Chelsea Missed Chance to Sell Underperforming High-Earner in January

Chelsea have been on a spending spree since Todd Boehly’s takeover in 2022, investing over £1.2 billion in new signings. This has given manager Enzo Maresca a deep squad with options across all positions, allowing rotation for Europa Conference League matches.

The January 2023 transfer window was particularly impactful, with the club breaking their transfer record to sign Enzo Fernández for £106.8 million. Winger Noni Madueke also arrived from PSV Eindhoven for £29 million.

However, Chelsea failed to capitalize on an opportunity to trim the squad and reduce their wage bill in the most recent January window. Defender Benoit Badiashile, who was signed for £35 million two years ago, has struggled for playing time under Maresca this season.

Despite starting just two Premier League matches in 2024/25, Badiashile remains one of the club’s highest earners on £90,000 per week. This is nearly double the wages of Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, who Chelsea reportedly pursued in January.

Badiashile’s lack of involvement and high salary make him an obvious candidate for a sale. Moving him on could have freed up funds for reinvestment and streamlined the squad. As the summer transfer window approaches, offloading Badiashile should be a priority for Maresca and the Chelsea hierarchy.