AFC Bournemouth’s approach to the transfer market has evolved significantly in recent years. As a club with a limited budget, compared to the Premier League’s financial heavyweights, their strategy is often one of carefully measured risk—prioritizing value for money, shrewd signings, and long-term potential over marquee, headline-grabbing acquisitions. With Bournemouth’s rise to the Premier League in 2015 and their subsequent struggles to maintain their top-flight status, the transfer market has become a crucial battleground in their pursuit of survival and growth.
In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at Bournemouth’s transfer strategy, analyzing the smart investments they’ve made, the missed opportunities, and how the club can build on its successes moving forward.
A Changing Landscape: From Survival to Ambition
For much of Bournemouth’s history in the Premier League, their transfer dealings were centered around survival in the most competitive football league in the world. The club’s relatively small budget meant that their transfer activities were often focused on bargain acquisitions, loan deals, and developing young talent to maintain Premier League status.
However, as Bournemouth has grown in stature and reputation, their approach has had to change. Surviving relegation is no longer enough. There is now an ambition to establish themselves as a competitive mid-table team, with aspirations of pushing for European spots in the future. This shift in ambition has seen the club invest more in both experienced players and rising stars, but questions remain over whether their transfer strategy has been smart or whether they’ve missed out on crucial opportunities to strengthen the squad.
Smart Investments: Shrewd Deals and Long-Term Planning
Bournemouth’s transfer activity has generally been marked by an eye for talent that may have slipped under the radar of larger clubs. Here are a few of their standout acquisitions over recent years:
1. David Brooks (2018 – £11.5m)
One of the most exciting signings in recent memory, David Brooks was brought in from Sheffield United in 2018. A skilful and dynamic winger with immense potential, Brooks was hailed as one of the best young players in the Championship. His move to the Premier League proved to be a smart investment, with Brooks impressing in his first season before being sidelined by a serious illness.
Although the Welsh international’s career has been disrupted by injury, his signing is still seen as a shrewd investment by Bournemouth. His creativity, flair, and ability to create chances set him apart in a team struggling at the bottom of the Premier League table. Brooks remains one of the club’s most marketable assets, and his eventual return to form could be a game-changer
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2. Philip Billing (2019 – £15m)
The Danish midfielder was another smart piece of business by the club. Having been a standout performer at Huddersfield Town, Billing’s move to Bournemouth has been a key factor in their midfield strength. At 6’5″, he provides both physicality and technical ability, contributing defensively and in attack. His vision and long-range shots have added an extra dimension to Bournemouth’s midfield, and his performances have consistently earned him praise from fans and pundits alike.
Billing’s combination of age, ability, and potential makes him one of the club’s most important signings in recent years. His value has only increased since his arrival, making him a key asset for the club both on the pitch and in potential future transfer dealings.
3. Marcos Senesi (2022 – £13m)
Senesi’s signing from Feyenoord in 2022 was a highly promising move for Bournemouth, as they sought to strengthen their defense. The Argentine center-back was highly rated for his composure, reading of the game, and ability to play out from the back—an attribute that suited the tactical demands of manager Gary O’Neil. His performances, especially in the early stages of his Bournemouth career, have shown that he has the potential to become one of the Premier League’s top defenders.
While still adapting to the intensity of English football, Senesi’s defensive solidity and distribution abilities point to a bright future at the club. This signing demonstrated Bournemouth’s willingness to invest in players who can improve immediately but also have long-term potential.
4. Illia Zabarnyi (2023 – £24m)
One of the club’s more expensive signings in recent years, Zabarnyi was brought in from Dynamo Kyiv to further strengthen Bournemouth’s defensive options. At just 21 years old, Zabarnyi represents an exciting talent with huge potential. Known for his physicality, leadership qualities, and impressive performances at the international level with Ukraine, Zabarnyi was considered one of the most promising young defenders in Europe when he signed for the Cherries.
While he has had a mixed start to life in the Premier League, the transfer represents a bold statement of intent from the club. By investing in a player of Zabarnyi’s caliber, Bournemouth hopes to not only strengthen their defense but also nurture a future star who can eventually command a significant transfer fee.
Missed Opportunities: Where Bournemouth Could Have Done More
Despite some notable successes, Bournemouth’s transfer strategy hasn’t been without its flaws. Here are a few areas where the club may have missed opportunities to improve their squad or could have done better in terms of recruitment:
1. Failure to Secure a Striker with Proven Premier League Experience
Bournemouth has long been in need of a top-class striker capable of leading the line and consistently delivering goals. Despite spending large sums on several attacking options over the years, such as Dominic Solanke and Jamal Lowe, the club has struggled to find a reliable goalscorer.
The club’s decision to sign Solanke from Liverpool for a reported £19m in 2019 had promise, given his potential, but he has yet to consistently live up to expectations. A lack of cutting edge up front has hurt Bournemouth’s chances of pushing further up the Premier League table.
Bournemouth missed an opportunity to secure a clinical striker during the transfer windows when other clubs were buying, and this has often left them vulnerable in key moments. Whether they will solve this problem in the future remains to be seen.
2. Overreliance on Loan Deals
While loan signings can be a good way for smaller clubs to acquire talent without breaking the bank, Bournemouth has sometimes relied too heavily on this strategy. Loan deals provide immediate reinforcement but often lack the long-term stability that permanent signings can offer.
Players like Kieffer Moore and Emiliano Marcondes were brought in on loan deals with varying degrees of success. While some of these deals have worked out, others have left the squad with gaps to fill at the end of the loan period. Relying on loan players instead of making more permanent investments has sometimes created an imbalance within the squad.
3. Underinvestment in the Full-Back Positions
While Bournemouth has made significant investments in the central areas of their squad, the full-back positions have often been overlooked. Historically, these positions have been an area of weakness for the club, and the lack of real competition or depth in these roles has hurt Bournemouth in both attack and defense.
Although Adam Smith and Jordan Zemura have been solid performers, they haven’t consistently been of the quality required to maintain Premier League survival year after year. A more aggressive pursuit of full-back reinforcements in recent windows could have helped shore up a key area.
The Future: Learning from Mistakes and Making Bold Moves
Bournemouth’s transfer strategy in recent years has shown signs of progress, particularly in their more significant investments in players like Zabarnyi, Billing, and Senesi. However, there is still work to be done. To push further up the Premier League table and compete for European spots, the club must continue to be shrewd in the market but also be willing to spend more on proven Premier League talent when necessary.
Focusing on acquiring a prolific goalscorer, improving depth in wide areas, and continuing to develop young players from the academy could be the key to Bournemouth’s future success. The Cherries have shown that, with the right strategy and a little bit of luck, they can challenge the big clubs for a spot in the Premier League’s upper echelons.
In conclusion, while Bournemouth has made some smart investments in recent years, they have also missed a few opportunities that could have pushed the club further up the league. If they continue to refine their transfer strategy, they could very well establish themselves as a stable and competitive Premier League side for years to come.
