Chelsea Football Club, known for its ambitious spending in the transfer market, has made substantial investments in acquiring top-class strikers over the past decade but the club’s pursuit of consistent and prolific striking options has proven elusive. As the romance between Inter Milan and Romelu Lukaku continues, an imminent departure is looming for the Belgian. He is set to join the long list of strikers who have struggled to make a significant impact at SW6. In the article below we delve into the top five strikers who fell short of expectations over the past decade.
5 worst striker signings for Chelsea in last 10 years
Romelu Lukaku (£98 million)
Chelsea’s most recent high-profile striker acquisition came in the form of Romelu Lukaku in the summer of 2021. Lukaku, having developed into one of the world’s most formidable forwards during his time at Inter, was seen as the missing piece in the Blues’ attacking puzzle. The Belgian’s second stint at Stamford Bridge started bright but has been short with 44 appearances and 15 goals.
Thomas Tuchel could not get a tune out of the forward and his goals dried up quickly, which saw him go down the pecking order. CFC faithful were not only disappointed with Lukaku’s performances on the pitch but also with his behavior off the field, as he declared his wish to play for Inter Milan in the middle of the 2021/22 season in an interview with Sky Italia.
Timo Werner (£48 million)
Chelsea splashed out a staggering sum in the summer of 2020, to secure the services of German forward Timo Werner from RB Leipzig. With an impressive scoring record in the Bundesliga, Werner arrived with high expectations. However, his debut season in the Premier League was marked by inconsistency and a struggle to adapt to the physicality and pace of English football.
Despite flashes of brilliance, his goals return fell short of the club’s hopes, leaving fans and pundits questioning the hefty investment. His movement in the box was exceptional and always put him in goal-scoring scenarios but the German lacked the finishing touch and missed multiple chances.
He managed to score just 23 goals in 89 appearances.
Alvaro Morata (£60 million)
Signed in 2017 from Real Madrid for a then-club record fee, Alvaro Morata was entrusted with the task of replacing Chelsea legend Diego Costa. The Spaniard started life at the Bridge in red-hot form but struggled to consistently find the net and failed to live up to the expectations. In 72 games, Morata managed to find the back of the net 24 times.
A lack of confidence, coupled with the intense scrutiny that comes with a hefty price tag, ultimately led to his departure from Stamford Bridge after just two seasons. With some brilliant business by Marina Granovskaia, the Blues were able to sell Morata for almost break-even price (£58 million) despite his poor run of form.
Michy Batshuayi (£33 million)
Batshuayi arrived at Chelsea in 2016 as a promising young striker following impressive performances at Marseille and Euro 2016. The Belgian was seen as a promising young striker with the potential to shine in the Premier League. However, after some memorable moments and flashes of his talent, Batshuayi struggled to establish himself as a regular starter as he found himself playing second fiddle to more established forwards like Diego Costa and later, Alvaro Morata.
While he did manage to score some crucial goals, including a late winner against West Bromwich Albion that secured the Premier League title for Chelsea in 2017, his overall impact remained inconsistent with 25 goals in 77 games.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang(£12 million)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang spearheaded the attack at Arsenal and thrived in the Premier League winning a golden boot. Even at Barcelona, the Gabonese striker scored 11 goals in 17 league appearances. His move to Chelsea was far from what he experienced in his previous years with three goals in 21 matches for The West Londoners. Turbulent times at the Bridge did not make it easy for him as Tuchel was sacked and Graham Potter did not fancy him as his main man. A lack of game time and inability to make an impact off the bench diminished his status in a team that struggled on the pitch.
Dishonorable mention
Kai Havertz (£76 million)
Despite not being classified as a traditional striker, Kai Havertz often operated as the focal point of Chelsea’s attack in many matches. The young German prodigy had garnered significant attention during his time at Bayer Leverkusen, leading Chelsea to make a substantial investment to secure his signature.
Havertz showcased his knack for scoring crucial goals, most notably the decisive strike against Manchester City in the 2021 UEFA Champions League final in Porto and a crucial penalty in extra time to secure the FIFA Club World Cup in 2022.
Yet, Havertz’s consistency proved to be a challenge during his time at Chelsea. Despite featuring in 139 games, the German attacker managed to score only 32 goals for the club. This raised concerns about his ability to consistently contribute to the team’s goal-scoring efforts and fulfill the high expectations.
Nicolas Jackson will hope to have better times in Chelsea Blue and break away from the recent trend of struggling forwards.