Chelsea’s sales history in the January transfer window

Chelsea has quite the history—typical—of going on big selling sprees at the turn of the new year, here’s some of the busiest.

For many people across the world, the new year offers a fresh start; whether that be beginning a diet, starting a hobby or getting rid of clutter. Roman Abramovich has shown no hesitation in clearing Chelsea’s deadweight in recent years, with many high-profile names departing the club in the January transfer window. Like at any yard-sale, sometimes you manage to sell off a piece of complete tat for far more than it’s worth. However, on other occasions you let go of a gem you didn’t realise the true value of.

Without further ado, here’s a look back at some of Stamford Bridge’s busiest January clear-outs from the past few years:

1. Midfield mix-up (2014)

We start off back in 2014. Jose Mourinho had returned to the club the previous summer and the Blues were just two points off league leaders Arsenal at the turn of the new year. In January, Mohammad Salah, Kurt Zouma and Nemanja Matic arrived to shore up Chelsea’s title hopes. The Serbian’s arrival in particular served as the catalyst for a complete overhaul of the midfield.

First out the door was Kevin De Bruyne, who joined Wolfsburg for just under £20 million. While this seemed a decent fee for a player who was given almost no chances in a Chelsea shirt, selling the Belgian would prove to be one of Mourinho’s greatest mistakes. Just two and a half years later, De Bruyne returned to the Premier League to play in a different shade of blue, demanding twice the fee Chelsea had sold him for. He is, almost unarguably, the best player in the division and one can only dream of what life would be like if he hadn’t departed so soon.

Two far more prominent members of the Blues’ dressing room also departed that winter, Michael Essien and Juan Mata. Essien never truly recaptured his once unstoppable form after a series of injuries. He joined AC Milan for a year follow by equally short stints in Greece, Indonesia and Azerbaijan before quietly turning to coaching last year with FC Nordsjaelland. In Mata’s case, he had been named club Player of the Year the two seasons before Mourinho’s arrival, but became a bit-part player under the Portuguese coach. In the 2012/13 season, Mata managed 19 goals and a whopping 35 assists and it seemed unthinkable he would be departing the club anytime soon, and certainly not to a Premier League rival. As we know, Mata departed for defending champions Manchester United, who had been struggling under new manager David Moyes. Despite adding some more medals to his mantle, Mata has been unable to replicate his form at United and he remains with the team to this day.

For Chelsea, no silverware was won that season. The Blues finished the 2013/14 season in third place as runners-up Liverpool outscored them by 20 goals following the Spanish midfielder’s departure. Maybe Mata’s flair could have proved the difference, but there’s no telling now.