(Credit: Hasan Karim - Breaking Media / Imago)

Ben Palmer

Tue 12 August 2025 17:02, UK

Chelsea’s bold transfer strategy has “huge risk” attached to it but it appears to finally be reaping dividends.

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That is the verdict of football finance expert Dan Plumley, who told Football Insider exclusively that the Blues’ owners will “feel vindicated” with the approach they have taken to buying and selling since taking over in 2022.

Jorrel Hato’s arrival at Chelsea this summer marked the 49th signing the West London club have made since Todd Boehly and his consortium bought the club.

Liam Delap joined Chelsea this summer.

(Credit: Imago)

49 signings ago for Man United was Ander Herrera in 2014, and for Liverpool, 49 signings ago was Nathaniel Clyne, who joined in 2015.

But after a rocky start that saw the Blues consistently miss out on Champions League football, Chelsea won two trophies last season and will play in Europe’s premier competition next season.

This article contains exclusive comment from Dan Plumley, a football finance expert and senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University.

Hato’s signing is especially pertinent, given that Levi Colwill will miss a large portion of next season after injuring his ACL.

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The Dutchman will be the perfect replacement as a left-sided centre-back and the West London club’s decision to hoover up talent gives Enzo Maresca ample cover in most positions.

However, the flipside of the strategy has also reared its head this summer.

Chelsea were hit with a record fine by UEFA for failing to comply with their financial rules, and should they continue to stray, the Blues could be banned from European competition.

Levi Colwill suffered an ACL injury in pre-season.

(Credit Imago)

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Plumley explained why he was still not sold on the strategy, even if the Blues are winning trophies: “I said this all along with Chelsea, we’re going to look really stupid, or they’re going to look really stupid.

“We’re probably sort of somewhere in the middle at the moment.

They’ve had European success, and they’ve just won the Club World Cup.

“The next season in the Premier League will be very interesting; Champions League football, and they had a good run last season.

“They’ll say that they’re starting to see success and that’s part of the strategy.

“I’m still not sure where the long-term strategy is, because it does still feel a little bit scattergun for me as you’re looking at it.

They’ve run into problems with UEFA; they might run into problems with UEFA again.

“There are still a few question marks at the minute.”

The West London club’s strategy of buying up large swathes of players dictates that big sales are necessary.

Pete O’Rourke told Football Insider exclusively that Newcastle are leading four other teams in the race to sign Nicolas Jackson.

Nicolas Jackson may depart Chelsea this summer.
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