Raheem Sterling, Chelsea
Signed from Manchester City for £50 million, Raheem Sterling was once a symbol of Chelsea’s ambition. Now, he’s been overshadowed by the £1.4 billion worth of talent that has joined the club since. It’s easy to forget that Sterling was the first of 50 signings under the current owners.
A four-time Premier League champion and England’s standout player at Euro 2020, Sterling used to be a reliable source of at least 10 goals per season. Today, he finds himself in Chelsea’s so-called “bomb squad,” training separately from the first team on different pitches, at different times, and with limited access to facilities.
It’s hard not to feel for him: five managers have come and gone since he arrived, and the club has spent over £500 million on wingers—hardly a show of faith. But don’t feel too sorry for him; he’s still earning the benefits of the five-year contract he signed in 2022, worth £325,000 per week. While it’s a shame to see a player of his caliber sidelined at 30, a return to the first team seems unlikely under Enzo Maresca.
Axel Disasi, Chelsea
Not long ago, Axel Disasi was playing for France in a World Cup final. Now, he’s keeping Sterling company in Chelsea’s bomb squad. Maresca’s arrival last season signaled the beginning of the end for the £38.7 million signing from Monaco. The Italian manager didn’t take long to make up his mind; after just 17 appearances across all competitions—only six in the Premier League—he decided Disasi was no longer needed.
Poor one-on-one defending and a lack of composure on the ball pushed him down the pecking order, behind six other center-backs. The final blow came in a 2-0 defeat to Ipswich last December, where a careless pass from Disasi gifted the hosts a goal. He was benched for the next match against Wolves, making a brief 17-minute appearance that turned out to be his last in a Chelsea shirt.
Rhys Williams, Liverpool
Once the unexpected savior of Liverpool’s injury-stricken defense, Rhys Williams has faded so far into the background that some fans might not even know he’s still at the club. Thrust into the spotlight during the 2020-21 season, he went from a non-league loan at Kidderminster to Champions League nights in just months, becoming a cult hero along the way. He was only 19 at the time, and the future seemed full of promise.
With Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Joël Matip all injured, Williams stepped up, playing 19 games that season—including six in the Champions League and nine in the Premier League—helping Klopp’s side secure a third-place finish. But his rise was as swift as his fall. Four seasons and five loan spells later, Williams hasn’t made another first-team appearance, quietly fading into obscurity at Anfield.
Tyrell Malacia, Manchester United
When Tyrell Malacia joined Manchester United at 22, he was hailed as the first building block of Erik ten Hag’s rebuild. Nearly four years later, he has managed just 25 Premier League appearances. The promising talent, who arrived from his boyhood club Feyenoord, spoke of “a new chapter, a new league, and a tremendous manager” upon signing. But the early optimism has long since disappeared.
He played a key role in his debut season, making 39 appearances before a serious meniscus injury sidelined him for 550 days. By the time he returned, United had undergone significant changes—new owners, a new manager, and a reshaped squad—and the young full-back who once held so much potential had largely been forgotten by fans.
Despite gaining valuable playing time on loan at PSV last season and helping them win the Eredivisie title, Malacia returned in the summer to find himself on the fringes once again.Tyrell Malacia, Manchester United
Tyrell Malacia has become the last man standing from his group at Manchester United. One by one, his former training partners—Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, and Antony—moved on to new opportunities, leaving Malacia as the sole survivor. A brief appearance on the bench against Brighton in late October offered a glimmer of hope, but it now seems unlikely he will play a major role again.
Fábio Carvalho, Brentford
When Liverpool signed Fábio Carvalho from Fulham for £7.5 million in 2022, Jürgen Klopp called him “a player who can bring a stadium to its feet.” So far, we haven’t seen much of that magic on the pitch.
Carvalho was born in Lisbon and moved to London at age 11. He joined Balham FC, where the club’s chairman, Greg Cruttwell, said “every club under the sun” was interested in signing him. Carvalho seemed to be living up to the hype when he signed with Fulham and helped them earn promotion to the Premier League, scoring 10 goals and providing eight assists in the 2021–22 season. His move to Liverpool took his career to a new level, but his most productive spell in recent years came during a 20-game loan at Hull in 2024.
A lack of playing time has held Carvalho back. In two seasons at Liverpool, he played just 640 minutes in all competitions—the equivalent of only 7.1 full matches. Seeking more opportunities, he joined RB Leipzig on loan for the 2023–24 season but started just one Bundesliga game before returning to England early.
A £27.5 million move to Brentford, a club known for developing talent, promised regular minutes and room to grow. However, Carvalho has started only four league games since joining at the beginning of last season and has played just 96 minutes this term. At 23, his potential remains high, but he suffered a cruel setback last week when he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in training, ruling him out for the rest of the season.
Brentford’s head coach, Keith Andrews, said, “It’s devastating for him. Fábio knows he’ll get the support from everyone at the football club, including me, throughout this difficult period.” Here’s hoping he returns stronger.
Solly March, Brighton
Solly March is Brighton’s second longest-serving player after Lewis Dunk. The English winger joined the club in December 2011, when Gus Poyet was manager and Ashley Barnes was the top scorer. March has been a key part of Brighton’s squad since they earned promotion to the Premier League in the 2016–17 season, but fans haven’t seen him play since a 62-minute appearance against West Ham in April—his first start in 533 days after recovering from an ACL injury that kept him out for 14 months.
After that match, he said, “I think 90 minutes is probably still a few weeks off at least. Maybe next season.” Sadly, that optimism was shattered just days later when he suffered another knee injury. With only eight starts last season, injuries are slowly pushing a Brighton legend toward the sidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Premier League players who have faded from the spotlight this season with clear and concise answers
General Beginner Questions
Q What does it mean when a player has faded from the spotlight
A It means a player who was previously a key performer very popular or in the news often is now playing less performing worse or is just not talked about as much
Q Why do good players suddenly fade away
A There are many reasons like a serious injury a loss of form a change in manager who doesnt rate them strong new signings taking their place or simply getting older
Q Can a player come back after fading from the spotlight
A Absolutely Its difficult but with hard work a return to fitness or a change of club players can definitely rediscover their best form and return to prominence
Q Who is a classic example of a player who has faded this season
A A prime example is Kalvin Phillips After being a star for Leeds and England he barely played for City and had a disappointing loan spell at West Ham taking him out of the spotlight completely
Specific Player Situation Questions
Q What happened to Jadon Sancho He was a huge signing for Manchester United
A After a public falling out with the manager Erik ten Hag Sancho was exiled from the first team for months He only returned to the spotlight after a loan move back to his former club Borussia Dortmund in January
Q Why arent we hearing much about Raheem Sterling at Chelsea
A Despite being a highprofile signing Sterling has had inconsistent performances and has sometimes been left on the bench by the manager With younger players like Cole Palmer emerging as stars Sterling has naturally faded from the main headlines
Q Is Thiago Silva still playing for Chelsea I feel like I never see him
A Yes but his role has diminished While still a club legend his age has meant he cant play every game and the club has been focusing on developing younger defenders for the future reducing his minutes and spotlight
Advanced Tactical Questions
Q From a tactical standpoint why might a previously successful player fade
A
