Chelsea have spent a lot of money in recent years, but what is the greatest transfer in club history? We count down the top 30 moves by Chelsea in the transfer market.
Chelsea FC have become a powerhouse in the transfer market in recent years, routinely spending hundreds of millions of pounds on the world’s top players. While this increase in spending coincided with the influx of cash from Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, the Blues were heavily involved even before his take over.
We here at The Pride of London have decided to rank the 30 greatest transfers in club history. Some of the factors taken into account were the value received for the fee, how long the player stayed at the club and of course his impact on the pitch. Join us as we take a look back at some of the best deals made to bring stars to Stamford Bridge.
Editor’s Note: a thank you to Khaled Abdallah who played a significant part in putting this post together.
30. Gianluca Vialli – Fee: Free
Gianluca Vialli was one of the “continental” stars that joined Chelsea FC during the Ruud Gullit era of the mid to late-1990’s. Vialli was an established international who spent much of his career terrorizing Serie B defenses with Cremonese and Serie A defenses with Sampdoria and Juventus. He won several trophies with the latter two including two Serie A titles but his crowning achievement was captaining Juve to a UEFA Champions League triumph in 1996.
This was the last trophy before he arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 1996 during Gullit’s spell as manager. Vialli was yet another big name player who would end his career at Chelsea and help to raise the profile of the club around Europe. He clashed repeatedly with Gullit so his impact on the pitch was not immense but it was felt whenever he was included in the squad.
The Italian striker was one of the best forwards of his generation and as player-manager of the club after Gullit was sacked, Vialli won the League Cup and UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup. He was the first Italian manager in the Premier League and went on to win the FA Cup and the Charity Shield in 2000. Vialli was yet another example of a player who helped usher in this golden age at Stamford Bridge from on the pitch and the touchline.
Next: #29
29. Joe Cole – Fee: £6.6m
English midfielder Joe Cole joined Chelsea FC as a 22-year-old in 2003 after a stellar start to his career at West Ham United. Cole was regarded as one of the top prospects in English football while in the West Ham youth setup and it was a bit of a coup that Chelsea procured his services for such a modest fee. A player of his quality with an English passport would likely cost three or four times that much in today’s market.
The tricky midfielder was the natural successor to Gianfranco Zola and was one of the six signings in Roman Abramovich’s first summer with the club. Cole would go on to make 183 appearances for the club and was one of the Premier League’s best players when he was healthy. His health was always a concern, however, and there were seasons when he made less than 25 appearances due to problems with his foot and knee.
There was always an air of great promise around Joe Cole and he was always lauded for his trickery and technical ability. Steven Gerrard even compared him to Lionel Messi when Cole moved to Liverpool in 2010. He never quite lived up to his initial billing because of his injuries but he was phenomenal for Chelsea when fit and on form and is still a beloved figure around the club. His resume includes three Premier League titles, three FA Cup triumphs, and two League Cup victories over his seven year Blues career.
One of his lesser known contributions to the club was his supposed influence in bringing Eden Hazard to Stamford Bridge. He was on loan at Lille during the 2011/12 season and helped influence the young Belgian’s decision by telling him he “had to go to Chelsea,” according to Hazard himself. Joe Cole, the gift that keeps on giving.
Next: #28
28. Michael Ballack – Fee: FREE
Michael Ballack arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2006 and although some may question how his contribution to Chelsea stacks up against the club greats, the fact that he came on a free warrants his place on this list.
The 29-year-old joined the Blues already a bona fide star. Four seasons at Bayern Munich had yielded three consecutive Bundesliga titles and three consecutive DFB-Pokal cups (the German FA Cup). He brought his wealth of experience to Jose Mourinho’s successful side and settled down as a senior Blues figure for the next four campaigns.
He was a first-team regular for Chelsea throughout a relatively tumultuous period in their recent history, amassing 166 competitive appearances and scoring 25 (often vital) goals. His efforts were rewarded with one Premier League title, three FA Cups and one League Cup.
After the Blues, Ballack returned to Bayer Leverkusen (where he had spent a part of his early career) before retiring in 2012.
