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Chelsea have a habit of stocking up on players, some of which are even academy graduates. This prompts the best of them to leave the cub in search of playing time. Even though Chelsea have some of the best players in the Premier League and exceptional depth in squad, some of these players could have come in handy.
Let us look at a potential starting 11 of players who left Chelsea but now have grown into great players.
Asmir Begovic
The Canadian-born Bosnia & Herzegovina international goalkeeper transferred to Chelsea following five excellent years at Stoke City, but found himself unable to replace Thibaut Courtois from between the sticks. He did get a Premier League medal in his second season at Chelsea, but left the club at the start of next season. He would join Bournemouth in 2017, where he has been pivotal to Eddie Howe’s system. He has managed to five cleansheets in the league, more than David De Gea (4). Though Bournemouth have conceded 42 goals already this season, the shot-stopper has made 58 saves as well.
Filipe Luis
Filipe Luis was one of the best left-backs back in 2014 when he joined Chelsea but was never able to acclimatise to the Premier League and found himself playing second fiddle to Cesar Azpilicueta. As a result, he returned to Atletico Madrid after only a year with the Blues and continued to be a part of the best defensive system in Europe.
Since his departure from Chelsea, the left-back has managed 7 goals and 16 assists in all competition and has won a Europa League title and a European Super Cup. He has twice been named in the La Liga 'team of the season' as well.
Nathan Ake
The centre-back, like many other academy graduates, went out on loan for first-team minutes. But after a successful loan spell at Bournemouth, the Cherries signed him permanently for £20 million. Ake has had a great 2018-19 season with his team playing attractive football.
Chelsea obviously know his potential and, as a result, his Bournemouth contract includes a buy-back clause for the 23-year-old. The Dutch international has featured 88 times for Bournemouth, scoring 8 times and assisting thrice.
Patrick van Aanholt
Another Dutch international, he had five different loan spells before deciding to quit Chelsea. Van Aanholt is an attack-minded full-back who left the Bridge for Sunderland in 2014. He currently plays for Crystal Palace and has been a regular for them, contributing 8 goals and 3 assists. He has also nine appearances for the Netherlands.
Ryan Bertrand
Ryan Bertrand became the first player to make a European debut in a Champions League final as he was chosen to start against Bayern Munich in 2012 final, which the Blues won on penalties. He found himself out of favor the very next season and went on loan a few times before Southampton made a move to make it permanent and keep him at St. Mary’s.
The left-back, who is now their captain, has managed 7 goals and 18 assists in all competitions for the Saints. He was named in the PFA team of the year in 2014-15 season. Bertrand has also been capped 19 times by England.
Juan Cuadrado
The Colombian was brought from Fiorentina in the winter of 2014-15 after three excellent seasons in Seria A, but was not given much of a chance by Jose Mourinho. He went back to Italy in search of minutes, initially on a one-year loan deal to Juventus who then signed him on permanently. His four seasons with Juventus have yielded 14 goals and 32 assists, while winning the Seria A and the Coppa Italia three times.
Oriol Romeu
Oriol Romeu is a La Masia graduate brought to Chelsea in 2011. But the defensive midfielder only made 22 appearances in four years for the Blues. In between he was loaned out to Valencia and Stuttgart. Southampton decided to take a punt on the Spaniard in 2015 and it has paid off. He was named Southampton fan's player of the year for the 2016-17 season.
Kevin De Bruyne
Chelsea brought the Belgian from Genk for a measly £7 million, and immediately sent him on loan to Werder Bremen for a year. Though he returned to the Bridge hungry to compete, after an inconsistent first half of the season, Wolfsburg signed the unsettled De Bruyne. The rest is history. He contributed to 10 goals and 21 assists, a Bundesliga record in his only full season at the Volkswagen Arena and signed for Manchester City for £55 million in 2015.
Since his exit from Chelsea, he has scored 59 goals and has 96 assists in 230 matches. He was also City's most prominent player as Pep Guardiola's team marched to the title in the 2017/18 season.
Thorgan Hazard
Eden Hazard's brother signed for Chelsea from Lens a couple of days after his brother joined the Blues. While his brother has thrived in the club, Thorgan never got to play for the Blues. His loan to Borussia Monchengladbach for the 2014/15 season was very effective and the German club exercised the option to buy in 2015. He has 30 goals and 30 assists since his departure from Stamford Bridge.
Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku made only 10 senior appearances for Chelsea and once missed a crucial penalty against Atletico Madrid in the 2012 Super Cup final. He was loaned out to West Ham for the 2012/13 season, when he scored 17 league goals, and then to Everton, who made the move permanent in 2014.
Chelsea, who are having a crisis of strikers, could have had his services if they had been patient. Lukaku has scored 140 goals in all competitions for West Brom, Everton and Manchester United and is the highest scorer of Belgium with 45 goals.
Mohamed Salah
Basel brought Salah to Europe, but Chelsea brought him to the Premier League in the winter of 2013/14 for £11 million. Though he had a bright start in London, the winger did not get many chances the next season and joined Fiorentina on loan in the winter window. The next season he was loaned to Roma, who signed him on permanently for 2016/17. But Liverpool snapped him up for £42 million after just one season. He won the golden boot in his first full season in England.
After Leaving Chelsea, the PFA 'player of the year' for 2017-18 has scored 106 goals and assisted 52 in just 192 games.
