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#3 Ruud Gullit
Ruud Gullit is one of the key signings made by Chelsea in the 1990s. The Blues signed him when he was one of the finest players of his generation following his domestic and European success at AC Milan.
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The former Dutch international won the Ballon d'Or award in 1987 and lifted three league titles and two European Cups at the San Siro before arriving at Chelsea in 1995.
He was mostly deployed as a sweeper, and his quality in and out of possession was impressive. As well as being named the Chelsea Player of the Year for 1996, Gullit was also voted into the PFA Team of the Year. Gullit impressed with his control of the ball, passing vision, heading and dribbling ability and tactical acumen.
Glenn Hoddle's departure in 1996 saw Gullit become a player-manager at Stamford Bridge, where he became the first foreign coach to win the FA Cup. His appointment also influenced exciting signings at the club, including Gianluca Vialli, Roberto Di Matteo, Frank Lebouef and Gianfranco Zola.
#2 Jorginho
One of the best Chelsea signings of the last decade, Jorginho was brought in at the club by Maurizio Sarri in 2018.
The Italy international had a mixed debut season after arriving in the Premier League, but has since grown in importance and has become a key and influential player at Stamford Bridge.
Operating in a deep-lying midfield role, Jorginho has the ability to dictate and control the tempo of the game. He has helped Chelsea win the Europa League and the Champions League in the last three seasons, while also playing a key role in Italy's Euro 2020 triumph this summer. The Italian has been tipped to compete with Lionel Messi for the Ballon d'Or award this year.
The 29-year-old's ability to read the game, tactical intelligence and passing ability make him a key player for club and country.
#1 Gianfranco Zola
One of the most influential signings in Chelsea's history, Gianfranco Zola impressed after arriving from Parma in 1996. Zola quickly became a fan-favourite and ended the season as the Football Writers’ Footballer of the Year, the first player from Chelsea to win the award.
Twice the Chelsea Player of the Year, Zola helped the club win four titles, including the FA Cup in his debut campaign, Chelsea's first major silverware in 26 years. He also scored the winner for Chelsea in the 1998 European Cup Winners’ Cup final just seconds after coming on as a substitute.
Not many signings have made an impact at a club like Zola did. He spent seven seasons at the Blues, scoring 80 goals in 311 appearances. Shortly before his exit from the club in 2002-03, Zola was voted Chelsea's greatest ever player.