While he certainly achieved a lot, many will mischievously point out that his position as runner-up in two Champions League finals, Euro 2008 and the 2006 World Cup as defining moments of his legacy.
Next: #27
27. Cesar Azpilcueta – Fee: £7m
Cesar Azpilicueta may not rival Claude Makelele in the underrated stakes, but he runs a close second. The Spaniard joined Chelsea in the summer of 2012, moving over from Marseille just prior to his 23rd birthday. A somewhat low-profile deal, Azpilicueta had evidently caught the eye of some eager scouts after his 44 appearances in the 2011/12 campaign.
A natural right-back, he took up the position for the bulk of his appearances during his first season with the Blues, including a start in the successful 2013 Europa League final. However, with Jose Mourinho’s return to the club, he found regular playing time and a new calling on the opposite flank.
His appearance tally in excess of 150 has come without much fanfare, as Dave has quietly and effectively gone about his business. His importance to the team was underlined when the Special One once said that he would love to have 11 Azpilicueta’s in his team. His contributions have been materially rewarded with the Premier League and League Cup double achieved in the 2014/15 season, a campaign in which he was integral to everything that the Blues did. He then was a stalwart as Chelsea landed another title under Antonio Conte.
At his current age, Azpilicueta looks set to be a Chelsea stalwart for many more seasons to come.
Next: #26
26. Eddie McCreadie – Fee: £5,000
Eddie McCreadie finds his way onto this list because of the sheer value Chelsea FC received for such a small fee. McCreadie was signed from East Stirlingshire in 1962 for the agreed upon fee and the promise of home and away friendlies between the clubs. The first match was played but Stirlingshire has been asking for the return fixture at Stamford Bridge for half a century now.
Even in 1962, £5,000 was not a great deal of money to pay for a player and in today’s terms it is less than £100,000. McCreadie’s fee notwithstanding, the Scottish fullback became an excellent player for the Blues during the swashbuckling era of the 1960’s and early 1970’s. He played alongside legendary players like Ron Harris and Peter Osgood and stood on equal footing with them.
Making 331 appearances over 11 years, McCreadie only scored four goals but his finest moment came in League Cup Final in 1965 where he scored the winning goal. McCreadie also went on to manage the club for two seasons in the mid-70’s but it was during a dark time in the club’s financial history. Still he made a positive impact by giving the captaincy to Ray Wilkins and helped rebuild the side with little financial backing.
Next: #25
25. Eden Hazard – Fee: £32m
The true impact of Eden Hazard’s signing has yet to be fully quantified but he makes the list on sheer talent alone. His fee was impressive enough with the Blues paying Lille £32 million to acquire him in the summer of 2012, but it has been his play that has made it look like a bargain.
It took the Belgian star a few months to find his feet in the Premier League but before long he was breaking the ankles of fullbacks and making center backs look silly. When Jose Mourinho took over in 2013, there was some initial friction as the winger was asked to do more than ever before but he responded in time and became the Premier League’s best player in 2014/15.
Hazard struggled for form during the 2015/15 campaign but bounced back a year later. He is considered one of the most talented players in the world and his potential is endless. If Chelsea FC hang on to this talisman of a player for the remainder of his career then expect him to become a legend of the club like some of the other big names on this list.
Next: #24
24. Frank Leboeuf – Fee: £2.5m
Stamford Bridge was home to the bulk of Frank Leboeuf’s achievements. The Frenchman joined the Blues in 1996 for a minimal £2.5 million fee, making the jump from RC Strasbourg.
His five years with Chelsea were very productive, as he made over 200 competitive appearances. Leboeuf played a vital role in an incredibly successful period for the club, helping them to two FA Cups, one League Cup and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup. Sitting in the heart of defence, Leboeuf provided an option at the back that was far from the agricultural nature that typified Premier League defenders at the time.
He was also a renowned penalty taker, which enabled him to hit the back of the 24 times for the Blues. In a heady few years for Chelsea, Leboeuf was a somewhat underrated squad member.
His grace was also rewarded on the international stage. The defender was an important part of the France team that triumphed in both the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 EUROs.
For £2.5 million, Leboeuf was a steal.
