Chelsea’s golden period came soon after Roman Abramovich’s millions were pumped into the club. Coincidence? Of course not.
However, that doesn’t mean they should lose credit for mastering the transfer market when they could buy anyone they wanted.
Between 2003 and 2022, the Blues signed some absolute gems. But who were the best arrivals at Stamford Bridge during that time? We’ve had a go at doing just that here.
Ranking factors
In order to rank these players in the right order, we have considered the following criteria:
- Transfer fee – how much they were bought for in comparison to their quality
- Impact – how quickly they were able to become integral parts of the team
- Tactical suitability – how they fit the team’s style of play
- Reliability – whether they have stayed injury-free or been able to help out in different positions
- Big matches – whether they performed when it mattered most, particularly in finals
10: Juan Mata
Signed from Valencia for £23.5m (2011)
Signed early in the short-lived reign of Andre Villas-Boas, Chelsea made a statement by prising Juan Mata from Valencia.
Villas-Boas wasn’t around to witness it from the dugout, but Mata was a key part of the Chelsea side that became European champions under Roberto Di Matteo, providing assists in the FA Cup and Champions League finals of 2012.
He left under something of a cloud following Jose Mourinho’s return, made all the more baffling having been named the Blues’ Player of the Year just months before. Mata could easily have had a strong legacy had he stuck around a little longer.
| Juan Mata Chelsea stats | Total |
|---|---|
| Career | 2011-2014 |
| Appearances | 135 |
| Goals | 33 |
| Assists | 53 |
| Trophies | 3 |
9: Gary Cahill
Signed from Bolton for £7m (2012)
Not only was Gary Cahill a bargain, but he played a key role in one of Chelsea’s biggest games to help them towards European glory.
Alongside David Luiz, the defender helped marshal a defence without the suspended John Terry to hold firm against Champions League final favourites Bayern Munich.
That alone will have made his £7m move in January 2012 a pretty sweet one for all concerned, but Cahill also went on to form a solid partnership with Terry at the heart of the Blues defence, also sealing two league titles, an FA Cup, a League Cup and the Europa League during that time.
| Gary Cahill Chelsea stats | Total |
|---|---|
| Career | 2012-2019 |
| Appearances | 290 |
| Goals | 25 |
| Assists | 6 |
| Trophies | 8 |
8: Ricardo Carvalho
Signed from Porto for £19.9m (2004)
It is difficult to ignore Ricardo Carvalho’s instant impact at Chelsea, with the Portuguese centre-back arriving in 2004 to help form the tightest defence in English football history.
While by no means bought on the cheap, Jose Mourinho will have known exactly what he was getting as he raided former club Porto upon his appointment at Stamford Bridge, with Carvalho a perfect addition to guide Chelsea on the path to trophies galore.
| Ricardo Carvalho Chelsea stats | Total |
|---|---|
| Career | 2004-2010 |
| Appearances | 210 |
| Goals | 11 |
| Assists | 6 |
| Trophies | 8 |
7: Cesar Azpilicueta
Signed from Marseille for £7m (2012)
Cesar Azpilicueta went from a sturdy backup to Branislav Ivanovic to a trustworthy captain at Stamford Bridge, with the Spaniard leaving the Blues having lifted nine trophies for the club.
A relatively understated signing (having joined weeks after the likes of Eden Hazard and Oscar), Azpilicueta’s influence grew as time passed in west London, with his ability to play across the backline a luxury for multiple Chelsea bosses during his 11 years.
| Cesar Azpilicueta Chelsea stats | Total |
|---|---|
| Career | 2012-2023 |
| Appearances | 508 |
| Goals | 17 |
| Assists | 51 |
| Trophies | 9 |
6: N’Golo Kante
Signed from Leicester for £30m (2016)
It could be argued that Chelsea effectively won the transfer window and the Premier League title following their acquisition of N’Golo Kante from league holders Leicester City in 2016.
Kante won the PFA Player of the Year award following a dazzling first campaign at Chelsea, where he steered the Blues to what was a second successive league triumph for himself.
