Chelsea Transfer Window Review Summer 2022
Todd Boehly has done extremely well!
Incomings -
Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling was the first signing for the mens team of the Todd Boehly era. Chelsea signed him for 50 million pounds from Man City and Sterling has done relatively well in his first five games. Three goals and one assist to his name in five games is good return and that was without someone like Aubameyang next to him. So far so good for Sterling and at only 27 he is approaching his best years. I think Sterling will be a top signing for us, we needed someone who would take on players and dribble past players and he has showed glimpses of all of that in the first few games.
Kalidou Koulibaly
The next signings was Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli for 34 million pounds. At 31 he is a world class experienced centre back who comes in to replace Rudiger who left for Real Madrid. Koulibaly has looked dominant in his first few games but will take time to adjust to the pace of the league. He missed a game with a one match ban and against high pressing teams he has struggled a bit. I think that is down to fitness and stamina and the more he plays the more he should get used to it. Senegal’s captain, and a leader for Napoli he brings quality at the back. He can play out and has a brilliant passing range and has an eye for goal, scoring a brilliant volley against Tottenham. A top signing.
Marc Cucurella
Cucurella signed from Brighton for 58 million pounds come in as the replacement for both Alonso and Emerson who left the club. He comes in as direct competition for Chilwell who is being eased back in after his injury last season. Cucurella has looked impressive in his first five games and he already has two assists the same amount he had all season at Brighton. Signing Brighton’s player of the year and a La Masia graduate only adds brilliant depth to the team. He can play as a left centre back and wing back and as a full back. Quick in his passing and play and a brilliant delivery, he should do very well for us.
Wesley Fofana
Chelsea paid 69.5 million pounds to Leicester after weeks of negotiations to sign 21 year old centre back Fofana. Fofana has been a Premier League regular since he was 19 but suffered a tough injury recently. He looks good though and he had a stellar game against Chelsea in the FA Cup final two seasons ago. Fofana should make his debut for the club against West Ham and will slot in at right centre back. He can play in a back four, is aggressive and fast with a brilliant passing range similar to Koulibaly. We have experienced centre backs but Fofana and Chalobah should bring that energy in the backline. Very excited to seem him play for the club because he is highly rated by many in the game. His interview was great and he looks like a brilliant character as well. Top signing.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Chelsea paid around 12 million pounds plus Marcos Alonso to sign Aubameyang from Barcelona on deadline day. Aubameyang has been Tuchel’s top target in the striking position this summer and he has got his man. Aubameyang was released by Arsenal in January and signed for Barcelona where he scored 11 goals and provided 1 assist in 17 games for the club. He was a brilliant player for Arsenal before he fell out with Arteta and scored 68 goals and provided 16 assists in 128 appearances in the league. I expect Aubameyang to do well especially with Sterling alongside him. He is more mobile than Lukaku and loves to play between the lines. He can score goals within the box and thrived under Tuchel at Borussia Dortmund. Hopefully Tuchel can get the most out of him and he improves the players around him. I hope for good things because Lukaku didn’t work out. The deal is good though with 2 years and an optional third depending on appearances in the second season. Not sure how fit he is but hopefully we see him play soon and he is available for the Liverpool game.
Denis Zakaria (Loan)
Tuchel and Chelsea realised they needed a defensive midfielder with two days to spare. The main target was Alvarez from Ajax but the Eredivisie window closed a day earlier and it meant that they rejected the bid because they could not find a replacement. Chelsea pivoted to Zakaria a 25 year old defensive midfielder at Juventus and got a year long loan deal done within 30 minutes. There is an option to buy but not an obligation. Zakaria signed for Juventus in January and suffered with some minor injuries. He thrived at Borussia Monchengladbach prior to that and was highly rated around Europe before he suffered a major injury. Juventus have been relatively poor in general and other players that have left Juventus have thrived for their new teams. First things first he is a defensive midfielder and that is what we need. Kovacic, and Kante can barely stay fit while Loftus-Cheek is inconsistent. Jorginho is the only midfielder who is regularly available. If Zakaria can stay fit then we might have a good player on our hands and all we need from him is to sit make tackles and pass it to midfielders in front of him. The simple stuff. The loan means that it is a low risk deal and hopefully he is brilliant. All we can do as fans is hope for the best but Zakaria has shown he can be a quality player.
