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Chelsea are known for signing players in the January transfer window. The Blues have often found the need to secure mid-season deals for players. This could also explain why they have been one of the most successful clubs in Europe over the past decade.
Chelsea have had a mixed bag of success in the January transfer window
Since Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich took ownership of the club, Chelsea have been shelling out the cash for fun. In doing so, the club has sometimes missed the mark, especially in the winter transfer window. Clubs are normally reluctant to let their best players or prized assets leave and are more open to moves in the summer.
Similarly, the January transfer window is mostly used to sign players in particular positions. There are often season-ending injuries and various other issues with players. In order to cover for them temporarily or permanently, clubs try to secure cut-price transfers.
Chelsea have always tried to sign the best players, irrespective of money or the time of the year. They have found success in doing so, as evidenced by the signings of David Luiz, Gary Cahill, Nemanja Matic and several others.
However, they have not always nailed their transfer targets and there are some regrettable examples in that list as well.
On that note, let's take a look at the 5 worst January signings in the history of Chelsea Football Club.
Note: players signed on loan are not being considered
#5 Fernando Torres (2011-2015)
Fernando Torres is somebody who created both good and bad memories for Chelsea fans. The Spaniard was one of the best strikers in the world at Liverpool and had scored 81 goals in 142 appearances for the Reds.
Following his 2010 World Cup victory with Spain, Chelsea broke the British transfer record to sign him in January of 2011 for £50million.
The Blues won the 2009-10 Premier League title and were gearing to make it two in a row. Signing Torres felt like the cherry on top of the cake at the time.
However, it all turned sour very quickly. Torres only managed a single assist in the 15 appearances he made for the Blues for the remainder of the campaign. His miss in front of a virtually open goal against Manchester United in a crucial fixture led to critics labeling him a 'flop'.
Things did not change the following season, but Torres did manage to become a fan favorite. He scored the goal that gave the London club the edge over Barcelona in the 2011-12 UCL semi-final– a competition they went on to win for the first time in their history.
In the years that followed, Torres proved to be a vital player in the 2013 Europa League triumph. However, he never managed to become an elite goal-scorer at Stamford Bridge.
The Spaniard was eventually sold to AC Milan in 2015. Torres retired a couple of years ago and still shares a good relationship with fans of the club. However, given the money spent on him back in the day, it can be argued that 'El Nino' was a transfer failure.
#4 Scott Parker (2004-2005)
Scott Parker had a short-lived career at the West London club. One of the first signings of the Abramovich era, the midfielder arrived in January of 2004 as a promising prospect from Charlton Athletic. Although he was not afforded too many chances in the 2003-04 campaign, he went on to win the PFA Young Player of the Year that season.
Jose Mourinho arrived the following campaign and the Portuguese manager had his favorites. Claude Makelele, Frank Lampard and new signing Tiago Mendes formed the base of midfield, a position Parker always hoped he would develop in. He was handed limited minutes and was often considered a bit-part player at the club. Parker's lackluster performances as a substitute also did not help his case.
The Englishman eventually departed Stamford Bridge at the end of the 2004-05 season but was a part of the team that won the Premier League title that season. Following this, he joined rivals West Ham United and then moved to Tottenham Hotspur.
Parker played a part in intense derby games against the Blues, further ruining any chances of fans having happy memories of him. So, even though the Englishman did not stay all that long, Chelsea are unlikely to count him as a successful signing by any stretch of the imagination.
#3 Lucas Piazon (2012-2021)
Lucas Piazon was oddly enough one of the longest-serving members at Chelsea in the past decade. The Brazil-born winger caught the eye of a host of European teams in 2011 after impressing at Sao Paulo. The Blues had to beat several clubs to land his signature. However, they eventually succeeded in signing then the 18-year-old.
Piazon, though, only managed to make one senior appearance for the Blues. The winger experienced some unfortunate form in his loan spells, as a result of which he had seven temporary moves away from Stamford Bridge. At each club, Piazon would blow hot and cold, doing little to make a case for the Stamford Bridge outfit to recall him at any point.
The two-time European champions eventually put him out of his misery last year and sold him to Portuguese club SC Braga. He arrived as an exciting exotic talent but Piazon left as a forgotten star.
#2 Juan Cuadrado (2015-2017)
Juan Cuadrado is the infamous signing that led to Mohamed Salah going the other way and joining Fiorentina in January of 2015. The Colombian international was an energetic and lively prospect. He arrived at the club at a time when the Blues were in the ascendency and Jose Mourinho was primed to lead them to the Premier League title.
Cuadrado was a part of the 2014-15 title-winning campaign, making 12 appearances, with most of them coming off the bench. However, he never produced anything meaningful or substantial that convinced the Portuguese manager to make him part of the senior setup in the following season.
Cuadrado was loaned out to Juventus for two consecutive campaigns before sealing a permanent transfer to the Turin-based club.
It has been nearly five years since he left, but the Blues have never regretted selling Cuadrado. His unsuccessful stint at Chelsea proved that signing talented youngsters in January is not the wisest transfer strategy.
#1 Mark Bosnich (2001-2003)
Mark Bosnich is arguably the worst signing in the history of Chelsea Football Club, let alone the fact that he too is a failed January signing. The Australian international joined from Manchester United in 2001 on a free transfer. It looked like a brilliant piece of business by the Blues, especially since the Fairfield-born shot-stopper had title-winning experience.
Unfortunately, that amounted to nothing. Bosnich had injuries and fitness issues throughout his first year at the club, which allowed him to make only seven appearances in the whole of 2001. After suffering an injury against Everton in late November, he never played for the club again.
Bosnich's career hit an all-time low in September of 2002. The goalkeeper failed a drug test which led to the club sacking him before the authorities banned him from the game for nine months. It is one thing to have an unsuccessful career, but Bosnich failed, morally and professionally, in the eyes of the Chelsea fans.
There are several more infamous names who never achieved anything at the West London club. However, the quintet mentioned in this list are a reminder to Chelsea about the downfall of investing in the January transfer window.
