Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Finally, the transfer market has come to an end. Chelsea made a whopping 10 senior signings during the window as Premier League clubs made a total of 154 first-team additions.
The Blues spent roughly £280m on new signings, including youngsters like Denner and Dastan Satpayev. But the bulk of that figure was splashed on club-record signing Morgan Rogers, costing Chelsea £117m.
João Pedro of Chelsea scores
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Experience was added in Emi Martinez, Jordan Henderson, Danny Welbeck, Maxence Lacroix and Pep Chavarria. Pre-arranged signings Valentin Barco, Emmanuel Emegha and Geovany Quenda also arrived.
Marco Palestra was Xabi Alonso’s first signing, and he ranks highly in The Athletic’s ranking of the Premier League’s 154 summer signings, in 23rd place; but Chelsea also boast the best and worst of the 154 list.
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Emi Martinez: The best PL signing of the entire summer
It’s easy to see why Martinez ranked in first place. Hugely experienced, but still young for a goalkeeper at 33, Martinez brings with him a winning mentality that comes with holding the World Cup trophy aloft.
Chelsea needed a goalkeeper, and they got arguably one of the best in the world. John Terry seems to think it is the signing of the summer, and for £7.5m. A bargain, Martinez ticks all the boxes for Alonso.
It was no surprise to see Martinez thrown straight into the side against Brighton, aside from the surprise that the Premier League allowed him to start hours after Chelsea had announced his arrival on socials.
A brilliant bit of business, and for all the money spent on Rogers, Lacroix, Quenda and Barco, this was a quality addition that immediately improves Chelsea now, and over the next two or three seasons.
Nine of Chelsea’s 10 senior signings have made an impact
Martinez has already had an impact, as has Lacroix. Palestra looks really exciting, while Chavarria has come on and done a job as a substitute. Against Luton, Barco was arguably Chelsea’s best player.
Chelsea v Real Sociedad - Pre-Season Friendly
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Recently, Quenda was voted ninth-best teenager in the world, making him an astute bit of business, and it is obvious what Henderson and Welbeck bring to this side. The latter has already scored for Chelsea.
The same goes for Rogers, who also laid on an assist against Brighton and hit the bar in the win over Luton. There is one player that raises severe question marks, and that is striker Emmanuel Emegha.
Emegha voted worst signing among Premier League clubs
While it is harsh to judge the Dutchman without him even making a first-team appearance, the signing does feel like Chelsea were simply protecting their assets in hope of a bigger sale, when doing the deal.
Chelsea FC Training Session
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Emegha will be third-choice this season, but has not even played a minute yet due to another injury – which is the story of his last 18 months at Strasbourg. Can he prove The Athletic’s survey wrong?
Maybe. Will Alonso give him the necessary game time to be able to do that? Unlikely. Don’t be shocked if Emegha secures a loan departure in January, or is shoved out of Chelsea like Liam Delap was this summer.