Omari Hutchinson
Omari Hutchinson signed from Arsenal on a free transfer and is a young player. An exciting right winger and he has looked impressive in the development games. Hopefully he gets to play in some cup games and makes an impact.
Gabriel Slonina
Gabriel Slonina is a goalkeeper who Chelsea signed from Chicago Fire. He is young and has been loaned back to Fire for a season. He is a good prospect and Cech and Lollichon had input on this transfer before they left. He plays regularly for Fire and who knows if he continues his positive trajectory he could join the squad sooner than later.
Carney Chukwuemeka
Chelsea signed Carney Chukwuemeka from Aston Villa for 16 million pounds. The 18 year old central midfielder is highly rated and an eight. He loves to play further forward and score goals but can use his physicality in the midfield. He is part of the first team squad but hasn’t made an appearance yet. He has played for the development squad where he has looked good. Hopefully he plays in Champions League and cup games and gets the odd Premier League appearance. One for the future.
Cesare Casadei
Chelsea signed Cesare Casadei from Inter Milan and he is another exciting prospect in central midfield. He played during the week for the youth team and had a good game despite being sent off for a misunderstanding. One for the future but similar to Hutchinson he hopefully he gets some minutes in cup games.
Outgoings -
Antonio Rudiger
Rudiger did not sign a new contract and left for Real Madrid on a free transfer. Will always be remembered for his final 18 months at the club under Tuchel where he excelled. Signed in 2017 under Conte and his aggression and character on the pitch was great to see. Good luck to him.
Andreas Christensen
Christensen signed for Chelsea as an academy prospect and spent two seasons at Borussia Monchengladbach initially. He joined the club in 2017 and has been a solid squad player since. Similar to Rudiger he was one of the defenders that thrived under Tuchel and came on to replace Silva in the Champions League final. He left this summer on a free transfer to Barcelona. Good luck to him.
Danny Drinkwater
Danny Drinkwater was released by the club this summer after his contract came to an end. He signed for the club in 2017 and its safe to say it did not work out. At the moment he is without a club but hopefully he can find a team and regain his love for football. Good luck to him.
Charly Musonda
Musonda was released by the club and was signed as an academy player. I will always remember when he scored for the club in a cup game and went wild celebrating. Didn’t work out for a multitude of reasons and he recently signed for Levante. Good luck to him.
Jake Clarke-Salter
Clarke-Salter left on a permanent transfer to QPR. A good centre-back and an academy graduate who has done well on loan in recent seasons. Good luck to him.
Timo Werner
One of those that I didn’t like to see happen but I understand. Timo Werner returned to RB Leipzig this summer after two seasons at the club. Started well during the 2020-21 season and was key in Chelsea’s Champions League triumph. Was not clinical enough but always gave his all on the pitch and was a brilliant character. I think along with all our other forward players he would have done better with a player like Fabregas behind them. It is what it is, Werner already has five goals for Leipzig but only one in the Bundesliga. Good luck to him and will be remembered fondly.
Emerson
Emerson left the club this summer to sign for West Ham. He was signed in 2018 and was always professional despite not playing much. He was a key member of the team during the Europa League campaign in 2018-2019 and he had some good moments when we won the Champions League in 2021. Good luck to him.
Ross Barkley
Barkley signed for the club in 2018 under Conte in a low risk deal. It hasn’t worked out like everyone would have expected and he was released by the club. He is yet to find a new club but I think he should offer something to any team that signs him. Good luck to him, will always remember that goal against Liverpool.
Xavier Mbuyamba
Mbuyamba was signed as an academy prospect with a lot of hype but apart from modelling vintage kits I never saw him do anything. Good luck to him for his future.
Kenedy
Kenedy signed permanently for Real Valladolid on deadline day. He signed for the club in 2017 and has was professional and always put in a shift when called upon. Valladolid are owned by Ronaldo and hopefully he does well for the team. Good luck to him.
