5 Plymouth Argyle transfer mistakes the club must try not repeat in January 2025
Slowly but surely, the January transfer window is approaching, and Plymouth Argyle will probably be expanding their roster for the second half of the season.
After a difficult start to the season, Wayne Rooney’s team has improved and now finds themselves in a group of teams fighting for a spot in the bottom half, with the division’s quality being as high as it has ever been.
With clubs paying a premium for their players in the hopes of keeping them for the remainder of the season, finding hidden gems in the market can make all the difference during the mid-season buying and selling period.
These five are some of the worst transfer deals in recent memory, so the Greens will want to be cautious about their business and avoid getting stung as they have in the past.
Taribo West
It still takes some getting used to the idea of Taribo West playing at Brighton & Hove Albion’s Withdean Stadium. In the summer of 2005, the Nigerian international travelled to Devon for his final pay cheque.
Few would have predicted that Home Park would be the outpost he would emerge at later in his career, having graced the San Siro for both Milan squads, played for Derby County in the Premier League and travelled the world in his later years.
The old defender, whose legs were as flimsy as a Lego tower, fought his way through five games in green, winning only one of them.
| Taribo West Plymouth Argyle stats (Soccerbase) | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 5 |
| Starts | 5 |
| Minutes played | 450 |
A final outing at Barnet’s Underhill Stadium proved to be a step too far for the defender, and he was heading back up Outland Road on his mobility scooter by October, never to be seen again.
Nathanael Ogbeta
Even if it was only a few months ago, Nathanael Ogbeta can be added to Home Park’s list of transfer disasters right away.
The 23-year-old has mostly been utilised when Rooney has rotated his squad to give others a break, particularly on trips to Burnley and Leeds United, after starting the team’s 4-0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday in the season’s opening game.
Plymouth Argyle: Paul Sturrock was validated when he signed a future Cardiff City player for £110,000.
After being selected by the Pilgrims from non-league football, Craig Noone went on to have a successful career.
The defender’s future as an Argyle player must already be in question following his July transfer; he is already viewed as deadwood at the club due to his poor defensive posture and incapacity to find a partner with the ball at his feet.
Lewis Warrington
Lewis Warrington joined Everton on loan in the summer, and after just 56 minutes of league activity the previous season, it was clear right away that he wasn’t ready for Championship level play.
After a disappointing performance in a heavily rotated squad, he was substituted at halftime in a 4-1 loss to Bristol City in September 2023. This was his last game wearing a green shirt, since the Premier League team called him back in January due to an ankle injury.
Because loan spaces are expensive, Argyle cannot afford to bring in any new players for the rest of the season. If they do, they must be good enough to compete for minutes straight away.
Tyreik Wright
Tyreik Wright, a wide player who made an impression during a loan stint with Bradford City at the beginning of the season, was expected to do well when he joined the team from Aston Villa in January 2023.
For whatever reason, the winger struggled to establish himself at Home Park and appeared insecure every time he took the field, though those games were infrequent.
After only playing 503 league minutes in his 18 months as an Argyle player, the Republic of Ireland youth international finally signed a permanent contract with Valley Parade this summer.
Alfie Lewis
After Chelsea’s success, Liverpool demonstrated their commitment.
Cherki has already made 152 club appearances and competed for his country in the Summer Olympics. He has scored 19 goals and provided 28 assists during that span, showcasing his adaptability following his stint on the le
Furthermore, Wataru Endo, who has struggled to earn playing time under Arne Slot, is likely to be replaced by one of the younger players. Federico Chiesa hasn’t played much since joining from Juventus in September due to form and fitness concerns, raising questions about his future.
