Chelsea spent over £277million last summer on eight new signings but not all of them have been hits at Stamford Bridge
14:40, 17 Feb 2026
Alejandro Garnacho
View 2 Images
Alejandro Garnacho is yet to set the world alight at Chelsea(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA)
Chelsea spent big last summer on bringing a load of new signings to the club. In total, the Blues splashed over £277million on new players and we are almost a season in to their respective tenures at Stamford Bridge.
Some have worked, some haven't so far. That is always the case with new signings. It could be a big summer ahead for those who have not settled in just yet.
With all of this being said, our Chelsea writers Bobby Vincent and Jake Stokes have gone through each one of the summer signings and assessed their time at Stamford Bridge so far.
FOLLOW OUR CHELSEA FB PAGE! Latest Blues news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
Joao Pedro
Bobby: It's not always been smooth sailing for Joao Pedro at Chelsea but he seems to be really coming into his own now. The Brazil international shone during his short time at the Club World Cup and started the season tremendously well, but his form fell off a bit after that and people were questioning the Blues spending £60million on him last summer. Now, though, with the 24-year-old improving with every game, such a fee could soon be viewed as a bargain.
Bobby's rating: 8
Jake: Joao Pedro has been brilliant for Chelsea this season, establishing himself as a key player in the starting line-up. Shifting between a striker and a support role, the Brazil international doesn't look out of place at all. The Brazilian has taken his game to the next level under Liam Rosenior, putting any queries about his 'best position' to bed. He's a striker, and a very good one at that, with bags of potential still to be unlocked.
Jake's rating: 9
Jamie Gittens
Bobby: It has not been great for Gittens at Chelsea so far. However, I have seen some supporters completely writing him off and I think that is harsh. Gittens has shown glimpses this season but has lacked consistency and end product. It is really interesting to see how he fares under Rosenior but is currently out with an injury. There is no question, though, Chelsea need more from Gittens.
Bobby's rating: 5
Jake: Gittens has shown glimpses of promise, but unfortunately, since joining Chelsea, he has never proved he can be relied upon to consistently produce at the very highest level. It just feels like we're waiting for the 21-year-old winger to come out of his shell. Perhaps the pressure of his price tag hasn't helped, or the fact that he was rarely trusted by Enzo Maresca, but Gittens needs to have more confidence in his ability. Once he returns from injury, it'll be interesting to see how he gets on under Rosenior.
Jake's rating: 4
Alejandro Garnacho
Bobby: Similarly to Gittens, really, Garnacho needs to show more. The Argentine, though, has shown more than Gittens so far. The 21-year-old winger clearly has potential and has six goals and three assists to back that up this term, but he continues to frustrate the fan base. His decision making is poor at times and that is perhaps what frustrates Chelsea supporters more than anything else.
Bobby's rating: 6
Jake: Garnacho hasn't proved he can be relied upon to consistently produce at the very highest level. That said, the former Manchester United winger has, at least, chipped in with a few goals this season. Has it been worth the £40million and a seven-year contract? No, not yet. Would Chelsea have been better off allocating those funds to a proven, potentially world-class alternative? Yes, of course. Unless either of Garnacho and Gittens significantly improves their output in the final third between now and the end of the season, Chelsea will need to bolster the left flank in the summer.
Jake's rating: 5
Estevao Willian
Bobby: Really positive start for Estevao. The 18-year-old is adored by Chelsea supporters. Nowadays, his name being read out at Stamford Bridge receives such a loud cheer - almost at a Cole Palmer level, and that should tell you everything you need to know about the teenager's start. I would like to see him start more but there is no doubting over time that my wish will be granted.
Bobby's rating: 8
Jake: Estevao has been a joy to watch for Chelsea this season. He has been somewhat held back since arriving at Stamford Bridge, probably more so under Maresca than Rosenior, which has been frustrating at times for supporters. But I've been satisfied with his workload. At the end of the day, he's 18. He's left his homeland to start a new life on the other side of the world. Of course, he needs to be looked after – on and off the pitch!
Jake's rating: 8
Estevao Willian
View 2 Images
Chelsea have a superstar on their hands with Estevao Willian(Image: Harry Langer/DeFodi Images)
Jorrel Hato
Bobby: There have been some difficult times for the Dutchman since moving to Chelsea last summer. See the draw away at Qarabag in November, for instance, but since Rosenior was appointed, Hato has been excellent. The improvement is clear for everyone to see and it looks as if Chelsea have one hell of a defender on their hands. With Marc Cucurella set for a spell out of the side due to injury, we could be about to see more of Hato in the coming weeks.
Bobby's rating: 7
Jake: The last six weeks or so have certainly salvaged a respectable rating for Hato. After a handful of appearances in the opening weeks of the season, the 19-year-old defender was suddenly omitted from Maresca's plans. The Netherlands international has taken on a far greater role in Rosenior's side and, as every week goes by, he looks more and more comfortable in the English top flight. Hato was shaky at first, but he’s really come out of his shell in 2026.
Jake's rating: 7
Liam Delap
Bobby: It's just not quite happened yet. Injuries and suspensions haven't helped Chelsea's No.9 but even during his time on the pitch, it has not been a great watch. There is potential there, despite what some supporters believe, and there is a route for Delap to be successful at Chelsea under Rosenior. However, he is well and truly the second-choice option for the striker role at the moment and he could fall even further down the pecking order in the summer.
Bobby's rating: 4
Jake: Unfortunately, Delap wasn't afforded a quiet start to life at Stamford Bridge. The 23-year-old striker did well in an understudy role towards the end of the Club World Cup campaign before enjoying a similar role in the Premier League. But just as Delap looked set for a run of starts, he suffered a hamstring injury. Understandably, the Englishman was frustrated, and it showed when he returned from the sidelines. Delap then sustained a shoulder problem, extinguishing any momentum he had built. It seems like the Blues striker is back on track, and, like many of his teammates, looked much better under Rosenior.
Jake's rating: 6
Dario Essugo
It's not happened yet for Essugo. The 20-year-old midfielder has spent the season on the sidelines due to injury.
Rating: N/A
Mamadou Sarr
Sarr is a difficult one to assess because he has only appeared once for Chelsea this season since being recalled from Strasbourg. The Senegal international certainly impressed, though, with his performance at Hull City on Friday evening.
Rating: N/A
Article continues below
Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings