Chelsea had one of the most chaotic and unpredictable summers in English football history back in 2023 as they looked to stop the rot following a dismal first season under Todd Boehly’s stewardship
Upheaval at Chelsea isn’t exactly a foreign concept, but in the summer of 2023, it defined the club. A dismal 12th-place finish in the Premier League – their worst in nearly three decades – capped a turbulent season, despite Todd Boehly’s eye-watering £500million splurge on new signings.
The American owner’s vision of a rapid rebuild backfired spectacularly, leaving the squad bloated, the dressing room fractured, and morale in tatters. Tensions rose, with competition for both starting spots and locker space leaving many questioning their futures.
According to The Telegraph, at least six players were desperate to quit on the final day of the 2022/23 season.
In the end, Chelsea’s summer exodus saw a staggering 15 players depart, from club legends to forgotten signings, reshaping the squad in a way few could have predicted.
The legends: Kante and Azpilicueta
Two pillars of Chelsea’s glory days – N’Golo Kante and Cesar Azpilicueta – walked away on free transfers as their contracts expired. Kante, the tireless midfielder whose relentless energy powered Chelsea’s 2016/17 Premier League and 2021 Champions League triumphs, joined Saudi club Al-Ittihad.
His departure marked the end of an era for a player whose work rate, defensive acumen and, above all, one-of-a-kind humility made him a fan favourite. Azpilicueta, the versatile captain who lifted every major trophy during his 11-year stint, returned to Spain with Atletico Madrid. Both exits, while amicable, left gaping holes in leadership, experience and quality – and even bigger holes in the hearts of supporters.
The shock sales: Mount and Havertz
Perhaps the most stunning moves of the window involved Mason Mount and Kai Havertz, who linked up to score Chelsea’s winner in the Champions League final just two years earlier. Mount, a Cobham academy graduate and lifelong Blue, was sold to Manchester United for £55m in a move that puzzled and frustrated fans.
His departure, driven by contract disputes and a perceived lack of faith from the new regime, stunned fans and sparked debate about Chelsea’s treatment of homegrown talent. Havertz, meanwhile, crossed London to join Arsenal in a £65m deal.
The German’s inconsistent form frustrated some, but his knack for big moments – like that goal in Porto – made his sale to a rival particularly bitter. These sales underscored the ruthless pragmatism of Boehly’s approach – though, at the time of writing, both decisions look to have paid off, with Mount struggling for fitness at Old Trafford and Havertz underwhelming as Arsenal’s primary goal-getter.
The midfield overhaul
Chelsea’s midfield took a further hit with the exits of Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Kovacic, a technically gifted ball-carrier who’d been a mainstay since 2018, joined Manchester City for £25m, with the Blues content on bolstering a direct rival in order to cash in on the Croatian, who had one year left on his deal at the time.
Loftus-Cheek, another academy product, moved to AC Milan for £15m after years of battling injuries and inconsistent roles. Both departures reflected Chelsea’s shift toward a younger, more dynamic midfield, with Enzo Fernandez already in place and Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia – who would arrive a few months later – brought in to fill the void.
The wide men: Pulisic and Hudson-Odoi
Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi, once heralded as the future of Chelsea’s attack, also left. Pulisic, signed for £58m as Eden Hazard’s replacement in 2019, struggled with injuries and form, managing just 26 goals in 145 appearances – and his £20m move to AC Milan felt like a mutual parting of ways.
Hudson-Odoi, another academy gem, joined Nottingham Forest for £3m after a promising career stalled under Boehly’s regime. He’s been shining ever since at the City Ground, particularly under Nuno Espirito Santo – making his cheap exit look like one heck of a fumble, at least financially.
The back-line bow-outs: Mendy, Koulibaly, Ampadu
Edouard Mendy, one of several heroes of Chelsea’s 2021 Champions League run, joined Al-Ahli for £16m. His shot-stopping prowess and calm presence had been pivotal, but an alarming dip in form and the arrival of new goalkeepers pushed him out.
Kalidou Koulibaly, signed for £33m in 2022 as a marquee centre back, lasted just one season before moving to Al-Hilal for £20m. The Senegalese star struggled to adapt to the Premier League’s pace, and his exit reflected Chelsea’s impatience with high-profile signings.
Ethan Ampadu, a versatile youngster who’d impressed on loan, was sold to Leeds United for £7m. His departure, while less headline-grabbing, further depleted Chelsea’s defensive depth and homegrown quota.
The forgotten trio: Aubameyang, Bakayoko, Rahman
The summer also saw the departure of players who’d long faded from Chelsea’s first-team picture. Tiemoue Bakayoko, whose £40million move from Monaco in 2017 promised so much but delivered little, left on a free transfer to Lorient after years of loans.
Baba Rahman, another expensive flop, joined PAOK on a free, his time at Chelsea defined by injuries and loan spells. Meanwhile, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s exit was perhaps the most telling of Boehly’s missteps. Signed for £10.8m in 2022, the former Arsenal captain struggled, scoring just three goals in 21 appearances before departing to Marseille on a free.
These moves signalled a clear-out of deadwood, but also highlighted the club’s ill-thought-out and often scattergun recruitment – in eras both past and present.
The loan departure: Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku’s saga took another twist as the £97.5m striker, who’d returned to Chelsea in 2021 with high expectations, was loaned to AS Roma. His underwhelming second spell – eight goals in 26 Premier League games – made his departure inevitable, though his hefty wages and contract complicated a permanent move.
The Belgian had fallen out with Thomas Tuchel back in 2021, but even with the German gone, he had no intention to slip a Chelsea shirt over his head ever again. A loan move was eventually agreed on deadline day, which included a significant wage cut and a low release clause to ensure a permanent departure later down the line.
The aftermath
Chelsea’s summer of 2023 wasn’t just a clear-out – it was a seismic shift. Losing 15 players, including legends, academy stars, and expensive signings, exposed the mayhem of Boehly’s early tenure.
While the exits freed up wages and created space for new arrivals like Caicedo and Cole Palmer, they also left Chelsea dangerously thin in experience.
Progress has been made in the two years since, however. And after clinching a top four finish on the final day of the 2024/25 season on Sunday, the Blues are back in the Champions League – ready to measure themselves against Europe’s elite, and, perhaps, prove that the chaos of 2023 wasn’t just necessary, but ultimately justified.
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