The Pride of London
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Chelsea’s sales history in the January transfer window

By Matthew Hancock-Bruce

Chelsea's Spanish midfielder Juan Mata celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge in London on May 19, 2013. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURTRESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea's Spanish midfielder Juan Mata celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge in London on May 19, 2013. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURTRESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP via Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 30: Fernando Torres of Chelsea celebrates scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg match between Chelsea and Club Atletico de Madrid at Stamford Bridge on April 30, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 30: Fernando Torres of Chelsea celebrates scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg match between Chelsea and Club Atletico de Madrid at Stamford Bridge on April 30, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /

2. Old, gold and sold (2015)

Jumping ahead a year and to Mourinho’s much more successful second year back in charge. At the halfway mark, Chelsea was top of the table and Juan Cuadrado was the Blues’ sole new arrival in January. They would go on to win the league quite comfortably, alongside a fifth League Cup title. Chelsea’s dominance that year allowed Mourinho to have a veritable mid-season house clearance.

Heading for the exit was a mix of club veterans and promising youngsters. First to leave was Fernando Torres. El Nino is one of the most infamous January signings of all-time, having joined for £50 million four years earlier. Torres made a loan move to AC Milan permanent in January before immediately joining his former club Atletico Madrid on another loan deal days later. He was quickly followed by goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who left for Leicester City. There, he won a second league title in as many years when the Foxes shocked everyone by dethroning Chelsea.

On deadline day, Ryan Bertrand and Andre Schurrle were shipped off to Southampton and Wolfsburg respectively. Bertrand made a loan move to the Saints permanent for around £10 million. The English left back found himself behind Cesar Azpilicueta in the pecking order, and had struggled to for game-time after his heroics in the 2012 Champions League final. For me, Bertrand feels like someone who could have become a significant player for both England and Chelsea and his consistency at Southampton suggests that it was more than plausible. While the Blues have had inconsistency in the position, they appear to have finally found their man in Ben Chilwell. I just wonder whether a different, less costly, English left back could have done the job. Schurrle’s departure coincided with the arrival of Cuadrado. It’s fair to say that throughout their respective careers, neither has shown the level of talent demanded by the Chelsea faithful, especially when you consider they were competing for game time with a certain Belgian wizard.

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