Chelsea`s aggressive recruitment of forwards shows no signs of slowing down. Since the Clearlake Capital consortium took over in the summer of 2022, the club has permanently signed 19 attacking players, including wingers, strikers, and attacking midfielders. This number is soon expected to reach 20 with the anticipated arrival of Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, following the recent $69 million transfer of Joao Pedro from Brighton and Hove Albion.
In total, the new ownership led by Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali has invested over half a billion dollars solely in strengthening the attack over the past three years. Surprisingly, despite this massive expenditure, some of these signings felt necessary. At the end of last season, Enzo Maresca`s squad clearly needed a new left winger and a secondary senior striker to compete with or replace Nicolas Jackson. To challenge for the title rather than just qualify for the Champions League, further high-quality additions were perhaps required.
However, as this extensive list reveals, there are significant factors beyond just whether the current attackers can win major trophies. Questions linger about player marketability, like Raheem Sterling, whose $410,000 a week salary is substantial with two years remaining on his contract and his value reduced after a disappointing loan spell. There`s also the question of whether young players like Deivid Washington and David Datro Fofana will join the long list of loan army members from the Roman Abramovich era, spending years moving between clubs in the hope of a permanent transfer.
Sorting through this large group of players is complex, involving both their current importance to Chelsea and their recent performance quality. Ranking them is more an art than a precise science. Predictably, the top spot is held by a standout performer…
1. Cole Palmer
More than just Chelsea`s best player, Cole Palmer is a prime example of how the club`s recruitment model should function. The decision to spend around $55 million to sign Palmer from the fringes of Manchester City`s squad was bold, but his value has since potentially doubled or even trebled. Early last season, he was arguably the best attacker in the Premier League after Mohamed Salah, and despite a slight dip later, he finished in the league`s top 10 for both assists and goals. With Palmer, Chelsea has a player who can undeniably be a star in a championship-winning team.
2. Nicolas Jackson
Nicolas Jackson can frustrate supporters at times, but crucially, he consistently gets shots away – a hallmark of top strikers. Last season, he averaged 3.41 non-penalty shots per 90 minutes, identical to Erling Haaland. His non-penalty xG of 0.55 is also impressive, and his shot chart shows a high percentage of good quality chances, with an xG per shot of 0.163, well above the Premier League average. His strong connection with Cole Palmer is also noteworthy.
While there are questions about his finishing composure and maturity, it`s important to remember he`s only 24. With a contract extending beyond his 32nd birthday, there`s ample time to refine the aspects of his game that separate him from elite strikers like Victor Osimhen.
3. Joao Pedro
Since his arrival in England with Watford five years ago, Joao Pedro has consistently appeared to be a genuinely interesting player. He possesses the fundamental attributes, and his knack for creating chances for himself and teammates, as well as drawing fouls, indicates a footballing intelligence beyond his 23 years. Joao Pedro has been used across the forward line, which could signal his versatility or perhaps a lack of definitive impact in one position. His goal tally of 19 over the last two Premier League seasons sounds decent, but nine were penalties. As a striker, he excels at non-striker tasks like assisting, progressing play, and winning possession. Compared to other wingers, he takes a lot of shots. Having a versatile forward is valuable, though maybe not at a cost of $70 million.
It didn`t take long to reach players with question marks…
4. Liam Delap
Another player whose future projection is difficult, Liam Delap performed well last season for an Ipswich side that ultimately faced relegation. Alongside his 12 goals, he brought a significant work rate as a center forward. Generously viewed, he averaged eight shots per 100 touches last season, more than any Chelsea player except Jackson. He has the raw potential and has impressed in the Club World Cup. But can he make the jump to being a starting No. 9 for a title contender?
5. Jamie Gittens
The only player on this list not yet officially a Chelsea player, Gittens is expected to complete his move from Borussia Dortmund after the Club World Cup for around $76.1 million. His arrival will inject pace into Maresca`s attack and a strong ability to beat defenders. He was devastating in the transition-focused Bundesliga, but his eight goals came from a lower expected goals total (3.6 xG). To truly thrive in England, he needs to improve his creativity and shot-taking. This signing looks like a gamble, but Gittens shoots well and can be integrated gradually as a secondary attacker in a 4-2-3-1 system. It could prove a worthwhile investment.
6. Noni Madueke
Based purely on talent, Madueke belongs higher, perhaps in the third spot. The young winger seemed to be progressing significantly last season, with a return of 11 goals and four assists that perhaps didn`t fully reflect how consistently the 23-year-old got into dangerous positions. Averaging three and a half shots per 90 minutes is excellent for a winger, especially as he isn`t boosting that number with low-probability efforts from distance. If Madueke continues his 2024-25 form, he could become one of England`s top attackers relatively soon.
It`s curious, then, that Chelsea appears willing to sell him to fund other signings. Doubling their initial investment would represent a successful piece of business. However, if you`ve helped a player reach the verge of becoming a truly dangerous Premier League force, does it not make sense to keep him to see him reach his potential for your own team?
7. Pedro Neto
After signing Pedro Neto for over $70 million, Chelsea got more than they might have expected in one key area: availability. He played 44 matches across all competitions, more than in his previous two years combined at Wolves, suggesting that injury wasn`t his primary problem. Instead, Neto simply doesn`t deliver final product as often as he should, with his six goals coming from a low 3.8 xG. A combined expected goals and assists rate of 0.33 per 90 minutes in the Premier League falls short of Chelsea`s required standards.
