on it. His only notable contribution to the Everton cause was an assist to Dan Gosling in the goal that helped the side beat Liverpool in the FA Cup in 2009. In four seasons at the club, Van de Meyde only managed 20 league appearances for the club, with issues with cocaine and drinking problems causing him to be unfit for large parts of his time on Merseyside. He later joined Topklasse amateurs WKE before retiring in 2012.
