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Chelsea's €1.7 billion failure: How world's most expensive squad is causing Maresca costly problems
Robin Bairner
- 31 Oct 2025 01:47 CDT
- 5 min read
Analysis
Chelsea have spent more than €1.7 billon on players in the last three years yet Enzo Maresca’s side still find themselves lacking quality and consistency in significant areas of their squad.
Only champions Liverpool outspent the Blues this summer, although Chelsea will point to their league-high sales which led to a net spend of just €6 million. Nevertheless, the London club’s dealings have left much to be desired.
Of the ten arrivals during the summer, perhaps only 18-year-old Estevao can be considered to be meeting expectations, with the Brazilian wonderkid scoring three times in his last five appearances in all competitions.
Compared
Estêvão
F, M (R)
Chelsea
Estêvão
F, M (R)
Chelsea
VS
João Pedro
F, M, AM (C)
Chelsea
João Pedro
F, M, AM (C)
Chelsea
|
|
ETV |
|
| €68.7M - €83.9M | ETV Range | €55.2M - €67.5M |
| 18 years old (24 Apr, 2007) | Age | 24 years old (26 Sep, 2001) |
|
Brazil
|
Nationality |
Brazil
|
Joao Pedro made a significant impact initially after his €63m transfer from Brighton in July, netting five times in his first six appearances, including the Club World Cup, but the 24-year-old has not scored in eight matches since.
Forwards Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens arrived for a combined €102m. Neither has shown enough to make Chelsea’s left wing spot their own, although both players scored on their most recent appearances, which could spark a surge in form.
Compared
Alejandro Garnacho
F (L), M (RL)
Chelsea
Alejandro Garnacho
F (L), M (RL)
Chelsea
VS
Jamie Gittens
F, M (L)
Chelsea
Jamie Gittens
F, M (L)
Chelsea
2025/2026
Season Statistics
2025/2026
| 7 | Appearances | 11 |
| 1 | Goals | 1 |
| 0 | Assists | 3 |
| 332 | Minutes Played | 497 |
| 2 | Key Passes | 13 |
| 9 | Shots Total | 11 |
While the club’s investment in young players means that patience will need to be shown towards their new signings, Maresca’s team looks no stronger in the short term, despite the money spent and leaves Chelsea in an awkward position both on and off the pitch.
Chelsea scrambling for solutions despite record transfer outlay
Maresca enjoyed a strong first season at Stamford Bridge by winning the Europa Conference League and leading Chelsea to Champions League qualification. Success, though, has raised expectations, particularly after winning the Club World Cup.
But the Blues have failed to press their advantage, both in terms of results and identity. Last weekend’s home defeat to newly promoted Sunderland emphasised the work still needing to be done by Maresca.
Of course, the Italian has had to deal with injuries to several key players, with Cole Palmer set for a further month on the sidelines, but a team with the transfer bill of Chelsea’s will not garner much sympathy for failing to address quality in depth.
Indeed, in Jorrel Hato, Liam Delap and Dario Essugo, Chelsea still have more than €100m of summer signings yet to show any signs of life due to injury, poor form or a combination of both.
Chelsea’s problems have led them to use a joint-Premier League high of 25 players already this season. Indeed, Maresca has often relied on figures he initially did not expect to be a major part of the squad, such as Josh Acheampong, Tyrique George and Marc Guiu.
The club are likely to continue pushing their financial limits to spend heavily next year, particularly with glaring flaws with their options in goal, at centre-back and up front.
Players seen as undervalued young talent will, no doubt, form the bulk of Chelsea's targets, but progress needs to be made with their latest crop of arrivals to avoid another year of transition for the world's most expensive team.
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