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Chelsea’s deadline day history: Zeroes, few heroes, only one Papy

By The Pride of London Staff

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Juan Cuadrado of Chelsea and Jermain Defoe of Sunderland compete for the ball during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on May 24, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Juan Cuadrado of Chelsea and Jermain Defoe of Sunderland compete for the ball during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on May 24, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
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SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – APRIL 14: Olivier Giroud of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Southampton and Chelsea at St Mary’s Stadium on April 14, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images) /

4. Juan Cuadrado (Vishnu Raj)

Arrive: 2 February 2015, Depart: 1 July 2017
Chelsea appearances: 15

Juan Cuadrado would be there near the top of any poll for the most bizarre deadline day signing. Chelsea signed him for £26.1 million from Fiorentina with Mohamed Salah going in the opposite direction on loan. That was the highlight of his Chelsea career.

For starters, Chelsea were not at all desperate for a signing. Mourinho just wanted to offload Andre Schurrle and Salah. In place of the pair he wanted to bring in a player. Even then, Chelsea were only able to secure the deal on deadline day.

Cuadrado featured just 13 times for Chelsea, mostly from the bench. There was not even a single positive moment from his six month stay. But he still even won two winners’ medals: EFL Cup and Premier League. Despite Jose Mourinho’s claims about Cuadrado needing more than six months to settle at Chelsea, he was back in Italy before the start of the next season on loan to Juventus.

Even though he returned to Chelsea ahead of Antonio Conte’s first season, he was loaned back to Juventus for a bizarre three-year deal before he was signed permanently a year later.

This was a signing that did not do Chelsea any good. If anything, the players he replaced – Salah and Schurrle – would have made it at Chelsea if this transfer had not happened.

5. Olivier Giroud (Vishnu Raj)

Arrive: 31 January 2018, Depart: ?
Chelsea appearances: 18

Olivier Giroud has been the most successful addition of those players who arrived at Chelsea in 2017/18. Like most of the other signings, Giroud arrived at Chelsea on the back of an injury, even though he had just returned to action before making the move.

The move was important to Chelsea and on a personal level to Giroud himself. He was used mostly from the bench in the 2016/17 season for Arsenal. The arrival of his fellow Frenchman Alexandre Lacazette pushed him even further down the list. Giroud knew if he did not make a move, Lacazette would take his spot in the French national team as well. Not someone to back off from a challenge, Giroud transferred across London to Chelsea.

Antonio Conte’s side were desperate for an experienced striker to lead the line after sending Michy Batshuayi on loan to Dortmund and with Alvaro Morata struggling with injury and poor form. Even though they failed to make it to the top-four places, Giroud’s performances in various matches were important and crucial for Chelsea.

Giroud finest moments came in the FA Cup when he opened the scoring for Chelsea in the semifinal and helped them win the cup against Manchester United. He was rewarded for his fine six months with a place in France’s World Cup squad, whereas Lacazette failed to make the team.

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