Next: #23
23. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink – Fee: £15m
Jerrel (‘Jimmy’) Floyd Hasselbaink was a character, wasn’t he? The Dutch striker joined Chelsea as a highly-rated 28-year-old. His whopping transfer fee in fact matched the English record at the time, only adding to the pressure on his broad shoulders.
After scoring 24 La Liga goals in the previous season, Hasselbaink merely picked up where he had left off, hitting the back of the net 23 times in each of his first two Premier League campaigns. During his four-season stint, the forceful forward scored 88 goals in 177 competitive appearances.
Unfortunately, his tenure corresponded with the dry spell just before Jose Mourinho’s arrival, but he was nonetheless widely feared across world football. He won his second Premier League golden boot during this phase in his career, having previously won it with Leeds United. He was also a key part of the team who reached the heady heights of the Champions League semi-finals, losing to AS Monaco.
Although there was little material reward for his efforts, any Chelsea fan of the appropriate vintage will testify that Hasselbaink is one of the greatest strikers to ever pull on a blue shirt.
While his playing career only headed downhill after leaving Stamford Bridge, his passion has translated over into the world of management. He took Burton Albion to the summit of League Two, before Queens Park Rangers came calling in November 2015. It would not be surprising to see the Dutchman lead Chelsea’s rivals back to the Premier League in the immediate future.
Next: #22
22. Juan Mata – Fee: £23.5 million
Juan Mata is an interesting name to include on this list considering he only spent two or so years at the club, but what a few years they were. Few players have come to Stamford Bridge and won over the hearts of the fans so quickly.
He was our little Spanish magician, the next great Chelsea midfielder with incredible technical ability, and an out-and-out goalscorer all in one tiny package. In his first season with the club, Mata scored 12 goals and notched 20 assists in all competitions along with winning the FA Cup and Champions League double.
His second season was even more impressive as he scored 20 goals and cemented his status as Chelsea FC’s best player with 28 assists in all competitions. His talent was recognized by his teammates as he was chosen as the Chelsea Player of the Year two years running. It seemed like he would be a fixture in the Chelsea lineup for the next decade or so but Jose Mourinho did not agree and sent him packing to Manchester United in January 2014.
The Blues received a fee of £37.1 million from the Red Devils but Mata meant so much more to the Chelsea faithful than just numbers on a balance sheet. Mourinho made his fair share of sales during his second stint in charge of the Blues but none rankled the fanbase quite like the decision to sell Mata. Even in the wake of Mourinho’s firing, many Chelsea supporters expressed hope that the club would somehow bring the Spanish magician back home to Stamford Bridge.
Next: #21
21. Ricardo Carvalho – Fee: £20m
When Jose Mourinho arrived as the Special One in 2004, he brought with him a couple of players from his Porto squad. One of them was 26-year-old Ricardo Carvalho, a highly-regarded Portuguese centre-back. His fee of £20 million wasn’t exactly a bargain, but there is no-one who can deny that he proved his worth.
Four of Carvalho’s six campaigns at Stamford Bridge saw him make at least 35 competitive appearances, as injury and managerial changes interfered with his last two years. He was an integral part of the first Mourinho squad, as Chelsea were transformed into a global footballing power.
On top of his success with Porto, his trophy cabinet was inflated by the three league titles, three FA Cups and two League Cups won with the Blues.
He left Stamford Bridge in 2010, linking up with Mourinho again at Real Madrid for a fee just under £7 million. He continued to taste success in Spain, winning a league title and a Copa Del Rey. He is currently into his third season with AS Monaco, although his contributions to the Blues will never be forgotten.
Next: #20
20. Arjen Robben – Fee: £12.1m
Arjen Robben is one of the most talented players to ever walk through the doors at Stamford Bridge. The Dutchman joined Chelsea in the summer of 2004, with a deal worth around £12 million having been agreed during the preceding season. Then a 20-year-old, Robben brought over much expectation after two impressive campaigns with PSV Eindhoven.
Many claim that he never truly fulfilled his potential in Chelsea blue, but he was nonetheless incredibly successful. A total of 105 competitive appearances over three seasons coincided with Jose Mourinho’s first stint in charge and thus the many trophies that went with it.
