Chelsea Football Club’s recent transfer window

Since American Todd Boehly’s takeover of Chelsea Football Club was confirmed on May 31, 2022, the club has been on a spending frenzy. Former owner Roman Abramovich had already transformed Chelsea into one of European football’s financial heavyweights when he bought the club in 2003, but under the leadership of new billionaire owner Boehly and his group, the club’s spending has reached new heights.

In the summer of 2022, Chelsea narrowly eclipsed Manchester United as the highest spenders in the transfer market, with a total outlay of more than £251 million ($305 million) and a net investment of almost £206 million ($250 million). These figures are the highest ever recorded in the Premier League.

So, how much has Boehly spent in total since taking over the club? And who is in charge of Chelsea’s transfers? Here, we take a closer look at these questions and more, starting with a full list of the club’s signings since Boehly’s arrival.

How much money has Todd Boehly spent as Chelsea owner?

American businessman Todd Boehly’s takeover of Chelsea Football Club in May 2022 was a big moment for the club, and it was accompanied by a significant financial commitment from Boehly. As part of the sale agreement, Boehly was required to provide £1.75 billion ($2.1 billion) to Chelsea over a period of 10 years. This investment was in addition to the cost of buying the club, which was £2.5 billion ($3.2 billion).

Since taking over the club, Boehly has been active in the transfer market, spending big to bring in new players and build a team that can compete at the highest level. While the exact amount Boehly has spent so far is not publicly available, published and reported figures for the club’s signings bring the total to over £419.4 million of the £1.75 billion committed (nearly $511 million of $2.1 billion) as of January 21, 2023.

Are Chelsea overspending for players?

Todd Boehly’s transfer approach as Chelsea owner has come under criticism, with some citing his inexperience in football as the reason for his heavy spending. However, a closer examination of the numbers suggests that Chelsea may have actually underpaid for the talent they have acquired.

According to reports, Chelsea have acquired players such as Raheem Sterling, Benoit Badiashile, Kalidou Koulibaly, Andrey Santos, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for fees that are lower than what other clubs were reportedly willing to pay. This suggests that the club may have been able to secure these players at a bargain.

However, not all of Chelsea’s acquisitions have been met with such praise. The high fee paid for Wesley Fofana, for example, was seen as inevitable given that the center-back had already signed a contract with Leicester City that extended until 2027. Additionally, the fee paid for Marc Cucurella was criticized even before the full-back’s underwhelming start to his Chelsea career, as Brighton had previously acquired him for a quarter of the fee Chelsea paid.

Additionally, Chelsea’s acquisition of Joao Felix on loan from Atletico Madrid has also raised questions about the value of the deal. With Atletico ruling out a permanent transfer at the end of the loan, it remains to be seen whether the loan fee Chelsea paid will ultimately deliver value.

Despite these criticisms, Chelsea’s acquisition of Mykhailo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk is seen as a smart move. The club reportedly offered a bit more than Arsenal to reach Shakhtar Donetsk’s €100 million valuation and secure the services of the player.

Overall, Todd Boehly’s transfer approach as Chelsea owner has been met with mixed reactions. While some view his heavy spending as reckless, others argue that the club has secured some talented players at a bargain. Time will tell if the investments will pay off for the club.