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Chelsea have enjoyed great success in the Premier League era. The infusion of cash by Roman Abramovich since 2003 has helped them become one of the most successful English clubs in the 21st century.
They won the Champions League last season. To bolster their chances in the Premier League this season, they broke their transfer record while bringing back Romelu Lukaku. They dished out £97.5 million for the Belgium striker, but he has not been able to replicate the form he displayed at Inter Milan.
Chelsea spend more on midfielders than any other Premier League team
The London-based club have one of the highest wage bills in the world (£162,64 million annually).
They rank second behind Manchester United in the Premier League in wages. However, they are the highest spenders on midfielders in the league, with almost 38% of their annual wages going to midfielders. The Blues rank second in wages for goalkeepers, defenders and forwards.
On that note, here's a look at the five highest-paid players at Chelsea currently.
Note: All figures are as perSpotrac.com.
#5 Ben Chilwell - £190,000 per week
Ben Chilwell started his career with Leicester City, graduating from their academy in 2015. He went on loan to Huddersfield Town in the middle of the 2015-16 campaign. So he missed out on the winners' medal in the Foxes' title-winning run that season.
His performances on the left flank, where he displays his pinpoint crossing and ability to pick up assists, make him one of the most in-demand left-backs in the league. The Blues signed him in the summer of 2020 for a reported fee of £45 million.
His current contract runs out in 2025, and he pockets a handsome £9,88 million annually.
#4 Saul Niguez - £198,269 per week
Saul Niguez's transfer to Chelsea on loan from Atletico Madrid on the last day of the transfer window last summer was one of the surprises of the summer.
Niguez has been a key player at Atletico Madrid in the last few seasons, but has been second fiddle at the club recently.
It is likely Diego Simeone agreed to let go of the academy product, as he had to accommodate the wages of Antoine Griezmann, who joined the club from Barcelona on the last day of the transfer window.
#3 Timo Werner - £272,000 per week
Four of the five players in this list were signed by Chelsea since 2020. One of them is Timo Werner, who arrived at the club for £47.5 million. The Blues triggered the buy-out clause set by RB Leipzig for the German striker. He had scored 28 goals in the Bundesliga in the 2019-20 campaign, so it was expected that he would hit the ground running with the Blues.
However, things haven't worked out for him so far, as he has scored just seven Premier League goals in 46 games so far. His contract expires in the summer of 2025. So unless he improves on his performances, it is unlikely he will be offered a contract extension.
#2 N'Golo Kante - £290,000 per week
N'Golo Kante is one of the best defensive midfielders of all time. He has earned a lot of silverware since his breakthrough season at Leicester City in 2015-16.
He was the standout player for Chelsea in their Champions League-winning campaign last season. So it is no wonder that he was made the highest-paid player at the club in 2018.
The Frenchman has been one of the most consistent players in the game over the last few years, and he might be in for a wage revision soon.
#1 Romelu Lukaku - £325,000 per week
It has been observed in recent years that the record signing of a club often ends up failing to live up to their potential. The trend has been particularly common in the Premier League. To name a few, the likes of Nicolas Pepe and Tanguy Ndombele have failed to impress with Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur respectively.
Romelu Lukaku has become the latest player to continue the trend. In his second spell at Stamford Bridge, the Belgian has been very unconvincing. He has signed for Chelsea until 2026, and has a lot of time to deliver great performances for the Blues, though.
Manager Thomas Tuchel likely needs to improve his tactics in the final third, and sort things out with Lukaku if the Blues are to keep their faint title hopes alive.
