Chelsea’s deadline day history: Zeroes, few heroes, only one Papy
A clear indication of Marina Granovskaia’s financial nous is the increase of deadline day deals since she took charge of Chelsea’s transfer activity. We’ve taken a look at some of Chelsea’s deadline day successes and failures, who gave Chelsea from 0 all the way up to 48 appearances after their last-minute arrivals.
Deadline day has arrived. As we wait for the action to unfold, helicopters are on standby, fax machines are having their toner changed, Jim White is ironing his yellow tie and Harry Redknapp is frantically pacing around his house wondering where he should be. Meanwhile, let’s take a look at some of Chelsea’s previous deadline day purchases and what they brought to the Blues (or, in many cases, the loan army). Listed in order of Chelsea appearances, we start at zero.
1. Patrick Bamford (Kevin Peacock)
Arrive: 31 January 2012, Depart: 18 January 2017
Chelsea appearances: 0
The top line says it all for this youngster’s Chelsea career. He was simply signed as a good prospect who may be able to make the club a nice little profit, joining from the Nottingham Forest Academy for a fee in the region of £1.6 million.
He initially joined the reserve side at Cobham and played for them during the remainder of that first season. He did well, scoring six goals in eight games as an attacking midfielder. The following summer he went on the club’s pre-season tour to the US before returning to Chelsea’s senior youth sides.
There then followed a conveyor belt of loan moves that either went spectacularly well or devastatingly badly. The high was certainly with Middlesbrough in the 2014/15 season. His 44 appearances and 19 goals propelled the northeast side to the Championship play-off final, which they loss to Norwich.
Loan moves to Crystal Palace, Norwich City and Burnley followed and all ended in failure for Bamford, who promised so much with Middlesbrough.
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As far as Chelsea’s board were concerned though Bamford was an incredible success. Roman Abramovich’s ‘unsuccessful academy’ made a tidy £4.6 million profit for very little outlay. Patrick Bamford encapsulates everything there is to know about Chelsea’s mindset when it comes to “the kids.” It’s not all about producing players. The main objective – as we’re all becoming more aware, is to produce an income stream that makes the club financially self-sufficient.
He currently plays his football with Leeds United in the Championship, joining this summer after signing a four-year deal.