Hazard, Mount, Oscar: Chelsea’s 11 most expensive sales of all time
Under Roman Abramovich and now Todd Boehly, Chelsea they’ve spent big over the last 20 years on a number of new signings, but how have the Blues fared when it comes to departures?
Those at Stamford Bridge have cashed in on a number of stars, with a host of players moving on to Real Madrid and Manchester United.
Here we take a look at Chelsea’s most expensive sales in their history, according to press reports and Transfermarktwith a detailed review of the 11 best.
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Chelsea’s most expensive sale of all time |
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---|---|---|---|---|
Rank |
Player |
Fee |
Sold |
Year |
1 |
Eden Hazard |
89 million pounds |
Real Madrid |
in 2019 |
2 |
Kai Havertz |
65 million pounds |
Arsenal |
in 2023 |
3 |
Oscar |
60 million pounds |
Shanghai SIPG |
in 2017 |
4 |
Alvaro Morata |
58.3 million pounds |
Atletico Madrid |
2020 |
5 |
Diego Costa |
57 million pounds |
Atletico Madrid |
in 2017 |
6 |
Mason Mount |
55 million pounds |
Man Utd |
in 2023 |
7 |
David Luiz |
50 million pounds |
PSG |
in 2014 |
8 |
Nemanja Matić |
40 million pounds |
Man Utd |
in 2017 |
9 |
Juan Mata |
37.1 million pounds |
Man Utd |
in 2014 |
=10 |
Ian Maatsen |
35 million pounds |
Aston Villa |
in 2024 |
=10 |
Thibaut Courtois |
35 million pounds |
Real Madrid |
in 2018 |
12 |
Tammy Abraham |
34 million pounds |
Roma |
in 2021 |
13 |
Conor Gallagher |
33 million pounds |
Atletico Madrid |
in 2024 |
14 |
Romelu Lukaku |
30 million pounds |
Naples |
in 2024 |
15 |
Kurt Zouma |
29.8 million pounds |
West Ham |
in 2021 |
=16 |
Lewis Hall |
28 million pounds |
Newcastle |
in 2024 |
=16 |
Romelu Lukaku |
28 million pounds |
Naples |
in 2024 |
18 |
Timo Werner |
25.3 million pounds |
RB Leipzig |
in 2022 |
=19 |
Mateo Kovačić |
25 million pounds |
Man City |
in 2023 |
=19 |
Ramires |
25 million pounds |
Jiangsu Suning |
2016 |
Here’s a detailed look at Chelsea’s 11 most expensive sales…
11
Thibaut Courtois
£35m for Real Madrid, 2018
With Thibaut Courtois making an instant impact at the club after breaking into Chelsea’s first team, he was snapped up by then European champions Real Madrid in 2018, where he remains to this day.
The Belgian has had some stellar moments in the Spanish capital for both Madrid clubs, most notably being integral to their recent Champions League triumphs in 2022 and 2024.
Chelsea received about 35 million pounds for his services more than six years ago, and Mateo Kovačić went to the other side as part of the deal.
10
Ian Maatsen
£35m for Aston Villa, 2024
Despite failing to break into Chelsea’s first team, left-back Ian Maatsen did earn Chelsea a big transfer fee when he joined Aston Villa in 2024 for a staggering £35m.
The Dutch defender’s impressive loan spells with Burnley in the Championship and Borussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga and Champions League have caught the eye of Unai Emery.
9
Juan Mata
£37.1m for Man Utd, 2014
Like Matic, attacking midfielder Juan Mata also swapped Stamford Bridge for Old Trafford, but did so three years earlier, in 2014.
The Spaniard joined Chelsea from Valencia in 2011 and played in the Premier League, but Jose Mourinho, who recently returned to the club for a second spell, was happy to cash in midway through the 2013/14 season. bringing in just over £37m.
8
Nemanja Matić
£40m for Man Utd, 2017
Midfielder Nemanja Matić was at Chelsea twice, returned to Stamford Bridge in 2014 from Benfica in a £21m deal.
The Serbian was a regular over the next three years and the Blues continued to make good money when they sold him to Manchester United and Jose Mourinho in 2017, with their former manager forking out £40 million to reward him from the champion.
7
David Luiz
£50m for PSG, 2014
Brazilian centre-back David Luiz made an immediate impression after that moving to Chelsea from Benfica for £21.3m in 2011 and was regular for the next two and a half years.
Luiz was then sold to Paris Saint-Germain for big money in 2014 the French giants pocketed a staggering £50mbut two years later, Chelsea would buy the defender and Luiz won the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League titles during his second spell.
6
Mason Mount
£55m for Man Utd, 2023
The leaders of Chelsea brought brilliantly an initial £55m for Mason Mount back in 2023, as the midfielder entered the final 12 months of his contract at Stamford Bridge.
Manchester United were happy to splash the cash on the Englishman, but his first year at Old Trafford was hampered by injury, making the money they brought in for his services a wise move by the Blues.
5
Diego Costa
£57m for Atletico Madrid, 2017
Arguably Chelsea’s best striker since Didier Drogba, Diego Costa was signed and sold to Atletico Madrid in 2014 and 2017 respectively.
During his time in west London, Costa shone with his strength and finishing ability, scoring 59 goals in 120 appearances and winning two Premier League titles.
Following his departure following an alleged clash with manager Antonio Conte, Chelsea managed to recover some 57 million pounds because Atleti came to invite their former striker.
4
Alvaro Morata
£58.3m for Atletico Madrid, 2020
Chelsea got an extremely handsome one the amount of 58.3 million pounds in the sale of Alvaro Morata to Atletico Madrid as early as 2020. The Blues sold him on loan at the start of the 2019/20 season, and the La Liga giants were obliged to buy the Spaniard the following summer.
It meant that Chelsea almost broke the bank to buy the striker in the summer of 2017 for around £60m from Atleti’s city rivals, Real Madrid.
Considering things didn’t work out for Morata at Stamford Bridge, it was a pretty impressive deal from a financial point of view.
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3
Oscar
£60m for Shanghai SIPG
Oscar was one of several Brazilians Chelsea sold for big money, with the midfielder spending five years at Stamford Bridge from 2012. before the £60m change at the peak of the Chinese Super League boom.
He won four major honors with the Blues and made more than 200 appearances before moving to China with Shanghai SIPG. Oscar recently sealed his return to his native Brazil by moving to former club Sao Paulo in January.
2
Kai Havertz
£65m for Arsenal, 2023
The goalscorer in the 2021 Champions League final winner against Manchester City, Kai Havertz, has been sold to London rivals Arsenal in 2023.
Three years prior, the German striker signed for Bayer Leverkusen but struggled to find a leading role at Chelsea, resulting in him joining Mikel Arteta’s side, where he impressed since his £65m move.
1
Eden Hazard
£89m for Real Madrid, 2019
Topping the rankings is winger Eden Hazard, who played for Chelsea between 2012 and 2019, resulting in Real Madrid are chasing a record deal.
The Belgian made more than 350 appearances for the Blues, scoring 110 times, providing 85 assists and winning six major titles. Those at the Bernabeu made Hazard the Galactica, but things did not go to plan for him in Madrid, with injuries limiting him to just seven goals in 76 appearances.
Reports suggested his transfer fee could have exceeded £150m, but Chelsea had to settle for a €100m (£89m) windfall following his departure.