From costly flops to Champions League glory, discover how Chelsea finally balances ambition with shrewd decisions, reclaiming their winning pedigree.
Chelsea has regained its life after years of uproar due to many failures. After two seasons without participating in the UEFA Champions League, the Blues have returned in a big way with a Conference League title, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, and a fourth-place finish in the Premier League that allowed them to qualify for the Champions League.
First under Enzo Maresca and now under Liam Rosenior, the London side has found a level and balance enviable to many European teams.
This present reality cost Chelsea a great deal of money and many transfer windows, as for several years, they were making deals that did not work out well at all. The most recent was that of Mudryk, who arrived from Shakhtar Donetsk for €70 million and, some time later, was suspended for a positive doping test.
Chelsea Finds Balance and Success After Years of Costly Transfer Failures
Another bad deal made by Chelsea involves Raheem Sterling, who generated much excitement upon his arrival at the London Blues in July 2022, but nothing could have been further from the truth.
Sterling arrived at Chelsea from Manchester City for €56 million due to his recent high level at City, but he played just 81 matches, with a season on loan in between. He is now sidelined, and according to reports, will terminate his contract with the club.
The English attacker averaged approximately 65 minutes per game in Chelsea's shirt and managed to score 19 goals. Those figures are far from those he had during his time at Manchester City, where he played 339 matches, scored 131 goals, and provided 88 assists. He also averaged 74 minutes per match there.
His prominence diminished considerably to the point of being completely sidelined by the club. His last official match dates back to May 2025, when he was on loan at Arsenal FC.
After that, the Gunners did not want to acquire him; he returned to Chelsea, and Enzo Maresca did not consider him. Now, Sterling will terminate his contract and seek a new club.
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