Top 11 most expensive departures in Chelsea's history

Mason Mount became the latest player to leave the West London club

Chelsea have had its fair share of high-profile departures over the years, with some of the world's top players making their way out of Stamford Bridge for eye-watering fees. These departures highlight their ability to attract interest from other clubs and negotiate lucrative deals.

The substantial fees received for these departures showcase the financial strength of the club and its ambition to build a successful team. Their position is prominent in the global football market, capable of acquiring and selling players.

Here are the top 11 most expensive Chelsea departures in the club's history:

11. Thibaut Courtois- €35m (Real Madrid)

The Belgian goalkeeper signed for Chelsea in 2011, but joined Atletico Madrid on loan, where he won a LaLiga title, the Copa Del Rey, the Europa League, and reached the UEFA Champions League final. After 154 appearances over four years, Thibaut Courtois left the club to join Real Madrid in 2018.

The Blues confirmed the sale of Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid, with Mateo Kovacic coming to Stamford Bridge as part of the deal. Since he arrived at Real Madrid, he has won the Champions League and LaLiga and has been an integral part of the squad since the time he came to the club.

10. Romelu Lukaku- €35.4m (Everton)

The highly-regarded striker has had two spells with the West London club. After struggling to make his mark, the club decided to sell Lukaku to Everton on a permanent deal in the summer of 2014.

In 2014, he established himself as one of the most prominent strikers in the Premier League. They resigned him after spells at Manchester United and Inter Milan.

9. Tammy Abraham- €41m (AS Roma)

Another academy product who was a regular starter for the club won the Champions League under Thomas Tuchel, but he struggled for game time under Frank Lampard. He ended up moving to Serie A side Roma in the summer of 2021 on a permanent deal, joining Jose Mourinho. Tammy ended up scoring 27 goals in his debut season with the Italian giants.

8. Nemanja Matic- €44.7m (Manchester United)

Nemanja Matic joined Chelsea twice. Once as a teenager, when he played for the club, he was brought in by Jose Mourinho as a holding midfielder and nicknamed the spider for his lanky legs. This time around, he won two league titles with the team and was a mainstay in the side.

He also won the League Cup and was formidable under Mourinho alongside Cesc Fabregas and then later under Antonio Conte alongside N’Golo Kante. The Blues could not hold on to him as the club decided to sell him to arch-rivals Manchester United. He went on to become a proper defensive midfielder for the club.

7. Juan Mata- €44.7m (Manchester United)

Juan Mata was one of the best players in that Champions League-winning squad, the team that beat Bayern in the final of the competition. But after Jose Mourinho returned to Chelsea, it was clear he wasn’t keen on Mata, so he sold him to Manchester United.

Ironically enough, Jose Mourinho was then at Manchester United, managing Juan Mata. He was a fan favourite during his time at Stamford Bridge. Mourinho, as we all know, is not keen on players who are injury-prone; he restricted his time playing at United too.

6. David Luiz- €49.5m (PSG)

David Luiz was a part of the defence for years. The Brazilian defender was known for his amazing technique when hitting the ball. His presence at the back helped the Blues win the Champions League, Europa League, and FA Cup.

On June 13, 2014, David Luiz transferred to French club Paris Saint-Germain for a €49.5 million transfer fee, a world-record transfer for a defender, signing a five-year contract. After spending two years at PSG, he returned to Chelsea, and he took a pay cut to settle back in.

5. Diego Costa- €60m (Atletico Madrid)

Diego Costa spent three years at the Bridge, winning the league twice for the Blues. He scored over 20 goals in each of those title-winning campaigns as he helped the Blues to great glory, but his transfer did hurt all the Chelsea fans.

4. Oscar- €60m (Shanghai Port)

He was brought along with Hazard as a special talent and delivered a title-winning performance under Mourinho in 2014–15. He helped Chelsea win the Premier League title in the 2016–17 season as well.

However, after that, he lost his way, and Conte made little use of him, frustrating the player and forcing him to leave for China. He was one of the most skilled players to ever wear the number 11 for the Blues, which was previously worn by Didier Drogba.

3. Mason Mount- €60m (Manchester United)

Mason Mount is one of the players to come out of the academy and make a name for himself on Europe's biggest stage. He was the glue in the squad for years, helping the Blues win the Premier League and Champions League against Manchester City.

His move to Manchester United is one of the greatest in the club's history, keeping in mind the struggles the club has been through in the past few years. He has been given the iconic number seven jersey, and Erik ten Hag will rely on him in the midfield. Fans around the world will look to see what he brings to the United side.

2. Kai Havertz- €70m (Arsenal)

The German playmaker scored the winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City. Havertz has occasionally shown flashes of brilliance, and after Arsenal's Premier League season, Mikel Arteta is looking to strengthen the squad.

As a result, he was sold to Arsenal this summer in a deal worth €70 million. He will join Odegaard and Declan Rice in the midfield, which will be the new midfield trio in the Premier League heading into the next season.

1. Eden Hazard- €115m (Real Madrid)

The Belgian forward was sold to Real Madrid for an astounding sum of €115 million. Hazard developed into a world-class forward and made over 350 appearances for the Blues.

Although he has not been able to excel at Real Madrid, he will forever be remembered as a certified Chelsea legend.