After Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich purchased the club in 2003, Chelsea became one of the biggest spenders in European football as they made substantial investments in their playing squad.
Few clubs are capable of matching Chelsea’s spending over the past 20 years and Abramovich’s successor, Todd Boehly has carried on with the big spending legacy, investing over €1 billion during his first three transfer windows.
Soccernet.football takes a look at the ten most expensive signings in Chelsea’s history.
10. Christian Pulisic – €64m (2019)
Pulisic was Eden Hazard’s intended successor when he joined Chelsea for €64m from Borussia Dortmund. Despite not being a regular starter in Germany, the American had shown considerable promise whenever he took to the pitch and his first season at Stamford Bridge was impressive. However, injuries soon took their toll, and his form declined. In 2023, he transferred to AC Milan for €20m.
9. Marc Cucurella – €65.3m (2022)
Chelsea spent €65.3m to acquire the Spaniard from Brighton, fending off interest from Manchester City and Barcelona. Cucurella’s time at Stamford Bridge hasn’t gone according to plan but following a remarkable Euro 2024 campaign with Spain, maybe his Chelsea career can finally take off.
8. Alvaro Morata – €66m (2017)
The Blues signed Morata from Real Madrid in 2017 and he went on to register 21 goal contributions across 30 appearances in his first season. However, poor finishing in his second season and just five Premier League goals in the 2018/2019 season saw him loaned to Atletico Madrid before they signed him for €35m in 2020.
7. Mykhailo Mudryk – €70m (2023)
Mudryk emerged as one of Europe’s most exciting wingers in 2022 and was expected to join Arsenal during the January 2023 transfer window. However, Chelsea hijacked the deal, signing Mudryk for an initial €70m. The Ukrainian international struggled initially, failing to score during his first six months at Stamford Bridge, with his first goal for the club coming against Fulham in October 2023.
6. Kai Havertz – €80m (2020)
Havertz was considered one of the most promising young talents while at Bayer Leverkusen, prompting Chelsea to spend €80m to sign him in 2020. However, he struggled to replicate his Bundesliga form in the Premier League, although he did score the winning goal for the Blues in the 2021 Champions League final. Following a disappointing last season, Havertz made the switch to North London last summer.
5. Kepa Arrizabalaga – €80m (2018)
The Blues paid €80m to sign the Spanish goalkeeper in 2018, a world-record fee for a goalkeeper which has not yielded the expected returns. Kepa produced terrible displays between the sticks in his first two seasons at the club and has consequently lost his place in the team. The Spain international joined Real Madrid on loan in 2023 and is reported to be looking for an exit route this summer.
4. Wesley Fofana – €80.4m (2022)
Chelsea pursued the Frenchman for the best part of the 2022 summer transfer window and eventually got their man one day to transfer deadline day. However, Fofana’s debut campaign was hampered by fitness issues before he eventually picked up a nasty knee injury which saw him miss the whole of last season. The Blues will be hoping they can begin to reap the fruits of their heavy investment when the new season kicks off.
3. Romelu Lukaku – €113m (2021)
After scoring 64 goals in 95 games over two seasons and helping Inter win their first Serie A title in a decade, Lukaku’s return to Stamford Bridge was a big statement of intent from the Blues.
However, despite a strong start to his second spell in west London, his infamous interview with Sky Italy all but ended his career at Stamford Bridge. The Belgian was loaned back to Inter in 2022 and then to Jose Mourinho’s Roma the following season.
2. Moises Caicedo – €116m (2023)
The Blues had identified the Ecuadorian as their top target last summer and despite agreeing personal terms with him for months, initially failed to meet Brighton’s asking price of over €100m. Liverpool then submitted a bid accepted by Brighton, prompting Chelsea to outbid their rivals. Caicedo finally secured his move in August 2023, signing an eight-year deal with an option for a ninth.
1. Enzo Fernandez – €121m (2023)
Fernandez became the most expensive British transfer ever when he moved to Chelsea in January 2023. The Blues agreed to pay the release clause in his Benfica contract, just six months after he had joined the Portuguese club. The 23-year-old has enjoyed immense success with the Argentina national team, most recently helping La Albiceleste to win the 2024 Copa America.