8. Estevao Willian
It`s impossible to predict how the 18-year-old will perform when he moves from Brazil this summer, but at a very young age, he was dominating in his homeland, scoring 13 goals and providing nine assists in his age 16 season with Palmeiras. For now, how Estevao Willian will adapt to London is unknown, but his promising performance against Porto in the Club World Cup offers a positive sign for his transition to European football.
9. Tyrique George
A definite positive from Chelsea`s time in the Conference League was the senior game time afforded to Tyrique George. By the end of the season, the 19-year-old was transitioning from playing with the reserve side to a valuable supersub role in the Premier League. Reports suggest he might go out on loan this summer, which seems a sensible move given he appears ready for consistent game time that Maresca might not be able to guarantee him.
10. Christopher Nkunku
Should a suitable offer arrive, Christopher Nkunku`s departure from Chelsea seems likely. Last season was difficult for the former Bundesliga Player of the Season, marred by injury. Given the current ownership`s mixed transfer record, it`s tempting to look for flaws that could have been identified during his signing. However, it seems more probable that Nkunku was simply unlucky, getting injured just as he looked set for a strong season, which then allowed Palmer to take his place as the primary number 10.
11. Marc Guiu
There`s no denying that Marc Guiu was clearly a level above the opposition in the Conference League, easily handling teams like Shamrock Rovers and Astana. His long-term role as a center forward at Chelsea will likely only become clear after one or two loan spells. As a $7 million acquisition, however, the downside risk for the Blues in the 19-year-old`s development is relatively small.
12. Kendry Paez
Another player whose potential impact at Chelsea remains to be seen. Kendry Paez is expected to spend next season on loan at Strasbourg, marking his first step in European football. The attacking midfielder already holds records for being the youngest debutant and goalscorer in Ecuador`s top flight.
13. Carney Chukwuemeka
Some might suggest Carney Chukwuemeka is included here simply to reach the number 20. To that, one might just say, “I prefer not to speak.” But if pressed, one would point out that he plays the same attacking midfield position as Palmer, justifying his inclusion. As a player, the glimpses seen in a Chelsea shirt suggest real talent, though his early career has been hampered by injuries. Chelsea would ideally prefer to sell the former Aston Villa player but may have to agree to another loan, with Borussia Dortmund reportedly more willing to take him back temporarily than meet Chelsea`s asking price for a permanent transfer.
14. Armando Broja
Armando Broja has been part of the loan discussion for some time, not helped by arguably inflated valuations like the supposed $68.5 million Chelsea sought in January 2024. In 331 Premier League minutes on loan at Everton last season, Broja managed just four shots. It`s difficult to envision Chelsea securing a significant fee for him this summer.
15. Omari Kellyman
A case could be made for excluding Kellyman from this list, given a hamstring injury sidelined him last season, preventing him from going out on loan, featuring in the Conference League, or even getting consistent youth team minutes. However, Chelsea did spend $26 million on him last summer. That`s `first team money`, even if it`s not yet clear whether they signed a player who can significantly impact their senior squad.
16. David Datro Fofana
When Chelsea signed Fofana, he appeared to be a promising discovery from Norway. However, three loan spells have passed without him making much of an impact, with the second half of last season spent recovering from a knee injury. The club will struggle to find a long-term buyer for Fofana.
17. Deivid Washington
Let`s look at how things are going for Deivid Washington, who was given a chance to build form back in his homeland with Santos.
The data suggests… not great.
18. Raheem Sterling
It`s not that the following three players lack talent compared to those above them, nor is it completely impossible to imagine them having a future at Chelsea. However, it`s highly unlikely, especially in Sterling`s situation.
Perhaps another Premier League club might take a chance on Sterling, hoping his poor form wasn`t due to declining physical ability but rather a lack of sufficient game time. He could potentially fit in at clubs like Crystal Palace or Fulham if he were willing to accept a reduction from his significant wages. However, his performance on loan truly suggested his pace and physicality might be diminishing, indicating he`s on the downward slope of his career, a trend that may have begun even before he arrived at Chelsea.
19. Joao Felix
Of the final three players listed, Joao Felix`s continued presence is the most perplexing. Chelsea had a lengthy assessment of him during the latter half of the 2022-23 season, where a charitable view would be that he showed glimpses of talent but wasn`t worth a long-term commitment. Yet, Chelsea signed him permanently 10 months ago, seemingly as a financial maneuver potentially tied to selling Conor Gallagher. Now, they are tied to Felix for another six years unless they can find a buyer. A Saudi Arabian club might rescue them, and that could be appealing to Felix. Otherwise, it`s hard to see easy options for Chelsea beyond a continuous cycle of subsidized loan deals.
20. Mykhailo Mudryk
While moving Sterling and Felix might be challenging financially, at least there`s a possibility of finding clubs willing to sign them. As of now, it`s difficult to see a pathway for Mykhailo Mudryk, who is currently facing a potential ban of up to four years following a failed drugs test. Notably, even if he received the maximum ban from the date of his provisional suspension, he would still have two and a half years remaining on his Chelsea contract when he became eligible to play again (although questions about contract termination due to gross misconduct would likely arise).
Banned or not, Mudryk has not delivered impressive performances since Chelsea committed up to $118 million for him. The Ukrainian quickly appeared to be a player who struggled to effectively utilize his pace, contributing only 10 goals and 11 assists in 73 games.
