Thomas Tuchel’s managerial reign at Chelsea saw some impressive achievements, including winning the Champions League, but his record in the transfer market tells a different story.
While Tuchel’s tactical acumen is widely praised, his player recruitment at Chelsea was far from successful. Let’s take a look at the top 8 disastrous signings Tuchel made at Chelsea and where they are now.
8. Carney Chukwuemeka
Thomas Tuchel hoped Carney Chukwuemeka would be a star of the future when he signed the teenager from Aston Villa for €18 million. However, Chukwuemeka has struggled to break into the team. There was speculation about his departure last summer, but he stayed, though with limited playing time.
7. Denis Zakaria
In 2022, Chelsea signed Denis Zakaria on loan from Juventus for €3 million. Zakaria was expected to bolster Chelsea’s midfield but turned out to be a disappointment, featuring in just seven Premier League games. After his underwhelming stint, Zakaria returned to Juventus before moving to Monaco.
6. Saúl Níguez
Saúl joined Chelsea on loan from Atlético Madrid in 2021, with hopes that he’d add quality and experience to their midfield. Instead, he delivered disappointing performances, starting just six Premier League games. With no goals or assists to his name, Saúl’s time at Chelsea was forgettable. He returned to Atlético and is now playing on loan at Sevilla.
5. Raheem Sterling
Tuchel brought in Raheem Sterling in 2022 for €56 million with the intention of making him a key player for Chelsea. However, despite a few goals, Sterling missed countless chances and made poor decisions in the final third. He has since been loaned to Arsenal, highlighting just how far things went off track with this signing.
4. Kalidou Koulibaly
Kalidou Koulibaly, once considered one of the best defenders in Europe, was signed from Napoli for €42 million in 2022. But the Senegalese center-back, already in his 30s, never settled at Chelsea. His performances were error-prone and shaky, leading Chelsea to offload him to Al-Hilal after just one season.
3. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Aubameyang’s return to the Premier League in 2022 was expected to be a fairytale comeback. Chelsea signed him for just €12 million, but the veteran striker failed to live up to expectations, scoring only three goals in 21 appearances. He was quickly moved on to Marseille before eventually signing for Al-Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia.
2. Wesley Fofana
Wesley Fofana was one of Chelsea’s most expensive defenders, signed for €80.5 million in 2022. At just 21 years old, Fofana was seen as a long-term solution at the back. However, persistent injuries have sidelined him for 16 months since joining the club. While he’s still young, his unavailability makes this a massive flop for the club.
1. Romelu Lukaku
The worst of the bunch is undoubtedly Romelu Lukaku. Chelsea re-signed him for €113 million after their Champions League triumph, expecting him to spearhead a title charge. Instead, Lukaku fell out with Tuchel, struggled to make an impact, and became an instant flop. After being loaned out to Inter and Roma, Chelsea finally cut ties with the Belgian, selling him to Napoli in 2023.
Conclusion
While Thomas Tuchel’s time at Chelsea will be remembered for tactical brilliance and silverware, his recruitment record leaves much to be desired. From injury-prone stars to misfit loan deals, these signings collectively cost Chelsea hundreds of millions without delivering the desired impact on the pitch.
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