Transfer Window Ranking: Chelsea

With the transfer window slamming shut earlier this month, we’ve had time to sit back and analyse all the moves made by the top 6 teams from the Premier League in their attempt to bolster their squad and challenge for silverware.

Here’s our ranking for Chelsea.

Also read: Transfer Window Ranking: Liverpool

Arrivals:

• Wesley Fofana (€60m)

• Marc Cucurella (£60m)

• Raheem Sterling (£47.5m)

• Kalidou Koulibaly (£33m)

• Carney Chukwuemeka (£20m)

• Cesare Casadei (£16.8m)

• Gabriel Slonina (£12.3m)

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.3m)

• Denis Zakaria (Loan)

• Omari Hutchinson (Free)

Departures:

• Timo Werner (£25.3m)

• Emerson Palmeiri (£15m)

• Billy Gilmour (£10m)

• Antonio Rudiger (Free)

• Andreas Christenses (Free)

• Marcos Alonso (Free)

• Romelu Lukaku (Loan)

Analysis:

Chelsea were extremely busy in the summer transfer window. The new ownership looked to bring in new players to replace the outgoing players as well as to bolster the squad with fresh talent. With Christensen and Rudiger leaving, and veterans Silva and Azpilicueta aging, it was imperative that they got in defensive reinforcements.

Experienced defender Koulibaly was added to the ranks earlier in the window from Napoli as a replacement for Rudiger. They also managed to get in Cucurella from Brighton with his versatility to play LB, LCB and LWB being a key asset. The young and promising Fofana was then signed from Leicester late in the window for a huge sum.

Chelsea also made some attacking signings this window as Sterling became the first signing of the Boehly era. A multiple PL winner with City, he has already impressed with 3 goals so far.

Deadline day signings of former Arsenal striker Aubameyang, and midfielder Zakaria made sure that the Blues added much needed depth that seemed to be missing in those departments due to outgoings and injuries. The club also recruited plenty of youth talent with the astute signings of Chukwuemeka and Casadei to build for the future.

A lot of deadwood was moved on this summer. Record signing Lukaku went back to Italy on loan after his dismal year at the club. Fellow Chelsea forward Werner also sought a move back to his old club Leipzig in search of minutes and form. There were several other outgoings in a large clearout at the Bridge, as Alonso, Emerson, and Gilmour also sought moves away.

Without a director of football at the helm, it seemed like a scatter gun approach at the start of the window when they were linked to everyone. But they quickly redeemed themselves with quality signings that will put them in good stead in the long term.

Final Ranking: B+