Chelsea’s £70 Million Transfer Sees Market Value Plummet by Over 50% in One Year

Chelsea parted with £70million for Leicester centre-back Wesley Fofana back in 2022, but injuries have shrunk the Frenchman’s value by over half

Chelsea’s record £70million defensive signing Wesley Fofana’s value has depreciated by over 50 per cent since he made a switch to the Blues.

The Frenchman forced through a move to Stamford Bridge from Leicester two years ago, promising to be their first-choice centre-half for years to come, at just 21.

However, the injury troubles that first plagued him at the King Power continued upon his arrival in west London. A bad knee injury kept him out for most of his debut season.

Matters got worse for Fofana last season, as he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear, which sidelined him for the entire campaign. His lack of playing time and susceptibility to injury have greatly decreased his worth.

According to Transfermarkt, Fofana is now only worth £21.5m – a huge decrease from the gargantuan fee it took to persuade the Foxes to part with their asset.

Valued at around £55m after signing for Chelsea, Fofana has since missed 77 games and seen his value slowly depreciate from £47.5m, £35m, £27.5m and now teeters on around £20m – £10m less than Leicester paid French outfit Saint-Etienne for his services in 2020.

Now-fired coach Mauricio Pochettino was devastated to lose the Frenchman when he suffered his ACL injury last season. “Really sad, really bad news,” said the Argentine. “We feel so sad. All we can do is to help him. We wish him all the best and hope it’s as soon as possible [that he can] be with the team again this season.”

Fofana did not play under Pochettino again, but has been given a start under new boss Enzo Maresca, who took the Frenchman on the club’s pre-season tour of the United States.

The 23-year-old started the Blues’ 4-1 defeat to Scottish champions Celtic in Indiana alongside Romeo Lavia, another injury-ravaged signing.

“At this moment, it is very important for them to get minutes and not lose any training sessions,” Maresca stated after Fofana and injury-ridden teammate Lavia first appeared in pre-season.

“I am especially happy for them because, for one year without any minutes, it is difficult for them mentally, so they need to now boost their energy, and 45 minutes will help both of them. Hopefully, we can soon have them both 100 per cent fit, and they can start to play 90 minutes.”

“I am especially happy for them because, for one year without any minutes, it is difficult for them mentally, so they need to now boost their energy, and 45 minutes will help both of them. Hopefully, we can soon have them both 100 per cent fit, and they can start to play 90 minutes.”

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