Two Premier League titles, two League Cups and one FA Cup were added to his resume during his time at Stamford Bridge and even though his goal tally was not exceptional (19 goals), his ability to beat a player down the wing created many opportunities for his teammates.
Chelsea then managed to double their money by selling Robben to Real Madrid for £24 million in 2007, a feat worthy of a spot on this list in itself. Two seasons in Madrid were followed by his incumbent association with Bayern Munich. Six full campaigns with Bayern have yielded four league titles, three DFB-Pokal Cups and more importantly the UEFA Champions League.
A frighteningly successful career.
Next: #19
19. Michael Essien – Fee: £24.4m
Michael Essien joined Chelsea in the summer of 2005 at the age of 22, the culmination of what was a bizarrely complicated transfer saga. Excessive back and forth between Essien, Chelsea and the Lyon Club President resulted in an ugly few months until the deal was finally confirmed.
Needless to say, the Ghanaian more than justified his transfer fee. Essien made 256 competitive appearances over eight campaigns, winning the Premier League twice, the FA Cup four times and the League Cup once. He was also a part of the squad who pulled off the European miracle in 2012.
Essien’s appearance count would have been even more spectacular had it not been for a series of injuries that ravaged the latter stages of his Stamford Bridge career. Nevertheless, he was always a rock in midfield whenever he took the field and he certainly knew how to strike the ball as well. Goals against Arsenal and Barcelona immediately come to mind.
He spent one year on loan at Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid in 2012/13, before permanently leaving the Blues in January 2014. Essien is currently contracted to Greek outfit Panathinaikos.
Next: #18
18. Pat Nevin – Fee: £95,000
Moving south from Scottish outfit Clyde FC, Pat Nevin joined Chelsea as a precocious teenager. With the Blues just about escaping relegation to the Third Division, manager John Neal recruited Nevin as he tried to rebuild the side.
The winger would spend five seasons at Stamford Bridge, making over 250 appearances for Chelsea. Alongside the likes of Kerry Dixon, Nevin led a charge from the new-look Blues team as they dominated Division Two in the 1983/84 campaign. The club lost only four games in this season, culminating in the title and a return to the First Division after five years away.
The 80’s were a tumultuous time for the club, and English football in general, as Chelsea would be relegated again in 1988. Although Nevin would not have wanted to depart Stamford Bridge in such a manner, the 46 goals and numerous assists from the two-time Chelsea Player Of The Year will live long in the memory of all those fortunate to see him play.
Furthermore, the £925,000 fee that Everton paid for his services did little but prove just how a good player he was.
Nevin may be a familiar name to some of the newer Chelsea fans due to his continued involvement with the club. He writes regularly for the official website, while also contributing to the in-house TV station, Chelsea TV.
Next: #17
17. Marcel Desailly – Fee: £4.6m
Marcel Desailly is one of the most decorated defenders to ever play the game, winning multiple honours both domestically and on the international stage. He joined Chelsea in 1998 as a 30-year-old veteran. Even for his age, his quality rendered a £4.6 million fee a bargain.
The Frenchman chose to see out the prime part of his career at Stamford Bridge, amassing 222 total appearances for the club over six seasons. As captain, he was an integral part of Chelsea’s FA Cup triumph in 2000 as well as the team that attracted Roman Abramovich to the Blues. His quality was also recognised by being named in the Premier League Team Of The Decade in 2002.
Despite coming to Chelsea with two Serie A titles, two Champions Leagues, a World Cup and a EUROs under his belt, Desailly failed to take his foot off the pedal, driving the West Londoners from the heart of the defence.
After leaving Stamford Bridge, he wrapped up his career with two (lucrative) seasons in the Qatar Stars League, calling it a day in 2006.
Under £5 million for one of the greatest defenders in world football? Bargain.
Next: #16
16. Roy Bentley – Fee: £12,500
What a player Roy Bentley was. The then 23-year-old joined the Blues in 1948, as football began to pick up once again following the conclusion of World War Two. Coming from Newcastle United, this was undoubtedly a daunting move for the youngster in such a time.
Bentley would go on to forge a legendary career at Stamford Bridge, to the point that he is still revered amongst all supporters, new and old. Eight years with Chelsea saw him make 367 competitive appearances and knock in a conveniently round 150 goals. This effort has stood the test of time, as he still sits fifth in the club’s all-time scoring charts, alongside fellow legend Peter Osgood.
