After buying Chelsea in 2003, Roman Abramovich ran the most successful period in Chelsea's history. Between 2003 and 2022, Chelsea won 21 major trophies under Abramovich, including two Champions League titles and five Premier League titles. With Abramovich now ready to sell the club, who is the best 10 signings he has made since his 19-year club career?
Cech (£7 million, Rennes, 2004)
When Cech came to Chelsea, Cudicini was the number one goalkeeper, but after Cudiccini was injured in pre-season, Cech was promoted to No. 1 goalkeeper and he never relinquished that position again. He won the Premier League title in his first year and won the Golden Glove Award, conceding only 15 goals in 21 games during the season. It was Jose Mourinho's first season in charge and Chelsea had transformed English football. He won a total of 14 trophies at the club before being sold to Arsenal for a transfer fee of £3 million. He is Chelsea's best goalkeeper ever and his helmet is an iconic symbol in English football.
Carvalho (£20 million, Porto, 2004)
Many people have underestimated Ricardo Carvalho, who was Mourinho's main signing after taking charge of Chelsea, who brought Carvalho from Porto and it's clear why he wants to do that. In addition to the aforementioned Petr Cech and Chelsea captain John Terry, Carvalho's addition has given the Blues one of the strongest defences of the early 2000s, helping the club to win consecutive Premier League titles while conceding just 37 goals in both seasons. Conceded less than one goal in every two games. Before Mourinho joined Inter Milan, Carvalho was a key player. Under Hiddink's leadership, Carvalho's position was taken away by Alex. However, he returned to the starting line under Ancelotti and helped the club win league and cup doubles in 2009-10. In 2010, after winning an impressive three Premier League titles in six years, he left the club to join Real Madrid in reuniting with Jose Mourinho.
Drogba (£24 million, Marseille, 2004)
Didier-Drogba knows how to show up when it matters most. Mourinho has made up his mind to sign him since his fight against the Ivorian at Porto, and his wish came true in his first summer as Chelsea manager. Many people questioned this at the time, but the 104 Premier League goals and 16 trophies that followed dispelled all doubts. While his scoring record is often criticised by rival fans, Drogba isn't just a pure number nine, in fact he's scored more than 12 assists in three different Premier League seasons. And Lampard can only do that in two seasons. Scoring 10 goals in 10 finals, Drogba is undoubtedly a Chelsea legend, and his style may be a nightmare for Vidic, who described the Ivorian as the "hardest body" striker he has ever faced. His heroic performance in the 2012 Champions League final cemented his position as one of Chelsea's greatest players of all time.
Essien (£24.4 million, Lyon, 2005)
At the time, Chelsea's most expensive signing ever, Essien joined the Blues as Ligue 1 Player of the Year and maintained his form in England. Essien is the strongest midfielder outside Lampard and is a key member of another Premier League-winning side at Chelsea, starting 31 times that season. He won the Chelsea Player of the Year award in 2006–07 and was nominated for the Ballon d'Or for the third consecutive year. After several injuries, he became Chelsea's rotation option and left permanently in 2014 after winning nine trophies at the club.
Ashley Cole (£5m + Gala, Arsenal, 2006)
The transfer saga is full of drama, but Ashley Cole was eventually signed by Chelsea in the summer of 2006 and they will be happy to sign him. Dubbed "Cashley" by angry Arsenal fans, Cole went on to become a Chelsea legend, winning a total of nine trophies at the club, including four FA Cups, making him the most respected player in the history of the tournament. Cole is arguably the best left-back in the world between 2005 and 2010, and he's a staunch defender. He played a crucial role in the 2009–10 doubles squad and played a huge role in the 2012 Champions League, scoring key goals in both the semi-finals and the finals and hitting solid hits in penalties. In the 2013-14 season, he was eventually abandoned by the returning Mourinho, watching Azpilicueta ascend to the throne and moving to Roma at the end of that year.
Ivanovich (£9.7 million, Sparta, Moscow, 2008)
After joining in January 2008, Ivanovic failed to play in the first team for the first six months, reportedly due to his lack of fitness and speed. Ivanovic has failed to gain a foothold in right-back or centre-back for the first two seasons, and he is far from being a regular player at Chelsea, but in 2009-10 he recovered under Carlo Ancelotti after Bosingva was injured at the end of the season. Ivanovic was named to the PFA Team of the Year that season, helping the Blues win the double. He missed the 2012 Champions League final due to suspension, but scored the winning goal in extra time against Napoli in the previous quarter-final. He also scored the winning goal in the 2012-13 Europa League final, and as soon as Mourinho returned, he became the best right-back in the country. He helped the team win the Premier League title in 2014-15 and was again named to the PFA Team of the Year. He won a total of 10 trophies at the club.
Azpilicueta (£7 million, Marseille, 2012)
Since moving to Stamford Bridge, Azpilicueta has become a fan favourite and is now the club's captain. In his first year, he was a rotation option, but under Mourinho he became the first choice for left-backs. Despite being a right-footed player, he has excelled in this position and has been named Chelsea Player of the Year. He was crucial in Chelsea's 2014-15 title triumph and, under Antonio Conte, eventually left the left-back position. He played as right-centre-back in a 3-4-3 system, and his positional awareness helped the team win another title. Prior to the 2019-20 season, he was appointed club captain, leading the team to victory in the 2020-21 Champions League. He is the seventh-most appearance-making player in Chelsea's history and is considered one of the best full-backs the Premier League has ever seen.
Hazard (£32m, Lille, 2012)
As a member of the reigning Champions of Europe, Hazard quickly became popular in the Premier League and it was a pleasure to watch him play in a Chelsea shirt. He is the ultimate darling of the fans, and after contributing more than 200 goals in more than 350 games, Hazard deserves such praise. His best season was his final, with 16 goals and 15 assists in 32 Premier League starts. Hazard won six trophies at Stamford Bridge and brought £90m in profits to the club on his move to Real Madrid, a deal that couldn't have turned out better.
Kante (£32 million, Leicester City, 2016)
Named PFA Player of the Year in his first season at Chelsea, Kante helped Chelsea win the 2016/17 English top flight title as the first player to win titles in two clubs in a row after Eric Cantona. The perfect partner for Jorginho, Kante is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world, and his style of play has been praised by many. He helped France win the 2018 World Cup, helped Chelsea achieve decisive victories in the 2021 Champions League, and played in the semi-finals and finals.
Jorginho (£50 million, Napoli, 2018)
In the summer of 2018, chelsea cut him off from Manchester City before meeting manager Maurizio Sarri at Stamford Bridge. In his first season, he was not popular with the fans, but later developed into one of the best midfielders in the world. Jorginho played a key role in Chelsea's 2021 Champions League victory, which was a magical year for him, while he also won the European title for Italy. His performance means he finished third in the 2021 Ballon d'Or awards and was named UEFA Player of the Year.