Poll: The 10 most disappointing Hull City signings of the last decade

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Hull City have signed some real duds over the years, we look at 10 from the last decade who really disappointed.

Hatem Ben-Arfa in action for Hull City vs Tottenham Hotspur

The last decade has been incredibly eventful for Hull City, both on and off the field. In that time, the club has been promoted to the Premier League for the first time in their 100+ year history, been relegated, been on the brink of financial collapse, been saved, promoted once again, reached their first ever FA Cup final, their first taste of European football, resisted a name change, been relegated and been promoted once more.

It’s fair to say that last 10 years have been the most successful and eventful in the club’s history. Here we focus on 10 players who joined Hull City with much anticipation and excitement surrounding them, only to end up disappointing, and at the end of the article we ask you to vote for the player you feel was ultimately the most disappointing.

Hatem Ben Arfa & Gaston Ramirez

Gaston Ramirez scores for Middlesbrough against Hull City

The most recent nominees, Hatem Ben Arfa and Gaston Ramirez, both joined Hull City on-loan from Newcastle United and Southampton respectively in 2014. Ben Arfa was surely the most disappointing of the two. Arguably the most technically gifted player to have ever pulled on the black and amber of Hull City, you’d probably have to go back to an ageing Jay-Jay Okocha or Raich Carter to find anyone who compares.

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The frustrating Frenchman only ever showed glimpses of his quality at best during his time in East Yorkshire, having a poor relationship with manager Steve Bruce and eventually departing under a cloud. Following a fantastic season at Nice, Ben Arfa now plays for PSG. Ramirez meanwhile had already struggled in the Premier League with Southampton and was looking to revitalise his career at the KCOM, but despite his obvious ability, he was never able to show consistent form.

Jimmy Bullard

Former footballer Jimmy Bullard

Following promotion to the Premier League for the first time in the club’s history, and a flying start to life in England’s top tier, Jimmy Bullard was signed as a statement of intent by manager and chairman Phil Brom and Paul Duffen. Having recently been in the England squad and one of Fulham’s star players, it was a signing which seemed to show how far the club had come and would have seemed impossible only a couple of years earlier.

Bullard was given an enormous contract and never lived up to the billing. Not only was he injured for the majority of his time at Hull City, he was also reportedly a poor influence off the pitch. At times when Bullard was actually fit, he showed why the Tigers made him their club record signing, but those occasions were sadly all too rare.

Tom Ince

Tom Ince now plays for Derby County

During the 2012-13 season at Blackpool, Tom Ince was arguably the best player in the Championship, then aged just 21. It was for that reason that Hull City fans were rather excited by his signing in 2014, but the winger ended up making just 7 league appearances for the Tigers before being loaned out to Derby. The club ended up making a profit on Ince, but his on-field accomplishments were disappointing.

Nick Proschwitz

The fact that Hull City were promoted the season following Nick Proschwitz’s arrival meant his legacy as a poor signing was somewhat overlooked. The big German was Steve Bruce’s marquee signing in his first summer as Hull City manager, but scored just 3 goals in 29 appearances in the Championship and now plays in Belgium where he has scored 1 goal in 16 games.

Aaron McLean

Aaron McLean celebrates scoring for Hull City

Similarly to Nick Proschwitz, Aaron McLean was Nigel Pearson’s most expensive signing in his first season as Hull City manager. Whilst fellow January arrival Matty Fryatt ended up being a decent signing for £1 million, McLean was a disappointment at £1.2 million. His attitude and commitment could never be questioned, but his technique and quality could. He scored 9 goals in 77 league games for the club before departing for Bradford City. McLean now plays for non-league Ebbsfleet in the National League South.

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Seyi Olofinjana

Whilst much criticism has always been aimed towards Jimmy Bullard, a signing which doesn’t come under nearly enough scrutiny is that of Seyi Olofinjana. The big Nigerian central midfielder was one of the club’s biggest ever signings at the time for £3 million and arrived on a very long and very lucrative contract. Despite his size, Olofinjana never imposed himself on games and was often a waste of a man. He left on a free transfer in 2013 after just 34 league appearances and hasn’t played since 2014.

Kamel Ghilas

Ghilas shoots for Hull City against Birmingham

There’s an abundance of forward players nominated here and Kamel Ghilas is another one. The Algerian received a huge pay rise when he swapped Celta Vigo for Hull City but appeared to leave his goal scoring record in north-western Spain. The £1.7 million man scored once in 16 games for Hull before joining Reims on a free in 2012. He too hasn’t played since 2014.

Jozy Altidore

The fourth and final forward to be nominated, if you can call him a forward, Jozy Altidore’s record in English football is outstandingly poor. The powerful American scored his only league goal for Hull City against Manchester City in 28 Premier League appearances. He later had a similarly dreadful return with Sunderland, but has since returned to the more comfortable surroundings of the MLS.

Peter Halmosi

Halmosi in action for Hull City against Arsenal

The last of our 10 most disappointing Hull City signings of the last decade is Peter Halmosi. Many Tigers supporters may have forgotten Halmosi, the long-haired Hungarian who arrived in East Yorkshire having been one of the Championship’s outstanding performers at Plymouth. In 18 league appearances at the KCOM, Halmosi did virtually nothing of any note, but the 37-year-old is still playing in his native Hungary.