It has been a busy summer for the Chelsea men’s team. A new manager has come in and set about reshaping the squad. Now the transfer window has finally closed, we can assess the new signings who will play their part in the new season.
If you took the summer off from football following England’s sorry exit from the World Cup, here’s The Citizen’s “idiot’s guide” to get you effortlessly back up to speed with the 11 new faces at The Bridge.
Indeed, it has been a bustling – and financially busting – closed season: £328m has been spent on transfers, but £519m has been generated from sales and loans. The selling of Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City for £125m made all the headlines, but here’s what else has been going on…
First off, Xabi Alonso signed his four-year managerial contract on 1st July. The Spaniard has previously coached Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen and his work is already underway coaching the squad in their pre-season. With Chelsea concluding last season’s Premier League in 10th, Alonso has his work cut out.
Morgan Rogers, 23, tops the expensive transfers at £117m. An attacking midfield from Aston Villa, he has already scored his first goal for the club.
Maxence Lacroix – the French 26-year-old centre-back from Crystal Palace – cost £52m. He began his six-year contract at the end of July and has already been credited with an assist against Fulham.
Also in July, Marco Palestra joins Chelsea from Atalanta for £47 million. The 21-year-old right-back starts his seven-year contract off the back of a successful loan spell at Italian side Cagliari.
Geovany Quenda takes the title of youngest transfer in at just 19, joining from Sporting CP at £43m to play as a winger for the Blues.
Valentín Barco, 22, joins the central midfield from Strasbourg at £34m. His biggest test might be winning over the fans – home and away – following his ill-judged and unsporting celebrations during the World Cup.
Emmanuel Emegha, another Strasbourger, is one of three new strikers, coming in at £22m at the age of 23.
28-year-old Pep Chavarria has joined Chelsea in a five-year deal worth about £16 million. He joins the defence from Rayo Vallecano.
As for the latest transfer coming on 30th August, Emiliano Martinez makes it two from Villa, costing a touch less than his counterpart at £7.5m. He joins the squad in goal and played the day the transfer was announced in a victory over Brighton & Hove Albion. He will wear No.26 – the number made famous by Chelsea legend John Terry, so Emil has big boots to fill.
Danny Welbeck transferred from Brighton & Hove Albion at £5m with the hope that the 35-year-old will bring some seasoned experience to the pitch.
At almost the ‘cheapest’ – should we be allowed to use that term at all given yesterday’s records? – Dastan Satpayev is the goal-scoring hope from Kairat costing the club £3.4m, but who is on loan to Burnley for this season.
And finally, from the World Cup squad, Jordan Henderson, 36, joins the central midfielders – from Brentford. He made headlines for breaking an arm after tackling an advertising hoarding during the World Cup, so the club are hoping for more positive press surrounding the 36-year-old. After leaving Brentford, Henderson exited as a ‘free agent’ hence the lack of transfer fee with Brentford.