The forward also helped the Blues to the 1954/55 First Division crown, hitting the back of the net 21 times as the club finished four points clear of Wolverhampton Wanderers.
He departed Chelsea in 1956 and played for other London clubs including Fulham and Queens Park Rangers. He then had a foray into management, which included bringing Swansea City to the third tier.
Next: #15
15. David Speedie – Fee: £80,000
David Speedie came to Chelsea as part of John Neal’s attempt to steady the tumultuous Blues ship of the 1980’s. He arrived in 1982, alongside a swathe of other players, for a five year stint that introduced him to the footballing world.
The Scot partnered Kerry Dixon at the top end of the field, making over 200 competitive appearances for the club and scoring 64 goals. His quality performances were recognised by being named the Chelsea Player Of The Year in 1985 while he was also part of the squad that lifted the Division Two crown in 1984.
Arguably his greatest personal achievement came in the 1986 Full Members’ Cup Final, where he scored a hat-trick to help the Blues defeat Manchester City 5-4 in the inaugural edition of the tournament.
Chelsea then received a windfall for dispensing with his services as he joined Coventry City for £750,000. Speedie would spend four years with the Sky Blues before moving onto a plethora of other clubs.
His contributions to John Neal’s squad means that he will always be welcomed back at Stamford Bridge.
Next: #14
14. Branislav Ivanovic – Fee: £9.7m
Branislav Ivanovic could be described as a proverbial diamond in the rough. The Serbian joined Chelsea in January 2008 from Lokomotiv Moscow, following the conclusion of the Russian season. His price at just under £10 million appeared hefty for a relatively low-profile, 23-year-old defender.
In fact, he failed to make a single appearance during that 2007/08 campaign, failing to impress Avram Grant one bit. Luiz Felipe Scolari gave him his chance in the following season and Ivanovic took advantage of it. The defender has made 331 competitive Chelsea appearances at the time of writing and could be set for a fair few more.
His contributions have earned him two Premier League medals, two FA Cups and a League Cup. He also scored an instrumental goal against Napoli en route to the 2012 Champions League triumph while he netted the injury time winner in the Europa League final the year after.
While Chelsea fans are debating whether he is still up to the required speed to play for the Blues, his experience and leadership qualities bought him extra time until he finally departed in 2017.
What can’t be disputed, though, is that he was definitely worth his transfer fee.
Next: #13
13. Steve Clarke – Fee: £422,000
You could say that Steve Clarke is part of the furniture at Stamford Bridge. The defender joined the Blues as a 23-year-old, moving across the border from Scottish outfit St Mirren. He would go on to spend over a decade with Chelsea.
Clarke’s 421 outings leave him in eighth place in the all-time Chelsea appearance list while his career saw the Blues emerge from the depths of English football to European triumph. The Scot was relegated to the Second Division in the late 1980’s, only to win the second tier and bounce back in the following campaign. He then helped the club to their first FA Cup since 1970, as well as the League Cup and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
He called time on his career at the end of the famous 1997/98 season and moved immediately into coaching. It was not before long that he returned to Stamford Bridge, working with the academy before being promoted to the assistant role upon Jose Mourinho’s arrival in 2004. He has also dabbled in management with spells at West Brom and Reading.
Clarke will always be remembered fondly for his efforts at Stamford Bridge, a sentiment reflected in his 2005 election to the club’s Centenary XI.
Next: #12
12. Eidur Gudjohnsen – Fee: £4m
To say that Eidur Gudjohnsen is a well-travelled player is an understatement. The Icelander has played for 14 different professional clubs throughout his career. However, his most high-profile period kicked-off in 2000, when he joined Chelsea for £4 million.
The 21-year-old quickly slotted into the club’s first team, partnering the likes of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Gianfranco Zola as an ever-present in the side. He made at least 35 appearances in each of his six seasons at Stamford Bridge and scored a minimum of 10 goals in every campaign but the last.
