Chelsea's 10 Greatest January Transfer Window Signings of the Premier League Era
With the January transfer window closing tomorrow, Chelsea have waited until the final hours to complete their rumoured winter business.
Fiorentina's £23.3 million-rated Juan Cuadrado has all but signed—via BBC Sport—even tweeting a picture of "the Bridge" on his official account. He appears to be replacing Andre Schurrle; the German World Cup winner—per ESPN FC—is expected to join VfL Wolfsburg for around €30/£22.5 million.
Notoriously challenging to complete deals, the winter window often proves difficult to sway fortunes, but done correctly, it can be a terrific asset. Last year Jose Mourinho signed two players who have started their rise as Chelsea stars—assisting the club to its current place atop the Premier League table.
Before possible addition(s) this season, now seems a great time to look back and examine the Blues' best January collars.
10. Scott Parker (2004)
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The bottom of Chelsea's January transfer window signings is rather bare. There is always a "best of the worst," though, and Scott Parker is the man elected.
Bought from Charlton Athletic for £10 million, there was thought to be promise for the then-23-year-old in a Chelsea shirt. Parker was expected to give Frank Lampard cover in midfield and be a possible successor to the new, but on-the-older-side Claude Makelele.
Before Jose Mourinho arrived in the summer of 2004, Parker was named the 2003/04 PFA Young Player of the Year—his only lasting at Stamford Bridge for 17 months should be classed as a relative shame.
9. George Weah (2000)
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Even before Roman Abramovich came to west London in 2003, the greatest African player of his generation was—for a short while—a Chelsea man.
AC Milan loaned their 1995 Ballon d'Or winner, George Weah, to Stamford Bridge in January of 2000. The winter transfer window was not an official FIFA business period until 2002/03, but manager Gianluca Vialli was able to secure needed striking quality nonetheless.
Scoring on his debut vs. Tottenham Hotspur, as well as aiding the Blues to FA Cup glory, it is rather disappointing Chelsea were unable to keep the Liberian legend for more than six months.
8. Demba Ba (2013)
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Demba Ba was an underrated, underused player in his time at Chelsea.
The likes of Fernando Torres and Samuel Eto'o were preferred options in his 18-month Stamford Bridge stint, but Ba—bought for £7 million from Newcastle United—was a relative success.
Ba had his moments in London: Goals against Manchester United in the FA Cup, Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and capitalising on Steven Gerrard's mistake at Anfield in 2014 his lasting highlights.
Leaving for Besiktas before the start of 2014/15, Ba has scored 16 goals in 19 appearances for his new club—suggesting Chelsea should have kept him a while longer.
7. Fernando Torres (2011)
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There is an argument because of his £50 million fee, and subsequent struggles, Fernando Torres should not be considered—as the Spanish striker was an unquestioned flop. He did, however, have positive Chelsea moments which cannot be denied.
Though overblown—as Chelsea were advancing on away goals—Torres sealed Chelsea's trip to Munich in the 2011/12 Champions League semi-final vs. Barcelona. In the UCL final, he won the corner which was converted by Didier Drogba, and assisted by Juan Mata.
In 2013, Torres also scored vs. Benfica in the Europa League final.
Two moments worth £25 million a piece, and the UCL corner—all his weekly wages: Terribly overpriced, yet also important.
6. Kurt Zouma (2014)
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A full projection could see Kurt Zouma as Chelsea's best January transfer signing, but for now he still has things to prove.
Acquired from AS Saint-Etienne in 2014 for £12.5 million, Jose Mourinho has earmarked the French centre-back as a long-term option for John Terry or Gary Cahill. From all the evidence shown thus far, the 20-year-old was a relative steal.
Powerful, quick and possessing an impressive leap, Zouma has every tool one needs to deal with the Premier League; all he requires is experience. Playing alongside Terry—both in games and in training—he has no better teacher.
5. Nicolas Anelka (2008)
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One of the most nomadic players in world football, Nicolas Anelka has played for 12 clubs in seven countries—his spell at Stamford Bridge arguably his best.
Leaving Bolton Wanderers for £15 million, the French striker needed six months to acclimate. In 2008/09, Anelka scored 19 goals in 37 Premier League matches, being one of a select few Chelsea strikers who kept Didier Drogba quiet.
Interestingly, Anelka missed the final penalty of the 2007/08 Champions League final shootout vs. Manchester United. He left Chelsea in the winter of 2012—four months before the Blues went on to win their first European crown.
4. David Luiz (2011)
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Gary Neville's "PlayStation" footballer, David Luiz was not the most stalwart of Chelsea centre-backs, but he was never boring.
The former Benfica man's most important performance came in the 2012 Champions League final—where he helped frustrate Bayern Munich for two hours and converted a ferocious penalty in the eventual shootout—despite injury concerns.
Switching Chelsea for Paris Saint-Germain last summer, one could argue the amiable Luiz's best contribution was his fee, making a £19 million profit for the west Londoners.
The £40 million Brazilian defender will return to Stamford Bridge this February in the Champions League, surely with a smile on his face.
3. Gary Cahill (2012)
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Since the arrival of Roman Abramovich, bargain buys who are purchased with the intent to play have been few and far between. Living in a world where the likes of David Luiz cost £40 million, Chelsea buying Gary Cahill for £7 million from Bolton Wanderers in 2012 was terrific business.
Starting in two cup finals for the Blues, winning both and proving a great partner for compatriot John Terry, Cahill made himself an automatic selection.
Not having the greatest 2014/15 campaign has brought Kurt Zouma into the equation, but for Chelsea to have any chance at trophies (in three competitions)—they need at least three functioning centre-backs, not two.
2. Nemanja Matic (2014)
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Nemanja Matic leaving Chelsea for virtual pennies then coming back for £21 million had many questioning the Blues' transfer policy. While transfers over the past five years have been rather hit-or-miss, the decision to return Matic from Portugal's Benfica was a masterstroke.
Tall, technical and savvy on the ball, the Serbian international has easily established himself as Jose Mourinho's best defensive midfield option and possibly the best defensive midfielder in world football.
Where the 26-year-old ends up in the hierarchy of Chelsea's wonderful midfield talent is still to be determined, but over the past 12 months, Matic has certainly climbed the ranks.
1. Branislav Ivanovic (2008)
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A versatile defender, originally bought as a centre-back, Branislav Ivanovic has made himself into possibly the Premier League's best right-back.
Bought in the January window directly after Jose Mourinho left west London in September of 2007 (from FC Lokomotiv Moscow for £9 million) the Serbian has played 300 matches for the club, and given the Blues professional service for the better part of a decade.
Turning over an attacking leaf this season, the Serbian national team captain has been at the spear of numerous attacking movements; trusted by Mourinho to be disciplined, how Ivanovic plays is a determining factor in how Chelsea perform.
Honorable Mentions / Who Ya Got?
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For all the talent in Chelsea's books, there are always those who fail to grasp an opportunity or have yet to prove themselves.
Kevin De Bruyne was bought in January of 2012 and played only three Premier League matches for Chelsea. Were he to have played more frequently or stayed with the club—displaying the skill he has at VfL Wolfsburg—his inclusion in this list would have been a formality.
There are two players who have yet to be given their first-team chance at Stamford Bridge, and they both play for Middlesbrough. Kenneth Omeruo had an impressive World Cup for Nigeria and is on loan in the Championship, his team-mate Patrick Bamford was bought in the same 2012 window and looks primed for an impressive career if given an opportunity up front.
How would you have ranked Chelsea's January transfer window acquisitions? Breathe life into the comments section.
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase.com where not noted.
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