Chelsea’s most expensive departures—which are Chelsea’s most expensive sales?
Who are Chelsea’s most expensive departures? Which are Chelsea’s most expensive departure sales? Chelsea have signed some great players in the past but they have also sold some great players too. So who makes the Chelsea most expensive departures list? Well, read more to find out about Chelsea’s biggest player sales ever! Watch & Bet on Football =>
Diego Costa’s falling out with coach Antonio Costa and his love of Atletico Madrid forced his sale through. But Conte is also to blame for losing him after his blunt text message to the Spanish striker. The text caused a massive backlash throughout the team and the media.
The sale that irritated me the most, though, was the sale of Nemanja Matic to Manchester United for €44.7 million. It wasn’t just the fact that we lost him due to Bakayoko. But it was the fact we sold him to Manchester United.
Top 10 most expensive Chelsea departures ever?
Who are Chelsea’s most expensive sales ever? Which player has made Chelsea the most amount of money in their sale? Well, Hazard has made Chelsea the most amount of money after his sale to Real Madrid for €112m. Watch & Bet on Football =>
| # | Player | Sold To (Club) | Season | Transfer Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eden Hazard | Real Madrid (Spain) | 2019/20 | €112.0m |
| 2 | Kai Havertz | Arsenal (England) | 2023/24 | €69.6m |
| 3 | Mason Mount | Man United (England) | 2023/24 | €62.9m |
| 4 | Diego Costa | Atlético Madrid (Spain) | 2017/18 | €55.7m |
| 5 | Oscar | Shanghai SIPG (China) | 2016/17 | €55.7m |
| 6 | Noni Madueke | Arsenal (England) | 2025/26 | €52.0m |
| 7 | David Luiz | Paris SG (France) | 2014/15 | €45.9m |
| 8 | Juan Mata | Man United (England) | 2013/14 | €41.5m |
| 9 | Nemanja Matić | Man United (England) | 2017/18 | €41.5m |
| 10 | Ian Maatsen | Aston Villa (England) | 2024/25 | €41.3m |
10. Ian Maatsen is one of Chelsea’s most expensive departures
In the summer of 2024, Chelsea paid £37.5 million to Aston Villa for Dutch wing-back Ian Maatsen.
The previous season, Maatsen made an impression while on loan at Borussia Dortmund, which helped the Bundesliga team get to the Champions League final. The youthful, agile defender had excelled while on loan at Burnley during the previous season, when they easily won promotion from the Championship.
9. Nemanja Matic is one of Chelsea’s most expensive departures
He joined Chelsea twice. Once as a teenager when he played for the club but never managed to make an impact. Next time he was brought in by Jose Mourinho as a holding midfielder and nicknamed the spider for his lanky legs. This time around he won two league titles with the team and was a mainstay in the Chelsea side.
He also won the League Cup and was formidable under Mourinho alongside Cesc Fabregas and then later under Antonio Conte alongside N’Golo Kante. However, Chelsea could not hold on to him, as the club strangely decided to sell him to arch-rivals Manchester United to the dismay of Antonio Conte. Watch & Bet on Football =>
8. Juan Mata is one of Chelsea’s most expensive sales
The sale of Juan Mata to Manchester United hurt too. Mata was one of my favorite players, and he was sold to United. It’s too bad we have lost both Oscar and Mata. As they were part of the exciting three-pronged attack at Chelsea with Eden Hazard. But after Jose Mourinho returned to Chelsea, it was clear he wasn’t keen on Mata and so he sold him. Ironically enough, Jose Mourinho was then at Manchester United managing Juan Mata. Football is a funny game at times- you couldn’t write this!
But perhaps most of all- I was upset by the sale of Arjen Robben all the way back in 2007. He was my favourite Chelsea player at the time. But he was plagued by injuries and Mourinho is not keen on players who are injury-prone.
7. Noni Madueke is one of Chelsea’s most expensive departures
In January 2023, Madueke was brought to the Premier League for £28.5 million after establishing himself as an English prospect overseas with PSV. During a two-and-a-half-year stint, he scored 20 goals for Chelsea.
However, in the summer of 2025, Chelsea accepted a proposal from Arsenal, and the winger left five years before his planned contract.
Madueke cost Arsenal £48.5 million in base money, but add-ons could increase the deal’s worth to £52 million.
6. David Luiz is one of Chelsea’s most expensive departures
The prodigal son has returned home after spending two years in PSG, winning the league and getting bored of the lack of a fight in that one-sided league. He helped Chelsea win the title since his return and has been a mainstay in the new-look Chelsea defense this season under new boss Maurizio Sarri.
His buying, selling, and returning to Chelsea saw the Blues do a good bit of business on a player who has given the club over 200 solid appearances. Watch & Bet on Football =>
5. Oscar is one of Chelsea’s most expensive sales
He was brought along with Hazard as a special talent and delivered a title-winning performance under Mourinho in 2014-15. However, after that, he lost his way and Conte made little use of him, frustrating the player and forcing him to leave for China!
The rest of the sales speak for themselves. But let us know which sale upset you the most in the comments below.
4. Diego Costa is one of Chelsea’s most expensive departures
This move hurt the Chelsea fans very much. Costa spent three years at Chelsea, winning the league twice for the Blues. He scored over 20 goals in each of those title-winning campaigns as he helped the Blues to great glory.
However, under Antonio Conte’s title-winning season, he fell off with the team boss and wanted a move to China in January. Conte handled the situation well by keeping Costa and making him fire more goals.
However, to the shock of every Chelsea fan, suddenly in the summer, Conte “messaged” Costa telling him he is no longer required at Chelsea. This saw a massive saga break open at Chelsea leading to Conte losing the dressing room eventually and then finally his job.
Conte should have been smarter and Chelsea would not have had to waste record money on Morata who as it turns out flopped big time. We are still struggling for a forward, all thanks to Conte’s ingenious ego which left the club’s forward line in shambles. Watch & Bet on Football =>
3. Mason Mount is one of Chelsea’s most expensive sales
Mason Mount is one of Chelsea most expensive departures
The Chelsea academy graduate won the Club’s Player of the Season in 2020 and 2021 and has been pivotal for the club’s success in recent years. He struggled with form and fitness in the 2022/23 campaign and decided to join Man United in the summer. Watch & Bet on Football =>
2. Kai Havertz is the second Chelsea most expensive sale
Kai Havertz is the second Chelsea most expensive departure
The German playmaker scored the winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City. Havertz has occasionally shown flashes of brilliance and as a result, he was sold to Arsenal this summer in a deal worth €70m.
1. Eden Hazard is Chelsea most expensive departure ever
Eden Hazard is Chelsea most expensive sale ever
The Belgian forward became Chelsea’s most expensive player sale when he joined Real Madrid for an astounding sum of €115m.
Hazard developed into a world-class forward and made over 350 appearances for the Blues. Although he struggled in his four-year spell with Real Madrid he will forever be remembered as a certified Chelsea legend.
See also
- Chelsea players with most appearances
- Chelsea players with beards
- Chelsea FC Young and Old Players
- Official website
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