Billy Gilmour
Gilmour is the one that annoyed several Chelsea fans on deadline day. He signed for Brighton and Hove Albion in search of regular football and Tuchel was happy to let him go. Gilmour put in man of the match performances for Chelsea in cup games, and Premier League games but his loan year at Norwich last season did not go to plan. I personally think his stature will cause problems for him in the Premier League because the midfield demands that you are physical and athletic. If Brighton put players that can do the dirty work around him then he should thrive because he has brilliant vision. Good luck to him and maybe we buy him back one day.
Marcos Alonso
Finally Marcos Alonso left the club on deadline day as part of a deal involving Aubameyang. Alonso signed for the club in 2016 and went on to win everything for the club apart from the Carabao Cup and Community Shield. A top wing-back and someone who always turned up when Chelsea needed him, he will be remembered for all the late goals he scored and for that first season for sure. Good luck to him in Spain.
Loans
Lucas Bergstrom
Bergstrom signed for Peterborough on loan for the season. He is a goalkeeper and hope he has a good season for his development.
Romelu Lukaku
Imagine Lukaku is a loan player once again after the club spent 100 million pounds on him last summer. A shambolic transfer and probably the worst in Chelsea history. The player returns to his beloved Inter but is currently injured and has only scored a goal. It is an initial loan but hopefully Inter use the Casadei money to sign him permanently next summer. Good riddance.
Nathan Baxter
Another goalkeeper who is rated highly, Baxter rejoined Hull City on loan for the season. Hopefully he continues his development because he looks like a top goalkeeper and hopefully Chelsea have space for him next season. If not we should get good money for him at some point in the future.
Ethan Wady
Ethan Wady signed for Woking on loan and is another goalkeeper. A good loan for development is what he will be looking for.
Ian Maatsen
Ian Maatsen signed for Burnley on a season long loan deal to play under Vincent Kompany. He has started well and has already scored a goal or two. Burnley sit third at the moment as they look to gain promotion. Hopefully he develops well.
Tino Anjorin
Anjorin has signed for Huddersfield for the season and has already scored two goals. The club are struggling at the moment and only have one win in six games. Hope he plays regularly and makes an impact on a personal level.
Levi Colwill
Levi Colwill signed for Brighton on a simple loan deal as part of the Cucurella transfer. Colwill is yet to start a game but has come off the bench in each game and looked impressive. Keep an eye on him because he is highly rated and hopefully has a great season at Brighton.
Malang Sarr
Sarr left the club to sign for Monaco on loan with an obligation to buy. Monaco are struggling at the moment and while Sarr had some good games at Chelsea last season it was never going to work out long term. Good luck to him.
Callum Hudson-Odoi
The player most Chelsea fans will have their eyes on this season is Hudson-Odoi who decided to finally go on loan this summer. He chose Leverkusen despite having Premier League clubs interested in him. I would have liked to see him stay in the league but hopefully he thrives in the Bundesliga because it is an attackers league. Unlike other loan players I expect big things given the hype around his name and a minimum of 10 assists in the league. Good luck to him.
Baba Rahman
Rahman returned to Reading on loan, he played regularly for the team last season and should continue to do so this season. Hopefully Reading buy him next summer.
Xavier Simons
Simons is a promising centre-back who can play as a midfielder as well. He leaves on his first loan to Hull City and is looking to make an impact. Good luck to him.
Ethan Ampadu
Ampadu is someone I expected to stick around this season but Tuchel thought otherwise. Ampadu returns to Italy for the season and this time at Spezia. It is a simple loan with no option to buy. Hopefully he continues to develop and has another top season.
Harvey Vale
Finally Harvey Vale signed a four year contract and went on loan to Hull City on deadline day. Hull have signed three Chelsea academy players on loan and like the others I expect Vale to do well. He is a top prospect and another that everyone should keep an eye on. I think Vale will have a better season than Hudson-Odoi.
Todd Boehly and the other owners only started running the club in June. In three months they have sold 12 players, bought 10 and all are quality additions. They have fully backed Thomas Tuchel and that is all anyone could ask for. I expect them to not be as involved in deals once a DOF comes in and that should happen in time for the January window. The signs are positive though and for now all attention turns to Thomas Tuchel. Tuchel will be expected to deliver on the pitch and hopefully he can now focus on the football because he was heavily involved in the transfers as well. Onwards and upwards because there is a lot of work that needs to be done by the manager and players, COME ON CHELSEA!!!
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