Evidently, his scoring record is not overwhelming, but he acted as a perfect foil for some of the more high-profile players in the team, including Didier Drogba. Often deployed in a more midfield role, his efforts were rewarded with two league titles and a League Cup before Barcelona came calling in 2006.
Four seasons at the Nou Camp saw him be part of the historic treble-winning campaign of 2008/09, Pep Guardiola’s first season in charge.
Gudjohnsen has played for a plethora of clubs since then, but currently finds himself at Chinese Super League outfit Shijiazhuang Ever Bright FC.
Next: #11
11. Charlie Cooke – Fee: £72,000
Charlie Cooke was another Scot who made his way to West London, coming from Dundee as a 23-year-old. He spent 12 years at the Blues, while a one-year sejour with Crystal Palace broke it into two stints.
The winger made 374 competitive appearances for the club, hitting the back of the net 31 times. His tricky play down the flanks created multiple opportunities for the legends such as Peter Osgood that surrounded him in a golden squad. He was integral to the club’s 1970 FA Cup triumph, which would be Chelsea’s last for nearly three decades, as well as the Cup Winners’ Cup victory in the following campaign.
Given the period that he played in, Cooke may often be forgotten by the younger generation of Chelsea fans, but there is little justification for that. His contributions and presence were vital to the functioning of the team throughout the 1970’s even though the likes of Osgood and Ron Harris may have bathed more in the limelight.
Cooke then took his talents to the United States as they attempted to grow the game over there, spending nine years on those shores as he closed out his career.
Next: #10
10. Ashley Cole – Fee: £5m + William Gallas
How unlikely was this deal when it actually went down? Coming off a great season with Arsenal in 2005/06, the England fullback decided that he either wanted a big time raise or a change of scenery. Arsenal were not willing to give him the money that he desired so the man Gooners would come to call “Cashley” made a move to Chelsea FC in 2006.
After fees of £25 million were bandied about, the clubs agreed on £5 million plus defender William Gallas. The French defender had won several titles with Chelsea and at the time it looked like Arsenal were getting the better part of the deal. 10 years later, it is painfully obvious who won that particular swap.
Ashley Cole went on to win two European Cups with Chelsea, including the Champions League where he buried a crucial penalty in the final, and several other domestic trophies. Arsenal still have yet to win the Premier League since he departed and became arguably the best left-back in world football.
Next: #9
9. Claude Makelele – Fee: £16.8m
Is there a more understated all-time great than Claude Makelele? The man who was so good at his job that they named a position after him joined Chelsea FC in 2003 and made 217 appearances in all competitions for the Blues.
He only scored two goals in a five year period but that is not what his game was all about. Makelele was the ideal shield to a backline and did for Chelsea what two men usually have to do. He marshaled the midfield and helped lead the Premier League’s best ever defense to a title in 2005 and 2006.
Makelele is also one of the most underrated stars in the history of football because of the nature of his position and because of the style of his play. He was never going to score 30 yard screamers for a team nor make inch-perfect assists from the center of the park, but the things he did in front of a defense were incredible.
Those great Chelsea teams of the mid-2000’s would not have existed were it not for the brilliance of Claude Makelele. His defensive acumen allowed Michael Essien and Frank Lampard to maraud forward and he dominated the center of the park. He moved on from Chelsea in 2008 at the tail end of his career and has since moved in to management. A perfect fit for an understated but absolutely brilliant footballer.
Next: #8
8. Tore Andre Flo – Fee: £300,000
Tore Andre Flo joined Chelsea in the summer of 1997, moving over from Norwegian outfit Brann. After scoring 28 league goals in 40 appearances for his former club, he attracted the interest of multiple clubs as his contract approached its expiration. The Blues managed to snap him up for a £300,000 fee.
He became an integral part of a squad that Blues fans have fond memories of, making 163 appearances in four seasons alongside the likes of Gianfranco Zola, Roberto Di Matteo, Dennis Wise and more. He also fulfilled his striking duties sufficiently, hitting the back of the net 50 times for Chelsea.
He helped the club enjoy a surprisingly successful few years, winning one FA Cup, one League Cup and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup of 1998 (which fans still reminisce about), appearing in each final.
