Chelsea has undergone a significant and extended rebuilding phase spanning the last three transfer windows, with the most extensive overhaul occurring during the summer window when 18 players left Stamford Bridge. Under the ownership of Todd Boehly, the club has invested a staggering £1 billion, with approximately £400 million of that amount allocated in the most recent summer transfer window. This investment led to the acquisition of players such as Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku, Cole Palmer, and more.
While Chelsea’s investment is substantial, it hasn’t yet translated to a strong league performance. The team currently sits eleventh in the Premier League standings, with only three wins out of eight games, although two of those victories were secured in their last two matches against Fulham and Burnley. This period of transition and adjustment to new personnel is to be expected.
Chelsea’s rebuilding effort was made possible by the sale of several star players, amounting to approximately £230 million during the summer. Here’s an update on some of these former Chelsea stars:
Kalidou Koulibaly
The highly anticipated center-back arrived from Napoli but struggled in Chelsea’s defense. Subsequently, he joined Al-Hilal this summer.
Mateo Kovacic
Despite being a valuable asset for Chelsea over the past five years, Kovacic’s inconsistent form led him to depart for Manchester City. He has made a decent start with his new team.
Edouard Mendy
Mendy was instrumental in stabilizing Chelsea’s defense and played a crucial role in their Champions League victory. However, a dip in form saw him replaced by Kepa Arrizabalaga, and he joined Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia.
Kai Havertz
Havertz’s time at Chelsea was marked by inconsistent performances. He was sold to Arsenal for £65 million in the summer and has shown glimpses of his potential, including an assist against Manchester City.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
The Chelsea academy graduate had an inconsistent tenure at the club. AC Milan offered him a fresh start in the summer, where he recently scored his first league goal.
Tiemoue Bakayoko
Bakayoko’s Chelsea transfer saga was marked by several loan spells and a lackluster performance last season at AC Milan. He now plays for Lorient and recently made his debut as he seeks to resurrect his career.
N’Golo Kante
N’Golo Kante, a true Chelsea legend, earned recognition for being the first player to leave a Premier League-winning club and win it the following season with a different team when he moved from Leicester City to Chelsea. His energetic midfield style played a crucial role in Chelsea’s success, including two European titles, making him a household name in English football. However, injuries caught up with him, and he moved to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia after his contract expired. Kante has made 13 appearances and scored one goal for his new club.
Mason Mount
Mason Mount, a fan favorite who emerged from Chelsea’s youth ranks, quickly established himself as one of the nation’s top players after making his debut under Frank Lampard. Despite an impressive start, his form dipped towards the end of the 2021-22 season and continued into the previous campaign. Various managerial changes and fan unrest over his performances led to his departure to Manchester United for approximately £55 million in the summer. Although he has been sidelined by injury at United, the question remains whether Mount can regain his best form in English football.
Cesar Azpilicueta
Cesar Azpilicueta, known affectionately as ‘Dave’ by Chelsea supporters, featured in over 500 games for the club and won eight trophies during his 11-year tenure. He was a mainstay in Chelsea’s defense, missing only four league games out of a possible 190 from the 2015/16 season to the 2019/20 season. Atletico Madrid acquired him, and he has been a key player, missing only one of their fixtures as they currently sit fourth in the league.
Baba Rahman
Baba Rahman, a somewhat forgotten Chelsea signing, joined the club in the 2015-16 season, making 15 appearances. He embarked on eight different loan spells, including three at Schalke, and had stints at Reims, Mallorca, and PAOK. His English career concluded at Reading, where he experienced relegation from the Championship. PAOK signed him on a free transfer, and he has become a regular in their first team in Thessaloniki.
Christian Pulisic
Christian Pulisic, often referred to as ‘Captain America,’ made an impressive start to his Chelsea career, with 98 league appearances resulting in 20 goals. He played a significant role in Chelsea’s 2020/21 Champions League victory. However, inconsistency led to sporadic appearances in the team, and the competition forced him out. He moved to AC Milan, where he has made a strong start, scoring four goals in eight league games as Pioli’s team leads the table.
Ethan Ampadu
Ethan Ampadu, a player expected to break into Chelsea’s first team at some point, struggled to fulfill his potential. Three consecutive relegations during loan spells at Sheffield United, Spezia, and Venezia hindered his progress. With Chelsea’s numerous center-back acquisitions, he had limited opportunities, and Leeds chose to acquire him. He has performed exceptionally well in a midfield double-pivot for Leeds as they aim for promotion, potentially facing Chelsea next year if successful.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s signing appeared to be a last-minute acquisition, and the Gabonese striker failed to convince fans that he was the solution. He played 21 games for Chelsea last season, scoring only three goals, and frequently found himself in and out of the team. Priced at £10 million from Barcelona, he was not included in the final 25-man squad for the Champions League knockout stages last season. He was subsequently sold to Marseille, where he has yet to score in seven league games, continuing his poor form.
Callum Hudson-Odoi:
Callum Hudson-Odoi represents the classic ‘what might have been’ scenario. He rose through the ranks at Chelsea as a young talent but faced setbacks due to two knee injuries, hindering his development. He sought to reignite his career by going on loan to Bayer Leverkusen last season but managed just one goal in 21 games. Eventually, he decided to start anew, with Nottingham Forest paying £5 million for his services. His debut goal against Burnley suggests there may still be a future for him in the Premier League.
Hakim Ziyech:
Hakim Ziyech arrived from the impressive Ajax team that reached the Champions League semi-finals under Erik ten Hag and initially made a promising start at Stamford Bridge. However, inconsistency and a relatively slight build prevented him from fully adapting to the Premier League. Ziyech joined Galatasaray on a loan-to-buy deal, which will result in the Blues receiving £5.5 million for his services.
Lewis Hall:
Lewis Hall made his way into the Chelsea side last season, providing a solution for Marc Cucurella’s poor form. He impressed, even when played out of his natural midfield position. As a Newcastle fan, it must have been a challenging decision for the youngster to turn down the chance to join his boyhood club. Newcastle paid an obligation fee of £28 million, which could rise to £35 million, to secure his move to the north east. Although he hasn’t had the opportunity to make a significant impact yet, his time will come.
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Kepa Arrizabalaga has been a polarizing figure at Chelsea for years. However, his performances last season provided a potential way back into the fold at Stamford Bridge. Following the signing of Robert Sanchez and an ACL injury to former Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois, Kepa was loaned to Spanish giants Real Madrid. He has been in fine form for Los Blancos, recording three consecutive clean sheets in the league and winning six of the seven games he has played in.
Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku, once Chelsea’s record signing, has found himself far from contention in west London. He initially joined Chelsea when Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba were part of the squad but had limited opportunities. Lukaku’s career saw him excel at Everton, Manchester United, and Inter Milan. However, his £100 million return to Chelsea did not go as planned. He had a lackluster season with just eight goals, and his loan spell at San Siro last season was also underwhelming. Jose Mourinho has brought the star to Roma, where he has shown promise with five goals in six games, potentially marking a resurgence for the Belgian.