1. John Hartson
Year: 2000
Clubs involved: Tottenham, Rangers, Charlton
Reason: Chronic knee issues
Outcome: Hartson’s fragile knee led to multiple failed transfers in 2000. The consistent injury concerns scared off several clubs.
2. Hakim Ziyech
Years: 2023–2024
Club: Al-Nassr
Reason: Knee problems
Outcome: Ziyech’s transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr fell through not once but twice due to persistent knee issues identified during medicals.
3. Demba Ba
Year: 2011
Club: Stoke City
Reason: Underlying long-term injury risk
Outcome: Stoke canceled the deal citing potential long-term damage. Ba later went on to have a solid Premier League career with West Ham and Newcastle.
4. Patrick Schick
Year: 2017
Club: Juventus
Reason: Undisclosed health concerns
Outcome: Schick failed two separate medicals at Juventus, forcing the club to back out. He later signed for Roma instead.
5. Victor Boniface
Year: 2025
Club: AC Milan
Reason: Undisclosed
Outcome: The move was surprisingly called off after a failed medical, though no specific reason has been publicly confirmed.
6. Kurt Zouma
Year: 2024
Club: Shabab Al-Ahli (UAE)
Reason: Unhealed injuries
Outcome: The center-back’s move was canceled after doctors flagged lingering issues from past injuries.
7. Nicolas Jackson
Year: 2023
Club: Bournemouth
Reason: Hamstring problem
Outcome: Bournemouth pulled the plug on the deal after concerns about a hamstring injury. Jackson later joined Chelsea after recovery.
8. Samuel Umtiti
Year: 2022
Club: Rennes
Reason: Undisclosed
Outcome: The French defender’s transfer was derailed after a failed medical. Though the details remain unknown, Umtiti had long been plagued by knee injuries.
9. Gabriel Milito
Year: 2003
Club: Real Madrid
Reason: Knee injury
Outcome: Real Madrid doctors flagged incomplete recovery from a past knee issue. The transfer was canceled, though Milito later had a successful career elsewhere.
10. Victor Valdés
Year: 2014
Club: AS Monaco
Reason: Cruciate ligament injury
Outcome: Valdés was nearing a move to Monaco when the deal fell apart due to his ACL injury. He eventually joined Manchester United.
11. Marko Arnautović
Year: 2009
Club: Chelsea
Reason: Foot problem
Outcome: Chelsea backed out of a potential signing, but Arnautović later moved to Inter Milan after a successful follow-up medical.
The Nation
