Chelsea had just won the Premier League in 2016-17 season. In that season, they had won 30 games, had 3 draws and 5 losses. They were so solid in defending that they conceded just 33 goals. Still they were heavily interested in signing a player who went on to become a legend of the English football. The player which they were looking for was Kyle Walker.
What exactly happened at Chelsea in the 2017 summer transfer window?
Antonio Conte’s side had clenched the league title in 2017. But they had to improve their squad in order to remain competitive. They were trying to be consistent in winning the titles. Every team refresh their squads every season.
Chelsea had signed Alvaro Morata and Tiemoue Bakayoko. But this was not enough for them. Teams in England were working on fifth gear in that summer transfer window.
Manchester City was one of the very few teams who gave competition for the league title. The blue side of Manchester strengthened their defence with the signing of Kyle Walker. Recently, we have come to know that Manchester City won the transfer battle by defeating Chelsea.
Key Stats from Statmuse:
Kyle Walker has 3 goals, 18 assists, 72 clean sheets and 34 blocked shots in 212 appearances for Man City in the Premier League in his career.
What did Kyle Walker say about his “almost” Chelsea move?
Kyle Walker spoke on The Overlap show, that he was in talks with the West London club over a potential transfer. He was very near to make a move to the capital. However, he decided against that particular move to Chelsea. It was because he was coming from Tottenham, another London club. He couldn’t make the switch across the capital city, otherwise it would have been a controversial move.
He said that he was in talks with Chelsea for the transfer, but he didn’t go because of the “Tottenham-Chelsea” thing. The only destination left for him was Manchester City.
Victor Moses played in the right wing-back for the 2016/17 season. He produced some great performances at Stamford Bridge. Kyle Walker, at that time would definitely improved that right-back position for Chelsea. The Englishman would have been a starter for a number of seasons. Though, Reece James would have likely given him competition for his position in the side.
Walker did an incredible thing. He has named James as the successor to his right-back position for England national team. Reece James, when fit has almost established his position under Thomas Tuchel. Although, Kieran Trippier and Tino Livramento are also good in that position.
At Manchester City, Walker had won six Premier League titles. On the other hand, the blue side of London have not won the league title since that 16/17 campaign.
Did Kyle Walker make the right choice ?
Trophies won by Kyle Walker at Manchester City from 2017-18 to 2024-25:
Six Premier League titles, four League Cups, two FA Cups, two Community Shields, the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup- 17 trophies
Trophies won by Chelsea between 2017-18 to 2024-25:
One UEFA Champions League, one UEFA Europa League, one UEFA Super Cup, two FIFA Club World Cups, one UEFA Conference League and one FA Cup.
It can be seen that Kyle Walker made the right choice by going to Manchester City. The Cityzen won 9 more trophies than Chelsea during his time at Manchester. It is quite safe to say that he was in a stable City side while Chelsea at that time were finding consistency.
Players to feature for both Chelsea and Tottenham
The move would definitely attracted the attention of the football world. Media houses and pundits would not have stopped talking about him. It would have caused a debate. The key reason is the rivalry between the two sides.
These two clubs were involved in transfer business for very few players. Two players, William Gallas and Carlo Cudicini have done this. Names like Gus Poyet, Eidur Gudjohnsen, and Conor Gallagher have represented both of these clubs.
Author’s Insight
Kyle Walker is nearing his retirement. Now it’s very natural of him to share his career insights in such interviews. His story of almost joining Chelsea is one such incident of his footballing career.
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Subhabrata Pal
Subhabrata Pal is a junior football writer who has contributed articles covering key developments in football. His work focuses on match events, player performances, and the narratives that shape discussions among fans and the wider football community.Through his contributions to Football Express, Subhabrata produced football coverage aimed at keeping readers informed about important moments, tactical trends, and evolving storylines. His writing blends clear reporting with analytical insights to deliver engaging and informative content for football enthusiasts.
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