Chelsea haven’t been shy with their spending in recent years — with the club smashing a series of transfer records since Todd Boehly’s BlueCo organisation took control.
Led by Boehly, Clearlake Capital, Mark Walter and Hansjorg Wyss, BlueCo completed their takeover in 2022. What followed was an unprecedented spending spree. In their first full season, Chelsea shelled out £747million on transfers. Within two years, their total transfer outlay under the new regime surged past a staggering £1billion.
Roughly one-tenth of that amount went on one player - Enzo Fernandez. The Argentine midfielder arrived from Benfica in January 2023 after Chelsea agreed to pay his £106.8million release clause — despite him only joining the Portuguese club a few months earlier.
Not only did the deal for the 2022 World Cup winner break Chelsea’s transfer record, it also became the most expensive transfer in Premier League history. Fernandez signed a long-term contract until 2032 and reportedly earns £180,000 per week. Though his early months in England were inconsistent, the 23-year-old has become a key figure under new head coach Enzo Maresca.
Before Fernandez, Chelsea’s most expensive signing was Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian striker had left Stamford Bridge in 2014 for £28million but returned in 2021 for £97.5million — more than three times the amount Chelsea originally sold him for.
Cole Palmer with the Conference League trophy alongside Enzo Fernandez and Reece James
Enzo Fernandez captained Chelsea to the Conference League final victory (Image: Sebastian Frej)
Lukaku had established himself as one of Europe’s top forwards with successful spells at Everton, Manchester United and Inter Milan, so the club’s decision seemed justified at the time.
However, the move quickly soured. He scored just 15 goals in 44 appearances before being loaned out to Inter the following season. Another loan followed at Roma in 2023/24, and in 2024 he was sold to Napoli for around £30million — a costly chapter in Chelsea’s transfer history.
Before Lukaku claimed the spotlight, it was Kepa Arrizabalaga who held the club record. The Spanish goalkeeper joined in 2018 for £71.6million after Chelsea triggered his release clause at Athletic Bilbao, making him the most expensive goalkeeper of all time.
Kepa’s time at Stamford Bridge was marred by inconsistent form and a number of high-profile errors. His infamous refusal to be substituted during extra-time of the 2019 Carabao Cup final - defying then-manager Maurizio Sarri - remains a defining image of his Chelsea career.
Kepa Arrizabalaga refused to come off during the Carabao Cup final
Kepa Arrizabalaga refused to come off during the Carabao Cup final (Image: Getty Images)
Now 30, Kepa returned from a loan spell at Bournemouth this summer and is entering the final year of his contract. football.london understands that Arsenal are interested in signing Kepa and will hope to convince him to make the move to the Emirates Stadium this summer.
Chelsea’s record-breaking tendencies go back further. In the early 2000s, their £30.8million signing of Andriy Shevchenko broke the British transfer record and held it for two years.
Then in 2011, Fernando Torres’ £50million switch from Liverpool stood as the club’s most expensive signing until Kepa surpassed it seven years later.
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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