Mismanagement in the Transfer Market
Chelsea’s recruitment strategy has only fueled fan frustration. The decision to part ways with Conor Gallagher and loan out Trevoh Chalobah, only to recall the latter amid an injury crisis, exemplifies the club’s muddled approach. Similarly, the acquisition of João Félix for £42 million in August 2024, only to loan him to AC Milan six months later due to limited playing time under Maresca, raises serious questions about transfer planning.
One of Chelsea’s most glaring deficiencies remains their lack of a prolific striker—a void that has persisted since the departure of Diego Costa. Instead of addressing this issue, the club signed 19-year-old Mathis Amougou from Saint-Étienne as a backup for Caicedo and Fernández, when a more experienced midfielder was needed. The club’s preference for acquiring young talent, seemingly with the intent to develop and sell for profit, has left many fans questioning whether sporting ambition is being sacrificed in favor of financial gain.
The Ticketing Controversy
Adding to Chelsea’s off-field woes, co-owner Todd Boehly has come under scrutiny for his involvement with Vivid Seats, a U.S.-based ticket resale platform where he serves as an investor and director. The platform has been reselling Premier League tickets, including those for Chelsea matches, at significantly inflated prices—a practice that is illegal in the UK.
“Chelsea Supporters’ Trust members do not have faith in #ChelseaFC to combat ticket touting.”
— Chelsea Supporters’ Trust⭐️⭐️ (@ChelseaSTrust) February 6, 2025
The @ChelseaSTrust provides an update on ticket touting & Vivid Seats. pic.twitter.com/qZyHfdvnhn
The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (CST) has labeled Boehly’s association with Vivid Seats as a "breach of trust" and a conflict of interest. While Chelsea FC officially condemns ticket touting, Vivid Seats has listed tickets for Chelsea games at exorbitant rates.
For example, tickets for Chelsea’s home fixture against Southampton have been priced between £98 and £1,036, while those for the match against Liverpool have ranged from £685 to £6,560. The fact that these tickets were unavailable on Chelsea’s official website has only deepened fan frustration.