Maresca favourite fails, huge gamble backfires as £218m wasted – Chelsea transfer ratings

Despite spending £217.5 million this summer to add 11 new players to their roster, Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea team may still have trouble this year.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca saw his side win only once in pre-season (Image: Getty)

When Pedro Neto and Samu Omorodion are finalised in the next few days, Chelsea will have spent a staggering £217.5 million, but their transfer activity hasn’t done anything to reassure fans that the team is headed in the right way.

During their preseason tour of the USA, the Blues won just one game out of five games under new manager Enzo Maresca. It’s been another busy summer at Stamford Bridge with 11 new arrivals, but the great bulk of them have been made with the long term in mind.

The west London team, who finished sixth in the previous season, may struggle this year despite their large investment. Express Sport examines their recent additions and the potential influence they may have on the Premier League.

Pedro Neto (Wolves, £54 million) – 8.5/10
The Portuguese international was signed by the Blues from Wolves in a move that may cause some controversy in the Premier League. With his abundance of speed, cunning, and creativity, the left-footed winger piqued the curiosity of both Arsenal and Tottenham. If he can stay healthy, Chelsea would have achieved a rare victory with this deal involving Neto, a 24-year-old Premier League star.

Samu Omorodion (Atletico Madrid, £35 million) – 6/10
Chelsea has been trying to add a powerful striker to change their front-line profile. Instead of Victor Osimhen, as many had assumed, it’s Omorodion, a 20-year-old youth international for Spain. Despite his relative inexperience at the highest level, he managed to score nine goals in 31 games while on loan at Alaves last season.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Leicester City, £30 million) – 6
Dewsbury-Hall, a veteran of the Premier League who is well-versed in Maresca’s system, presents Chelsea with a respectable squad option moving ahead. Will he, however, begin before Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez? Even if he showed glimpses of his potential in the preseason, he still needs to show that he was worth the investment.

Villarreal’s Filip Jorgensen (£20 million): 7/10
The Italian manager immediately realised that Djordje Petrovic and Robert Sanchez are not reliable enough to be Chelsea’s starting goalkeepers. Jorgensen’s shot-stopping abilities are still developing, but he will provide poise when passing out from the back. Given the little signing bonus and his age of 22, he is a low-risk addition for both the now and the future.

Omari Kellyman (Aston Villa, £19 million) – 6/10
Considered one of Villa’s best youth prospects, Kellyman’s transfer to Stamford Bridge raised red flags for several reasons. Nobody was duped by the £37 million agreement that saw Ian Maatsen join Villa; it was all part of the profit and sustainability equation. With just six senior matches under his belt, the 18-year-old’s chances of succeeding at Chelsea are uncertain.

Aaron Anselmino, Boca Juniors (£17 million) – 5
Chelsea will fully rely on the assessment of its scouts regarding Anselmino, as he has only made ten appearances for the club of his youth in Argentina. Although the 19-year-old hasn’t been playing frequently, he still came at a high cost that could have gone towards a member of the starting squad. Rather, he will play the entire season on loan at Boca, where the Blues will closely monitor his progress.

Mike Penders, Genk (£17 million) – 6/10
It’s quite the label to live up to, to be called the next Thibaut Courtois. Penders will return to the Belgian club for the 2024–25 season, so only time will tell if he can live up to the hype. With Jorgensen (age 22), Gabriel Slonina (age 20), and Penders (age 18) on the team today, many are wondering why Chelsea added a custodian who would only be used in one position.

Renato Veiga (FC Basel, £12 million) – 4/10
How did Chelsea go from wanting to sign Riccardo Calafiori, a standout for Euro 2024, to replacing him? Veiga can play left-back, centre-back, and defensive midfielder, but as Mohamed Salah has shown, it’s a big step from the Swiss top division to the Premier League. It’s also concerning that he didn’t play much in the preseason.

Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United, £8.5 million) – 4/10
Chelsea has made multiple attempts to enter the American market in order to capture foreign players Wiley, 19, and Slonina. The young player is considered one of the most promising newcomers to the USMNT, but he is still a long way from being ready to play for Chelsea. A loan to Strasbourg is calling, and it’s possible he won’t play at all.

Marc Guiu (Barcelona, £5 million) – 8/10
The signing of highly-rated forward Guiu, who was acquired for a steal due to his release clause at Barcelona, has been one of the few bright spots of this summer. The teenager proved to be a real handful in the preseason, showing off his height and strength to bully past defenders. Although he still has to improve his finishing, a loan term should assist. A future star.

Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo (Free) – 6/10
When it comes to value, Chelsea’s replacement for Trevoh Chalobah is unmatched. Maresca also values Adarabioyo because of his composure on the ball and capacity to collapse from behind.

Although his preseason performances were lacklustre, his height presents a threat from set pieces, which was a Chelsea weakness the previous season.