Chelsea’s 10 most expensive transfers of all time

Chelsea have always been big spenders under Roman Abramovich. Chelsea recently bought back Lukaku for around 97.1 million pounds. We look at Chelsea’s 10 most expensive transfers of all time.

10. Mateo Kovacic – £40m (from Real Madrid, 2019)

Chelsea were lucky that the transfer of Mateo Kovacic from Real Madrid had already been agreed before they received their transfer ban ahead of 2019/20. In his first season, the midfielder struggled for consistency however, he found form in 2020/21 playing a big part in Chelsea’s Champions League win. The Croatian’s ability to dribble with the ball makes him one of the unique midfielders of the league.

9. Ben Chilwell – £45m (from Leicester, 2020)

   

After excelling for Leicester City, Blues splashed £45 million in the summer of 2020 to acquire his services. Playing either as a left-back or in a hybrid role on the left side of the pitch, was one of the few success stories under Frank Lampard as Chelsea largely labored.

8. Timo Werner – £47.5m (from RB Leipzig, 2020)

The German was signed in the summer of 2020 after a fabulous goalscoring season with RB Leipzig in which he smashed in 34 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions. Werner has done everything well but score despite regularly getting into good positions. Chelsea will hope the 24-year old finishes more of the chances he gets this season.

7. Jorginho – £50m (from Napoli, 2018)

Jorginho joined Chelsea in 2014 when he followed Maurizio Sarri from Napoli beating off competition from Manchester City. The deep lying midfielder is often misunderstood in England, however his performances in EURO 2020 have made people sit up and take notice.

6. Fernando Torres – £50m (from Liverpool, 2011)

   

Fernando Torres was a roaring success at Liverpool, with 69 goals in his three-and-a-half seasons there, but he never hit the same heights at Chelsea. Chelsea forked out an English record fee at the time to acquire his services after a protracted transfer saga. It took Torres nearly 1,000 minutes to net his first Chelsea goal against West Ham, although he netted that famous goal at the Camp Nou, he ultimately didn’t live up to expectations.

5. Christian Pulisic – £57m (from Dortmund, 2019)

Christian Pulisic is yet to live up to expectations as a Chelsea player since his big money move from Borussia Dortmund. The USA international has been inconsistent so far, scoring just 13 goals in the league across his first two seasons. But, on his day, he can be brilliant.

4. Alvaro Morata – £60m (from Real Madrid, 2017)

   

Alvaro Morata was never a consistent regular at Real Madrid, but the form he displayed on loan at Juventus, and during his fleeting appearances for Los Blancos, suggested that he could be a less problematic replacement for Diego Costa. However, after a bright start he struggled badly and was shipped off to Atletico Madrid first on loan and then on a permanent transfer.

3. Kepa Arrizabalaga – £71m (from Athletic Bilbao, 2018)

Chelsea agreed a world-record fee for the goalkeeper, however, Kepa is known for the wrong reasons rather than the right ones. In his first season he famously refused to come off, while in his 2^nd season he struggled and had the lowest save percentage of any goalkeeper. He was finally replaced by Mendy last season.

2. Kai Havertz – £72m (from Leverkusen, 2020)

In the summer of 20/21, Chelsea made Kai Havertz their most expensive signing of all time. Havertz hasn’t really set the world alight last season, however, he scored the winner against Manchester City in the Champions League Final to forever etch his name in the hearts of the Chelsea faithful.

1. Romelu Lukaku – £97.7m (From Inter, 2021)

While it may seem odd on paper for Chelsea to spend so much money on a player they once had on their books as a youngster. However, Lukaku returns after dominating Italian football with Inter with 64 goals in 95 games over the course of two seasons and helping the club win their first Serie A title in 10 years. The 29-year-old might be the final piece of the jigsaw for Tuchel’s Chelsea.