Chelsea haven’t been shy with their spending in recent years —

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, shelled out £747million on transfers.

Roughly one-tenth of that amount went on one player - . — despite him only joining the Portuguese club a few months earlier.

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Not only did the deal for the 2022 World Cup winner break Chelsea’s transfer record, it also became the most expensive transfer in 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

Before Fernandez, Chelsea’s most expensive signing was . but returned in 2021 for £97.5million —

Lukaku had established himself as one of Europe’s top forwards with successful spells at , and , 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

Before Lukaku claimed the spotlight, it was Kepa Arrizabalaga who held the club record. , 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. - defying then-manager - remains a defining image of his Chelsea career.

Now 30, Kepa returned from a loan spell at Bournemouth this summer and is entering the final year of his contract.

Chelsea’s record-breaking tendencies go back further. In the early 2000s, their £30.8million signing of broke the British transfer record and held it for two years.

Then in 2011, £50million switch from Liverpool stood as the club’s most expensive signing until Kepa surpassed it seven years later.