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News
- 17 minutes ago
Chelsea sold 'best in the world' player - and now Liam Rosenior is paying the price
Cameron Smith
- Updated: 12 Mar 2026 15:37 GMT
- 8 min read
Analysis
Chelsea have made plenty of transfer mistakes over the years, and issues in the market have plagued the BlueCo era up to this point. Over €1.7 billion has been spent on new signings and the west London giants are no closer to winning a first Premier League title since 2016-17.
None of this is new ground, but Chelsea are still far from the finished product and maintaining a season-long title charge seems like a distant fantasy as things stand. In Liam Rosenior, they also have an extremely inexperienced manager at the helm and Chelsea simply must get their transfer business right this summer if they want to end their current malaise.
In the same week as Rosenior’s side fell victim to a 5-2 drubbing at the hands of reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain, former academy star Lewis Hall was delivering a masterful performance against the best young talent in world football: Lamine Yamal.
Current ETV
Lewis Hall
D (L)
Lewis Hall
D (L)
Newcastle
ETV Range
€30.3M - €37M
The England international spent 12 years at Chelsea before his exit in 2023 and his departure must sting the Blues hierarchy a little more with every passing match. After all, he rarely ever has a poor game and he was exemplary during Newcastle United’s 1-1 draw versus Barcelona on Tuesday night.
Hall created the most chances of any player on the pitch (five), while Yamal also failed to complete a single dribble when faced against his opposite number. It was a complete performance from a player who is getting better every single week.
In fact, in response to Hall’s Instagram post after the game, Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes wrote: “Best in the world.” PSG star Nuno Mendes is a worthy adversary, but Guimaraes isn’t far from the truth. Hall is simply that good.
His ability to progressively carry the ball is mesmeric, his close control is better than any left-back in the Premier League bar none and he is also an excellent one-vs-one defender out wide. This is a generational talent. And Chelsea sold him for just €33 million.
Champions League nights under the lights are where true superstars are born and Hall may have just delivered the performance that cements his place among the European elite. A performance to show his hand as one of the very best on the planet. A performance that proves to Thomas Tuchel that England’s left-back spot at the upcoming World Cup simply has to be his.
Lewis Hall: Chelsea rue major transfer blunder
When asked about the defender, FootballTransfers’ Newcastle United expert Suraj Radia said: “Hall is perhaps the one thing going right in a difficult season for Newcastle and the youngster has become arguably Eddie Howe’s most valuable asset since his move in 2023.
“He arrived with some question marks over his defensive ability but his display against Yamal this week showed just how far he has come and why he will undoubtedly be England’s starting left-back for years to come.
“His composure and ability on the ball, coupled with his intelligence and athleticism, makes for a mature player well beyond his years and Newcastle’s most important summer deal will be ensuring they keep hold of their star defender by tying him down to a new contract as soon as possible.”
Hall is the real deal and it was obvious from day one. He was dropped into an abysmal Chelsea team in the 2022-23 season, having been prevented from representing England at the U20 World Cup, and he was immediately a standout performer.
But, when Newcastle came knocking with a €33m offer, Chelsea’s hierarchy believed they couldn’t refuse it. After all, Hall was eager to join Howe’s side, as a boyhood Newcastle fan, and the deal represented impressive ‘pure profit.’
However, it was abundantly clear that Chelsea were making a huge mistake - as pointed out at the time. Two-and-a-half years later, Hall is one of the best left-backs in the world and he would undoubtedly be a hugely useful asset for Rosenior.
Cucurella has, of course, grown into an astute left-back and he certainly isn’t one of the core issues at Stamford Bridge, but Hall is still only 21 years old and he is already an elite player. Given Chelsea’s obsession with wonderkids, they would almost certainly be pursuing his signature if they hadn’t sold him in 2023, and that’s a huge issue.
Chelsea’s transfer policy is already risky enough thanks to their refusal to acknowledge the benefit of experience. Selling your own world-class talents, who progressed through your youth system, is another low altogether. Hall is a prime example and Josh Acheampong could feasibly follow suit if the Blues aren’t careful.
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