Chelsea have made some questionable additions since Todd Boehly bought the club back in May 2022, wasting a whole heap of money on players not up to the level required of the Premier League.
Mykhailo Mudryk cost the Blues £88.5m back in January 2023, with high expectations of providing added quality to the frontline of the first-team squad.
However, fast-forward two years, the Ukrainian international has only scored 10 times and hasn’t featured since December after his provisional suspension for testing positive for a banned substance.
It’s safe to say the club won’t be able to command a fee anywhere near close to what they forked out for his signature, needing to bear such dealings in mind going forward.
Mudryk is only one player in a long list of signings made during the American’s tenure at the club who have failed to deliver, with numerous still currently on the books at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s worst signings of the Boehly era
Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez remains a player who continues to divide opinions amongst the fanbase, producing inconsistent displays which have often cost the Blues key points.
The Spaniard ultimately cost them a chance of claiming at least a point against Manchester City after coming off his line and being beaten by Erling Haaland, who managed to clip the ball over him into the back of the net.
Christopher Nkunku is another player who’s been unable to produce the goods on a consistent basis, registering just three Premier League goals in his 24 appearances to date.
After such a poor return, it would be a surprise to no one if he were to depart in the summer, looking to cut their losses after paying £52m for his signature from RB Leipzig back in the summer of 2023.
Any transfer would leave a desperate need for a new attacker, something which boss Enzo Maresca has desperately desired since his appointment – potentially going back in for a target they’ve previously monitored.
The former Chelsea ace who’s been like Isak since leaving
Alexander Isak was a player on Chelsea’s radar in the summer, but Newcastle United demanded a fee of over £100m for his services – which would’ve made him the third player to join the Blues for such a figure since Boehly’s arrival.
The Swede’s tally of 22 goals in all competitions will only have further increased his market value, potentially pricing Maresca’s side out of any move for him at the end of the season.
Regardless of whether Isak arrives in the summer, another attacking talent is needed in forward areas to help Maresca in his quest to take the club back to their former glory – but it’s important they don’t conduct a repeat of one signing.
Former striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang matched Nkunku in failing to deliver during his short period at the Bridge, making just 21 appearances and scoring just three times before leaving on a free transfer in the summer of 2023 to join Marseille.
Since his departure, the Gabonese international has found his goalscoring form, notching 43 goals in the last two seasons, leading to FBref ranking him as a similar player to £100m target Isak.
When comparing his stats to Newcastle’s talisman in 2024/25, the now 35-year-old has managed to match or better him in numerous key areas – albeit doing so in a lower quality division, currently plying his trade in Saudi Arabia.
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How Aubameyang compares to Isak in 2024/25 |
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|---|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90) |
Aubameyang |
Isak |
|
Games played |
22 |
25 |
|
Goals & assists |
13 |
24 |
|
Shot-on-target accuracy |
49% |
46% |
|
Shots on target |
1.6 |
1.3 |
|
Pass accuracy |
75% |
74% |
|
Take-on success |
56% |
47% |
|
Fouls won |
0.8 |
0.4 |
|
Stats vis FBref |
||
The former Arsenal star, who was dubbed “horrific” during his time at the Blues by Aaron Catterson-Reid, has registered slightly fewer combined goals and assists, but has managed to achieve a higher shot-on-target rate – showcasing his clinical edge.
He’s also completed more of his attempted passes and completed more take-ons, providing an all-round option at the top of the pitch with the skillset he possesses.
There’s no denying that Aubameyang failed to produce his quality during his short stint in West London, with his transfer needing to be a stark reminder going into the transfer market this summer.
However, his goalscoring record is there for all to see, recapturing his best form away from the Blues, with his dismal spell at Chelsea now appearing as a small blip in his successful career.
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