On top of his priceless contributions to the footballing side of affairs, Flo had one last present in store for the Blues. The reputation that he had built up throughout his four years at Stamford Bridge meant that Rangers were willing to offer £12 million for his services. With the 27-year-old seeing his playing time diminishing, he agreed to the move and enabled Chelsea to increase their money by a factor of 40.
After playing for various clubs to close out his career, Flo has since returned to the Blues as an academy coach and club ambassador and Chelsea’s players of tomorrow are certainly better off for it.
Next: #7
7. Petr Cech – Fee: £7m
Could this man be higher? Possibly. Petr Cech is the greatest goalkeeper to ever play for Chelsea (sorry Mr Bonetti). The big man joined the Blues from Rennes in 2004, as an understudy to Carlo Cudicini.
However, an injury to Mourinho’s first-choice presented Cech with an opportunity, and one that he ran with. The rest, as they say, is history. The Czech international totalled 486 competitive appearances in blue, winning 13 major honours that comprised of four league titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, one Europa League and the Champions League.
Personally, he also has the most clean sheets in the history of both Chelsea and the Premier League while he stands in sixth place on the club’s all-time appearance list. He was the undisputed best goalkeeper in English football for a chunk of his career and was even regarded as the world’s finest in some corners.
With all this, his £7 million price tag seems like peanuts.
Cech left the Blues in the summer of 2015 in a well-documented emotional drama. It is testament to his contribution that Roman Abramovich sanctioned his move to Arsenal for £10 million, where he continues to showcase his undiminishing quality.
You could say that his parting gift to the Stamford Bridge faithful was a £3 million profit.
Next: #6
6. Kerry Dixon – Fee: £175,000
Chelsea FC legend Kerry Dixon joined the club in 1983 from Reading at the age of 22. Chelsea owner Ken Bates nearly balked at the £150,000 transfer fee (plus a £25,000 England incentive) but the deal went through and Dixon joined the club.
At the time of the signing, Chelsea were still in the second division in England. Dixon made an immediate impact by scoring 32 league goals and helping the Blues earn promotion in his first season.
With him in the squad, Chelsea went from the second division to title contenders in under two years. At his peak, the striker was one of the best forwards in England but injuries derailed his career. With Chelsea chasing their first title in 30 years in 1985, Dixon suffered torn stomach muscles and was never the same after that.
Chelsea later dropped back down to the second division in 1988 but Dixon revitalized his career. He once again helped Chelsea return to the first division in 1989 and continued on with the club for another three years.
Dixon ended his Chelsea career with 193 goals, enough to place him third on the club’s all-time scoring list. The striker went on to play for six other clubs before retiring in 1997 and has since become involved with Chelsea FC’s media arm. He has dealt with some off-the-field issues in his retirement but remains a Chelsea legend through and through.
Next: #5
5. Dennis Wise – Fee: £1.6m
Dennis Wise joined Chelsea FC in 1990 for a paltry fee of £1.6 million. The 24-year-old had spent the beginning of his career with AFC Wimbledon and helped lead the small club to an unlikely FA Cup victory in 1988. He was entering the prime of his career when he joined the Blues and went on to stay at Stamford Bridge for 11 years.
The combative midfielder with a fiery temper would lead the Chelsea squad as captain and helped spearhead the revitalization under Ruud Gullit in the mid to late-1990’s. As far as Chelsea legends go, Dennis Wise is one of the more underrated because his time at the club coincided with the arrival of so many international superstars.
Despite the starpower around him, Wise was the heart and soul of the Blues during his tenure there and brought a bit of the old-school mentality to the newly flashy club. This often lead to some severe disciplinary issues both on and off the pitch but what is a Chelsea captain without a bit of controversy?
Wise ended his career fourth all-time in club appearances but has since been pushed down to seventh by some of the more recent stars. His tenure is still best known for the continental players around him but he is still one of the most beloved figures at Stamford Bridge.
Next: #4
4. Ruud Gullit – Fee: FREE
Ruud Gullit arrived from Sampdoria on a free transfer in 1995 after a glorious career at PSV Eindhoven and most notably with AC Milan. With the Rossoneri, Gullit was the key man in a side that won the Serie A title three times and the European Cup, now called the Champions League, two seasons in a row.
