Worst Transfers

Tal Ben Haim

One of the strangest signings in Chelsea’s history, Tal Ben Haim arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2007 for free on Jose Mourinho’s insistence.

However, the Israeli centre-half sent a poor message to the fans, in just his second game for the Blues, when Fernando Torres made him look a fool during a 1-1 draw at Liverpool. With results not going Chelsea’s way, Mourinho was sacked and new manager Avram Grant hardly used the summer signing, leading to a rant from Ben Haim where he said, “If I knew Avram Grant was going to be the coach I would have signed for another club.”

He made only 13 appearances for Chelsea, before being sold to Manchester City in July 2008.

Fernando Torres

The signing of Fernando Torres from Liverpool, for £50 million by Chelsea in January 2011, made huge waves in the world of football. But the Spaniard did not manage to live up to the expectations and the price tag during his time at the Bridge.

Manager after manager failed to get the best out of a player as he struggled to reproduce the form that had seen him emerge as one of the most dangerous strikers during his time at Anfield. At Chelsea, he became known for missing easy chances and open goals time and again, which only added to the pressure. An important goal at the Nou Camp against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League semi-final aside, Torres did not produce anything noteworthy.

Fernando Torres was the British transfer record when Chelsea signed him but he only managed 20 goals in 110 games. He left Stamford Bridge with a Champions League triumph, an FA Cup win and a Europa League winners’ medal. But there is no denying that Torres was one of the poorest signings for Chelsea ever.