Ranked: Chelsea’s top five most expensive players ever
Chelsea have spent big on signings over the years and the Blues are continuing to splash the clash this summer.
The fortunes of the club in the transfer market changed when Chelsea were taken over by Roman Abramovic in 2003.
Chelsea have since enjoyed plenty of success, winning every competition available to them since.
PSG were defeated 3-0 in the Club World Cup final by Chelsea in July, whilst last season they claimed the Europa Conference League trophy.
Chelsea claimed £80million by winning the Club World Cup to aid their transfer spend this summer and ranked below are the Blues’ five most expensive players of all time.
5 – Kepa Arrizabalaga
Goalkeeper Kepa edges current Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana out of this list by only £1million as the Spaniard was signed for a then club record transfer of £71m in 2018.
The fee is also the most spent on a goalkeeper in football history, though Kepa’s move from Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea did not work out.
One of his most highlighted moments was when Kepa refused to be substituted in the 2019 League Cup final just moments before the match went to penalties, and the Blues ended up losing to Manchester City in the shootout.
Kepa joined Arsenal this summer from Chelsea as a back-up goalkeeper, whilst the 30-year-old had a successful loan spell at Bournemouth last season.
4 – Kai Havertz
Kai Havertz scored the winning goal for Chelsea in a Champions League final, but the German never lived up to the £71m fee the Blues paid Bayer Leverkusen.
Signed under Frank Lampard, Havertz arrived as a 21-year-old having come through the ranks at the German club.
Havertz left having failed to be the ruthless finisher the club required, and he has since joined Arsenal to spearhead their attack.
| Apperances | 139 |
| Goals | 32 |
| Assists | 16 |
The German is still questioned over his goal scoring ability, but his performances have vastly improved under Mikel Arteta in North London.
3 – Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku returned to Chelsea for a second spell in 2021 in a £97.5m move from Serie A side Inter Milan.
The Belgian had spent three seasons at the club previously where he had successful loan spells at West Brom and Everton in the Premier League.
Lukaku though has never been able to replicate that form at Chelsea, scoring just eight goals in total across his two spells.
In his second spell he was also loaned back out to Inter and to Roma, and he has since returned permanently to Italy with Napoli.
2 – Moises Caicedo
Midfielder Moises Caicedo joined Chelsea from Brighton for £100m and is only their second ever most expensive signing.
Chelsea and Brighton have done plenty of business together, with Caicedo the latest in 2023 to make the switch from the AMEX to Stamford Bridge.
The 23-year-old has taken time to find his form in a Chelsea shirt, but is reaping the rewards under Enzo Maresca and is the player that makes his side tick in the middle of the park.
With plenty of years left at top level, Caicedo could be a pivotal player in Chelsea’s midfield for many more seasons.
1 – Enzo Fernandez
Enzo Fernandez signed for Chelsea for a British record of £106m, and subsequently Chelsea’s most expensive player.
The 24-year-old arrived from Benfica and is a regular starter under Maresca at Chelsea, alongside Caicedo in midfield.
The signing, made under Graham Potter’s premiership, came after Fernandez had helped his native Argentina to World Cup glory.
Fernandez has had a challenging time at Chelsea until recently, but now Maresca got the best out of the Argentine and will be a key player for the club this season.