Especially by today’s standards, £30m for a player of Kante’s quality – he went on to win the World Cup and Champions League – is a deal to be marvelled at.
| N’Golo Kante Chelsea stats | Total |
|---|---|
| Career | 2016-2023 |
| Appearances | 269 |
| Goals | 13 |
| Assists | 16 |
| Trophies | 6 |
5: Diego Costa
Signed from Atletico Madrid for £32m (2014)
While Chelsea have been accused of buying their way to success, there have been few instant-impact signings as devastating as Diego Costa upon his arrival at the start of Jose Mourinho’s second spell.
20 goals in 26 Premier League games helped Chelsea to ease to title glory in 2014/15 before repeating the trick two years later with another 20-goal haul.
It ended rather sourly for the Spain international, but his goals and trophies return made his signing an extremely wise investment.
| Diego Costa Chelsea stats | Total |
|---|---|
| Career | 2014-2018 |
| Appearances | 120 |
| Goals | 59 |
| Assists | 21 |
| Trophies | 3 |
4: Ashley Cole
Signed from Arsenal for £5m (2006)
Tapping-up scandal aside, signing a player of Ashley Cole’s calibre for £5m – even in the mid-2000s – is borderline ridiculous.
Arsenal arguably handed Chelsea one of the bargains of the century with this deal, as not only were a direct rival made weaker for little money, but the makeweight of William Gallas didn’t exactly benefit the Gunners in the long run – not that he was Chelsea’s problem any longer.
Cole continued to win plenty of silverware across the capital while his former employers struggled to compete without him. All things considered, it was a negotiating masterclass from Chelsea.
| Ashley Cole Chelsea stats | Total |
|---|---|
| Career | 2006-2014 |
| Appearances | 337 |
| Goals | 7 |
| Assists | 33 |
| Trophies | 8 |
3: Eden Hazard
Signed from Lille for £32m (2012)
There is little to say about Eden Hazard that hasn’t already been said, as he is undoubtedly one of Chelsea’s finest players of the modern era.
Signing soon after their Champions League success in 2012, the Belgian’s £32m price tag was quickly paid off, with the winger adapting to English football and becoming one of the league’s top stars.
He was arguably the Blues’ best player on their way to the title in 2015, while he also showcased his appetite for the big occasion, scoring an FA Cup final winner in 2018 and playing a starring role in the Europa League final in his last match for the club a year later.
| Eden Hazard Chelsea stats | Total |
|---|---|
| Career | 2012-2019 |
| Appearances | 352 |
| Goals | 110 |
| Assists | 88 |
| Trophies | 6 |
2: Didier Drogba
Signed from Marseille for £24m (2004)
Didier Drogba was one of Jose Mourinho’s most inspired signings. Chelsea’s ability to become serial winners can be owed to the Ivorian, who had a knack for turning up in big finals.
The striker scored at Wembley, the Millennium Stadium, the Allianz Arena – you name it. If there was a final, expect Drogba to have his say.
Two seasons with a 30-plus goal return should not go unnoticed either, proving he could also provide throughout the season.
Simply put, Drogba was key during the peak of Chelsea’s success under Mourinho.
| Didier Drogba Chelsea stats | Total |
|---|---|
| Career | 2004-2012; 2014-2015 |
| Appearances | 381 |
| Goals | 164 |
| Assists | 82 |
| Trophies | 12 |
1: Petr Cech
Signed from Rennes for £7m (2004)
How much would the best goalkeeper in the world be worth nowadays? £60m? £80m? £100m? More?
£7m is all that brought Petr Cech over from Rennes in 2004, with the Czech shot-stopper forming part of arguably the most formidable defence we have ever seen, as he conceded just 13 times in the Premier League on the way to Chelsea’s first title for half a century.
Not even a serious head injury could stop Cech’s longevity as one of the best goalkeepers in the game, and his successful stint at Chelsea culminated in their 2012 Champions League triumph, during which he saved a penalty in extra-time and the shootout.
With Cech’s arrival providing the foundation of Chelsea’s glory years under Abramovich’s ownership, it’s a no-brainer that this ranks as one of the Blues’ top transfer deals in recent memory.
| Petr Cech Chelsea stats | Total |
|---|---|
| Career | 2004-2015 |
| Appearances | 494 |
| Clean sheets | 228 |
| Goals conceded per game | 0.8 |
| Trophies | 13 |
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