Ranking Chelsea’s 18 January signings since 2010 from worst to best

[ad_1]

Chelsea have been frequent patrons within the January switch window, however who has been their finest winter buy since 2010?

As a membership persistently combating for trophies, Chelsea have seen January as an opportunity to buy gamers to present themselves an edge over their closest rivals.

We’ve ranked all 18 of their January acquisitions over the previous decade, from worst to finest. We’ve solely included gamers to make a first-team look for west Londoners, and an enormous thanks goes out to guys on the At The Bridge Podcast for his or her assist with the order (in different phrases, don’t blame us if there’s one thing you disagree with…).

18. Lucas Piazon

Chelsea’s longest-serving participant at the moment on the membership, form of. He’s now onto his seventh mortgage spell away from Stamford Bridge and, on the age of 26, we’re beginning to suspect the Blues aren’t all that eager on the ahead…

17. Matt Miazga

He joined, he performed twice, he’s been out on mortgage ever since. Nonetheless much less complicated than signing Michael Hector no less than.

16. Juan Cuadrado

Eyebrows had been raised in January 2015 when Chelsea splashed out £27million to signal Cuadrado amid issues that the winger was not precisely a ‘Jose Mourinho’ participant.

The doubters had been proved right because the Colombia winger made simply 14 appearances earlier than becoming a member of Juventus on a two-year mortgage deal, which was made everlasting in 2017.

Simply to rub salt into the injuries, the deal to signal Cuadrado noticed a sure Mo Salah go away Stamford Bridge to hitch Fiorentina on mortgage, paving the best way for the ahead to shine in Serie A earlier than incomes a transfer to Liverpool. We don’t have to inform you what occurred subsequent.

15. Alexandre Pato

A deal which smacked of ‘good agent’, Pato was already sadly on the decline by the point he joined Chelsea on mortgage from Corinthians in 2016.

The previous Brazil worldwide was injured for almost all of his time within the Premier League however did no less than assist himself to a objective in opposition to Aston Villa, one in all solely two appearances he made for the Blues.

14. Bertrand Traore

Traore was rumoured to have joined Chelsea as early as August 2010, when he was nonetheless simply 14, however the Blues insisted the ahead had solely been on trial.

The Burkino Faso worldwide formally joined in January 2014 and was handed extra alternatives than most Chelsea kids on the time, scoring 4 instances in 16 appearances in all competitions.

After shining at Lyon, prompting some recommendations that Chelsea ought to activate Traore’s buyback clause, he joined Aston Villa in the summertime of 2020 and at the moment sits above the west Londoners within the Premier League desk. Bit awkward.

13. Gonzalo Higuain

“I may have accomplished higher. However I believe what I did just isn’t unhealthy after which we managed to win the Europa League and reached the Champions League, so that they had been good outcomes,” Higuain instructed The Telegraph earlier this 12 months. “Individuals anticipated extra from me, however I believe the targets had been fantastic in that brief time.”

Two targets in opposition to Huddersfield and a minuscule contribution afterwards doesn’t make a legend out of anyone. At the very least he was solely on mortgage, thoughts.

12. Kevin de Bruyne

The one which obtained away.

11. Mo Salah

The opposite one which obtained away.

10. Emerson Palmieri

Emerson has made 63 appearances for Chelsea, however we’d be damned if we will bear in mind a single one.

That’s no reflection on Emerson – you don’t desire a maverick on the again and the Italy worldwide has carried out solidly since arriving at Stamford Bridge in 2018.

Briefly, he’s been an honest participant to have round. No extra, no much less. Admittedly, we most likely received’t discover when he leaves.

9. Ross Barkley

Ross Barkley performed precisely like Ross Barkley, and also you had been an fool in the event you anticipated any completely different.

8. Demba Ba

If we had been rating these gamers primarily based solely on the chants they’ve impressed, then Ba would win by a rustic mile.

Nonetheless, the strawberry syrup addict nonetheless scored many essential targets throughout his time at Chelsea, together with strikes in opposition to Manchester United, PSG and Liverpool.

He didn’t keep for lengthy, however he didn’t should.

This must be the best interview off all time: Demba Ba and his love for Strawberry Syrup. #NUFC pic.twitter.com/1lD9gOOAMi

— ToonArmy (@toonarmy_com) December 19, 2019

7. Fernando Torres

Torres is a difficult one to rank – a monumental flop by frequent notion, the Spain striker truly performed an important half in each the Champions League and Europa League successes.

He by no means lived as much as his £50million price ticket, however he’ll at all times have that night time in Barcelona and Gary Neville’s goalgasm.

READ: Fernando Torres: The Chelsea ‘flop’ who still stole fans’ hearts

6. Christian Pulisic

He’s good, actually good, however we don’t know simply how good he’s going to be but.

5. Kurt Zouma

With a smile wider than the Thames, Zouma been a reasonably stable defender when referred to as upon, cementing his place within the aspect underneath Frank Lampard.

We had been tempted to rank him prime for this alone.

Reckon Kurt Zouma may need loved that Matic screamer?!😱😂 #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/yzpogTQUwF

— Soccer on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 22, 2017

4. David Luiz

Re-signed from Benfica by Jose Mourinho in 2014, Matic is the kind of participant you solely discover if he’s having a foul recreation.

Frankly, that wasn’t too typically at Stamford Bridge, as he received two Premier League titles and was named within the PFA Premier League Group of the Yr in 2015.

3. Olivier Giroud

To cite, erm, ourselves: “Olivier Giroud is f*cking sensible and also you’re a f*cking fool in the event you disagree.”

READ: Giroud recreated his finest Arsenal moment for his finest Chelsea moment

2. Nemanja Matic

Re-signed from Benfica by Jose Mourinho in 2014, Matic is the kind of participant you solely discover if he’s having a foul recreation.

Frankly, that wasn’t too typically at Stamford Bridge, as he received two Premier League titles and was named within the PFA Premier League Group of the Yr in 2015.

1. Gary Cahill

There couldn’t have been many Chelsea followers who anticipated an excessive amount of from a £7million buy from relegation-destined Bolton in 2012.

However Cahill turned the bedrock of the Chelsea defence all through the last decade, ending his first half-season on the membership with a heroic show within the Champions League ultimate victory over Bayern Munich whereas only-half match.

Making 290 appearances, he was afforded an emotional send-off when he joined Crystal Palace in 2019.

A worthy winner.