End of an era in England. The first of the ‘sheikhs’ who came to football on the islands, the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, has decided to put Chelsea up for sale pressured by the political situation in his native country. The current European champion is looking for a new owner and there is no shortage of interested parties to acquire the club that currently holds the Champions League crown. In 19 years, the businessman has had ups and downs in the transfer market, but no one can reproach him for not spending money on improving the team. Here we review his 5 most expensive signings:
1) ROMELU LUKAKU
The story of the Belgian striker at Stanford Bridge is one of comes and goes. He signed for the blue team in exchange for 15 million euros from Anderletch in 2011. Then he did not succeed and was finally transferred to Everton for 35 million in 2014 to finally return this summer in exchange for a disbursement of 115 million to Inter.
2) KEPA ARRIZABALAGA
The most expensive signing in the history of a goalkeeper has not met expectations by far. Chelsea spent a whopping 80 million in 2018 on a goalkeeper who has lost confidence, ceasing to be an international with Spain, a starter with the team and also being the protagonist of multiple run-ins with their coaches. Sarri, Lampard or Tuchel do not exactly speak highly of him.
3) Kai Havertz
The Bundesliga superstar Chelsea stole from Bayern for €80m is still in the testing phase after a rollercoaster couple of seasons. The player, just 22 years old, still has a long way to go but is far from his goalscoring records with Leverkusen where he had two consecutive seasons of more than 10 goals. At Chelsea they are still waiting for that version.
4) ALVARO MORATA
In the summer of 2017, Abramovich lost his mind for a substitute striker from Real Madrid, he messed with his head and bought Álvaro Morata for 75 million euros. The striker did not perform at the expected level adding just 24 goals in a season and a half in 72 games. Chelsea managed to place it with Atlético for 53 million, this being an operation that was disappointing for the blues fans.
5) CHRISTIAN PULISIC
Borussia Dortmund will still be rubbing themselves from the grass they took out from the North American winger. Nothing more and nothing less than 64 million that allowed financing months after the signing of Erling Haaland by the Germans. Pulisic has gone from less to more at Chelsea having 11 goals in his first season, a figure that he has been reducing as the years have passed. The good thing is that he is 23 years old and can come back.