SUMMARY
- After finishing 12th last season, Chelsea is once again having another underwhelming season.
- The London-based club has spent over $1 billion in transfer market and the high-profile stars have failed to deliver.
It has been a shambolic 2023-24 season for Chelsea as Mauricio Pochettino’s side are set to go trophyless this season. Following long-time club owner Roman Abramovich’s departure in 2022, American business Todd Boehly’s takeover of the club marked a new era for Chelsea. However, it is safe to say Boehly’s era so far at the club hasn’t gone exactly according to the plan.
According to Transfermarkt, under Todd Boehly, Chelsea has spent a mammoth $1.17 billion to sign new players. The incoming players were handed long-term contracts and were heralded as the future of the London club. The club broke the bank by signing Enzo Fernandez, who won the World Cup 2022 with Argentina and was voted the Best Young Player in the world.
Todd Boehly has now spent over $1 billion on Chelsea signings in just 15 months at the club 😲💰 pic.twitter.com/hoIaDChh8h
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 14, 2023
Boehly‘s Chelsea spent $131 million on the Argentine midfielder who became the biggest signing in the club’s history. Fernandez’s record was then broken after the club signed Moises Caicedo from Brighton for a fee of $142.9 million. In total, the club signed 28 players under Ted Boehly, including buying Ukrainian star Mykhailo Mudryk for $110 million.
However, after spending so much money on these youngsters, the club is yet to reap dividends on their investment. Last season, the club finished 12th in the Premier League table and failed to qualify for European soccer. Currently, Chelsea is placed ninth in the league and lost the EFL Cup in the final to Liverpool and the FA Cup semifinal against Manchester City.
➖ Historic defeat to rivals Arsenal
➖ Ninth in the Premier League
➖ Another trophyless seasonChelsea men’s team down bad 😐 pic.twitter.com/SLGrmusx0m
— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 23, 2024
Questions have arisen over the club management due to the lack of results despite its extravagant spending spree. Some club supporters have even gone on to label the money spent on the likes of Fernandez, Caicedo, and Mudryk as a waste of investment. While there’s no doubt that these players are extremely talented, perhaps they are yet to find their place in a club as big as Chelsea.
Enzo Fernandez has failed to replicate his Argentina form at Chelsea
Enzo Fernadez’s arrival in the 2023 January transfer window was hugely celebrated by the Chelsea supporters. The Argentine arrived in the aftermath of a historic World Cup triumph where he played a stellar role in helping his nation to the title after a long wait of 36 years.
However, he’s yet to replicate the performances he put in for his nation for his club. So far, Fernandez has played 62 matches for Chelsea. Despite being one of the best midfielders in his team, Fernandez‘s numbers are yet to justify his whopping transfer fee. The 23-year-old midfielder has scored seven goals and registered five assists so far for his club.
Moises Caicedo is yet to score for Chelsea
Chelsea’s signing of Moises Caicedo was considered to be a major coup in English soccer. The highly sought-after Ecuadorian midfielder was pursued by a number of clubs, including Liverpool. Liverpool had reportedly agreed to a $140 million move for Caicedo with his former club, Brighton. However, Chelsea came in at the last moment and managed to hijack the deal with an even better offer.
“Just run over them!” 😡
How do you rate Enzo Fernandes and Moises Caicedo’s first season at Chelsea? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/4Vxi7igIZz
— The Overlap (@WeAreTheOverlap) March 1, 2024
Since then, Caicedo’s stint at Chelsea has been dismal at best. After a disastrous debut, it was expected that the former Brighton star’s performances would improve for his new club. However, so far, Moises Caicedo has marked 42 appearances and has so far only managed to provide two assists. The 22-year-old is yet to score his first goal for the Blues.
Mykhailo Mudryk has been an underwhelming signing for Chelsea
Mykhailo Mudryk gained recognition after his incredible performances for Shakhtar Donetsk. Playing under former Shakhtar coach Roberto De Zerbi, Mudryk made waves with his stellar displays. He put in some memorable performances in the Champions League and was even voted as the Ukrainian Player of the Year and was named Shakhtar Donetsk’s Player of the Year twice.
🚨 Chelsea have exercised the options to extend Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk’s contracts.
Enzo has 8 years left on his £180,000-a-week deal which ends in 2032 and Mudryk has 7 years on his £97,000-a-week deal until 2031.
(Source: @NizaarKinsella) pic.twitter.com/fp8yes7Uy4
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) April 15, 2024
Mudryk’s arrival created a huge anticipation among the club supporters after his $110 million move. The 23-year-old Ukrainian forward’s poor numbers rightly explains how Chelsea’s big-money arrivals have been struggling. Mudryk, in 53 appearances for the club, has scored just six goals and four assists. All in all, the Chelsea fans as well as the management would be hoping that their players find back their form as soon as possible.