Didier Drogba’s legacy at Chelsea is the stuff of legend.
The Ivorian striker was the beating heart of the Blues’ golden era, a colossus who combined power, skill and an unparalleled ability to rise to the occasion when it mattered most, most notably in the 2012 Champions League final, where his unforgettable performance helped the Blues lift the trophy for the first time.
A decade after his departure, Chelsea are still yearning for a successor capable of replicating his impact on and off the pitch.
The club has seen a revolving door of strikers in the post-Drogba era, and while some such as Diego Costa enjoyed solid careers at Stamford Bridge, no one has been able to fully step into the legendary striker’s shoes.
From young prodigies already making their mark in west London to established European stars, we look at five players we think have the potential to take up Drogba’s mantle at Stamford Bridge.
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1 Nicolas Jackson
Chelsea
Nicolas Jackson, who Chelsea signed from Villarreal in the summer of 2023, has plenty in common with Drogba. His physical presence and work rate mirror that of Drogba’s, while his ability to link up the play is perhaps even better than the Ivorian’s. He also has great pace and clever movement.
However, where he comes up short when compared to Drogba is his finishing. Though he’s far improved this term under Enzo Maresca, he still wastes too many big chances, often needing two or three clear opportunities to get his name on the scoresheet.
Since moving to Chelsea, Jackson has scored 23 Premier League goals, but also missed a whopping 39 big chances in his short Blues career so far – exactly triple the amount Drogba missed since this was recorded by the Premier League.
That being said, Jackson is still just 23 years old, and minus his hit-and-miss finishing, his impressive performances at his peak suggest he’s capable of leading the line at Stamford Bridge for years to come. However, consistency and improved displays in front of goal will determine if he reaches Drogba’s heights.
2 Shim Mheuka
Chelsea
Shim Mheuka has rapidly ascended through Chelsea’s academy ranks since joining the club from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022.
During the 2023/24 season, he regularly featured for the Under-18s despite still being a schoolboy, netting an impressive 12 goals in 20 appearances across all competitions, including a memorable outing at Stamford Bridge in the Under-18 Premier League national final against Manchester United.
Mheuka also played a pivotal role for England in the European Under-17 Championship last summer, scoring in their opening match against Spain. More recently, he marked his first call-up to the Under-19s in style, scoring against France and the Netherlands.
Now 17, Mheuka’s powerful frame, intelligent movement, and superb finishing abilities – all qualities Drogba showcased – have already caught the attention of Maresca, with the Italian handing him his first-team debut in a 3-1 win over Astana in the Conference League back in December.
There is no doubting that he has a bright future in west London, and given Drogba was 26 when he signed for Chelsea, there is plenty of time for Mheuka to prove he has what it takes to grow into a Drogba-esque talent.
3 Liam Delap
Ipswich Town
Liam Delap has been one of the Premier League’s best strikers this season. Big, strong and with a lethal eye for goal, the forward has scored 10 goals in the top flight for newly promoted Ipswich Town and has proven to be a real handful for some of the top flight’s best defenders.
Already linked with a move to Chelsea, Maresca, who coached him as a youngster during his time in Manchester City’s youth ranks, is a big admirer.
“Liam is a fantastic player, and also for his age,” said Maresca back in December before Chelsea were beaten 2-0 by Ipswich, a game in which Delap scored the opening goal. “I think we spent one year together, and he scored 22 to 24 goals. He is a very good striker.
“England have many good players, many good strikers,” he added. “He’s working hard off the ball and on the ball, understands the game and can score goals. I think he can be an important player for England.” For Chelsea too, maybe?
4 Victor Osimhen
Galatasaray/Napoli
Victor Osimhen is perhaps the closest current player to Drogba in terms of style and impact.
The Nigerian forward’s scoring record at Napoli is certainly reminiscent of Drogba, not to mention continuing his streak in front of goal in a Galatasaray shirt, which is something the Ivorian did himself in between his Chelsea spells.
Osimhen came close to joining Chelsea in the summer, but the deal fell through prior to his loan switch to Istanbul.
Whilst there, he has again shown why he’s one of the deadliest strikers in world football, scoring 20 goals in 27 games, including two against Tottenham in the Europa League, which would already make him something of a Chelsea hero to some.
5 Benjamin Sesko
RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is one of Europe’s most exciting young strikers and has often been compared to Erling Haaland due to his physical attributes and playing style. Rather crucially, he has also been mentioned in the same breath as Chelsea star Drogba.
The Slovenian forward stands at 6 foot 4, making him a real handful for defenders when the ball is crossed into the box. Not only is he big, but he’s also a terrific header of the ball. Since moving to Leipzig in 2023, the 21-year-old has scored seven headed goals.
Drogba, meanwhile, found the net with his noggin 17 times for Chelsea in the Premier League.
Like Drogba, Sesko has the ability to score from long range, best showcased by his stunning strike against Werder Bremen in January, where he unleashed a powerful drive that nearly shattered the net from 25 yards out.
Reportedly already on Chelsea’s radar, a move to Stamford Bridge could give him the chance to develop into Chelsea’s next dominant striker, potentially following in Drogba’s footsteps.