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Chelsea announced the signing of Kai Havertz last night for €80 million, making him the club's record signing.
Havertz is one among many players to have signed for Chelsea this summer, as the Premier League giants look to make up for lost time because of their transfer ban from last season. With clubs wary about spending money due to the coronavirus, Chelsea have enjoyed an almost free run to sign up many good players.
However, the Blues' manager Frank Lampard will have a job integrating these players. With the club having spent a lot of money, the demands will be equally high.
Chelsea have an inconsistent record when it comes to spending big. They have enjoyed some success, but the likes of Alvaro Morata, Fernando Torres and Andriy Shevchenko have not justified the huge transfer fees that have been splurged on them. We look at the:
10 most expensive Chelsea signings of all time
#10 ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO | €43.8 million
Regarded as one of the best strikers of his generation, Andriy Shevchenko was well-renowned for his prolific goalscoring capability.
The Ukraine international began his career with Dynamo Kyiv, before moving to AC Milan in 1999. Here Shevchenko would become one of the best in the world, scoring at an extremely consistent rate and becoming the second most prolific player in the history of the club.
Aged 30, he joined Chelsea in 2006 for €43.8 million. However, he was unable to replicate his AC Milan form with the Blues, enduring two disappointing seasons with the club before joining AC Milan back on loan. He retired in 2016 and is currently the manager of the Ukraine national team.
#9 MATEO KOVACIC | €45 million
Mateo Kovacic was regarded as a prodigious talent during his Dinamo Zagreb days, and these days he is showing his quality on a regular basis.
The midfielder joined Inter Milan in 2013, becoming everpresent in their midfield and earning a move to Real Madrid. Kovacic couldn't displace Toni Kroos or Luka Modric from the Los Blancos' midfield though, resulting in a loan move to Chelsea in 2018.
The Blues decided to buy him on a permanent in 2019 for €45 million. The Croatia international was vital for Chelsea last season, with his dribbling and defensive ability earning him praise; as such, he was named the Chelsea Player of the Year.
#8 BEN CHILWELL | €50.2 million
Ben Chilwell was Frank Lampard's first choice left-back target coming into this transfer window, and Chelsea managed to get the deal over the line a week ago.
While some see the fee being slightly bloated there is no denying that Chilwell is a solid left-back, and an upgrade on Emerson and Marcos Alonso. The 23-year old was Leicester City's starting left-back for the last three seasons, and is young enough to be moulded by Frank Lampard into a more complete player.
The England international looks likely to be Chelsea's first choice left-back from now on, and will look to emulate Chelsea great and one of the best modern left-backs to have played the game in Ashley Cole.
Also Read: 10 greatest players to have played under Pep Guardiola
#7 TIMO WERNER | €53 million
Another one of Chelsea's new recruits, Timo Werner is regarded as one of the best young strikers in world football right now.
The Germany international is a product of Stuttgart's academy, making more than 100 appearances for the club before joining RB Leipzig. Werner made his name here; in 159 appearances in all competitions, he scored 95 goals, including 34 last season.
The 24-year old is capable of playing on the left-wing as well, and it will be interesting to see how Frank Lampard rotates him and Tammy Abraham; or if he plays both of them together.
#6 JORGINHO | €57 million
A Maurizio Sarri signing, Jorginho was very close to a move to Manchester City before Chelsea swooped in to sign him in 2018.
The midfielder made his name at Napoli under Sarri, operating as the deepest midfielder and dictating play with his impressive passing and match intelligence. He followed Sarri to Chelsea, where the 28-year old has had his ups and downs.
Initially a starter under Lampard, Jorginho has seen his game time decrease post- the restart, with his manager preferring youngster Billy Gilmour ahead of him. A move to Juventus was touted when Sarri was manager there, but his departure has quelled those rumours. The Italy international looks set to stay with Chelsea for another season.
#5 FERNANDO TORRES | €58.5 million
One of the best strikers in the world during his prime, Fernando Torres never got going at Chelsea.
A product of the Atletico Madrid youth academy, Torres became the the captain of the club aged just 19, scoring 91 goals in 244 appearances. A move to Liverpool followed, where he continued to be exceptional; in just 142 appearances, he managed to score 81 goals.
In Jaunary 2011, Chelsea bought him. The Spain international was never prolific for the Blues, but managed to score in key matches; including a last-minute goal against Barcelona in the Champions League which helped Chelsea qualify to the final. He left the club in 2014, playing for the likes of AC Milan, Atletico Madrid and Sagan Tosu before retiring in 2019.
#4 CHRISTIAN PULISIC | €64 million
Seen as the next big thing for American football, Christian Pulisic enjoyed a good first season with Chelsea in 2019-20.
Pulisic joined the Borussia Dortmund academy in 2015, making his debut for the club in 2016. An extremely sharp and pacy winger, the United States of America international was annoyingly inconsistent in Germany, and eyebrows were raised when Chelsea spent €64 million to buy him.
However, the 21-year old was one of Chelsea's best players last season, a season often interrupted by injuries. He scored 11 goals in 34 appearances in all competitions, and with the bedding-in period done, more is expected from him from now on.
Also Read: 5 most famous player rivalries in football
#3 ALVARO MORATA | €66 million
Chelsea have not had the best luck when it comes to buying strikers, with Alvaro Morata another example of this.
The Spain international joined Chelsea from Real Madrid in 2017, having been very close to a move to Manchester United before that. He was touted to be Diego Costa's replacement, but never truly managed to hit the heights of his fellow Spain international.
In 72 appearances in all competitions, he scored 24 goals, looking short of confidence as his time in Chelsea progressed. The 27-year old finally moved to Atletico Madrid on loan in 2019, making the move permanent in 2020.
#2 KEPA ARRIZABALAGA | €80 million
The most expensive goalkeeper in football history, Kepa Arrizabalaga is not a fan favourite at Chelsea right now.
The shotstopper was the replacement for the Real Madrid-bound Thibaut Courtois, but has failed to replicate the form of the Belgian. He made news in his first season after refusing to be substituted in the EFL Cup final in 2019; leaving manager Maurizio Sarri bemused.
Last season, the Spain international made some truly bad errors leading to goals. Many regard him as one of the most overpriced signings in the history of the Premier League, with Chelsea looking for a replacement as well as a suitor for Kepa.
#1 KAI HAVERTZ | €80 million
Chelsea' latest acquisition, Kai Havertz was announced as a Chelsea player last night.
The Germany international is seen as one of the best young players in the world right now, and enjoyed a stellar campaign with Bayer Leverkusen last season. Capable of playing in various attacking and midfield positions, Havertz has been compared by many experts to Michael Ballack and Mesut Ozil.
It will be interesting to see how the 21-year old figures in Frank Lampard's plans, with the Englishman having a ton of exciting attackers under his disposal.
Also Read: 5 greatest Brazilian midfielders of all-time
