Chelsea may rue selling Nkunku upgrade

Chelsea have been known for having one of the very best academies in England, as seen by their triumphs in the FA Youth Cup over the last couple of years.

The Blues have won the title a total of nine times, with only Manchester United winning more since its formation, handing the first team a conveyor belt of young talent.

Enzo Maresca is the current manager to be the beneficiary of the youth system, with youngster Levi Colwill the player who’s benefited the most, featuring in 25 Premier League matches to date.

The centre-back has been a regular at the heart of the defence but also provides a threat in attacking areas, getting himself on the scoresheet in the 4-0 win over Southampton on Tuesday.

However, despite the quality of the players coming through the ranks, Todd Boehly has splashed the cash at Stamford Bridge, dropping over £1.2b on new players, including one player who’s struggled in England.

Todd Boehly’s biggest Chelsea signings

Since taking over in 2022, the American businessman hasn’t held back in providing various managers with the ammunition to succeed at the Bridge.

Moises Caicedo arrived in the summer of 2023, costing a mammoth £115m from Brighton & Hove Albion – a fee that broke the record for the highest transfer fee spent in the history of English football.

However, the Ecuadorian has proved to be a superb addition for the Blues since his big-money move, featuring 78 times, scoring twice, including a phenomenal effort from the halfway line against Bournemouth last season.

Enzo Fernández is another player who cost a small fortune, setting Boehly back £106.8m in January 2023, and struggling to make an immediate impact in West London.

The Argentine has managed to resurrect his Blies career, becoming a key member of Maresca’s side in 2024/25, registering four goals and eight assists in all competitions this season – playing a key role in their Conference League success to date.

However, the pair could’ve been joined by one player who has outperformed another first-team star whose value has skyrocketed and is now valued more than another big-money addition.

The former Chelsea player who’s worth more than Nkunku

Christopher Nkunku is another player who has cost big money over the last few years, joining in a £52m deal from RB Leipzig during the summer of 2023.

However, he’s since struggled to nail down a regular starting role, usually relying on cup action and minutes off the bench to feature in Maresca’s side.

The injury to Nicolas Jackson has allowed for a string of starts over the last few weeks, but he has only managed to notch one goal and one assist in his last four outings.

As a result, the club may have been better off keeping hold of striker Dominic Solanke, with now-Tottenham Hotspur striker previously being on the club’s books as a youngster.

The Englishman would only make one first-team appearance for the Blues, featuring for a total of 17 minutes, before leaving for Liverpool in a measly £3m deal during Antonio Conte’s reign in 2017.

Fast-forward to 2025, after a successful four and a half years at Bournemouth, fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur decided to fork out £65m for his signature in the summer transfer window.

Such a fee has seen a rise of 2070% on the fee the Blues sold him for eight years ago, potentially offloading a talisman who’s been dubbed “clinical” by one talent scout.

In his first few months across the capital at Spurs, the 27-year-old has managed 11 goals and six assists in all competitions throughout 2024/25, outperforming Nkunku in numerous key areas.

Given the club’s hunt for a new attacker over the last few years, Solanke may have been the solution to their ongoing issue, especially when considering the stats he’s produced in comparison to the Frenchman.

However, their loss appears to be Spurs’ gain, with the forward having the ability to catapult the side to success in the next few years, further adding more pain to the Blues after allowing him to depart.