Gullit was the sort of world class player that Chelsea FC had until then been unable to sign, but he is one of the most important transfers in the club’s history. He only made 49 appearances on the pitch but it was his larger impact on the club that made him so special. He was the first of many foreign superstars who would later join Chelsea including Gianfranco Zola and Gianluca Vialli. The Dutchman also helped usher in the current golden age the club is experiencing when he lead them as player-manager to an FA Cup triumph in 1997.
Since being sacked from Chelsea in 1998, Gullit went on to make a series of cameo appearances as manager of different clubs around the world, ranging from Russia to the United States. None of those gigs quite worked out but he has since taken on a career as a pundit and has been much more successful in that arena. He is one of the rare pro-Chelsea voices in the media and is opinion is often asked when it comes to issues regarding the Blues.
It is rare that a player who spent such little time at a club can make such an impact but the signing of one of the best players to ever play the game helped put Chelsea on the map as an emerging power.
Next: #3
3. Didier Drogba – Fee: £24m
Didier Drogba may not be the highest goalscorer of all-time at Chelsea FC, but he has definitely scored some of the most important goals in club history. Many felt that Drogba’s transfer fee was far too high and that the club had overpaid but Jose Mourinho told the press to judge him when his career at Chelsea was over, and what a career it was.
Drogba scored 164 goals in 381 appearances for the Blues, including two 30-plus seasons in 2006 and 2010. What was most impressive about those goals is when they would come. The Ivory Coast striker was known as the man for the big occasion and he earned that reputation by scoring in domestic cup finals time and time again for the Blues.
He scored four goals in FA Cup finals, four in League Cup finals, and of course scored once in a Champions League final. Drogba also holds the club record for the most goals in the Champions League with 36 and the most goals in a Premier League campaign with 29.
King Didier, as he is known, is also one of the most beloved figures at the club because of his undying passion for the Blues. He played for Chelsea in two separate stints and was a champion in both, even at the age of 36. The striker then went on to terrorise MLS defenses with the Montreal Impact while seemingly being groomed for a role as an assistant with Chelsea whenever he retires.
Next: #2
2. Gianfranco Zola – Fee: £4.5m
If Frank Lampard was Chelsea FC’s best ever player then Gianfranco Zola was the most talented and the most beloved. Even after all the titles that John Terry, Lampard, and Drogba won for the club, Zola is still the favorite of many Chelsea supporters.
The Italian magician joined the Blues for £4.5 million from Parma in 1996 and quickly became a key player for Chelsea. He helped revitalize the club alongside fellow continental stars Ruud Gullit and Gianluca Vialli and went on to win a host of trophies including two FA Cups, a League Cup, and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
Zola was also voted the Chelsea Player of the Year in 1999 and 2003 and wingers at the club will forever be compared to him. He missed out on the trophies of the Abramovich era by just two years but achieved enough in his six years to be forever loved at Stamford Bridge.
Next: #1
1. Frank Lampard – Fee: £11m
What does £11 million buy you these days in football? Judging by Chelsea FC’s recent transfer dealings, you can get an excellent right-back like Branislav Ivanovic, a solid defender in Gary Cahill, or a very capable goalkeeper like Asmir Begovic. It is not often however that you can buy the greatest ever player in a club’s history for a relative pittance.
At the time of Frank Lampard’s transfer from West Ham to Chelsea FC in 2001, some thought that the Blues had overpaid for the midfielder. He was a fine young player for the Hammers but he truly became a star when he came to Stamford Bridge.
In his 13 years, Lampard made 648 appearances, won 13 trophies including the Champions League, and became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer ahead of Bobby Tambling. He also made 105 of his 106 appearances with England during that time and established himself as one of the best players in the world.
The list of plaudits and awards Lampard collected during his tenure at Chelsea is incredible and there is nothing he did not accomplish as a Blue. To think that Chelsea got him for such a relatively small fee and squeezed 13 years of greatness out of him is downright unbelievable. His impact on the club is impossible to quantify and it will hopefully continue when he decides to finally call it quits.
Next: Chelsea FC’s 50 Greatest Players Of All-Time
Disagree with the list? Did we leave someone out? Let us know your number one transfer in the comments below!