Chelsea may be regretting letting go of a £7 million gem, now worth more than Mudryk
In recent times, Chelsea’s roster has seen significant turnover as they strive to narrow the gap between themselves and top contenders like Arsenal and Manchester City.
Todd Boehly’s substantial investments led to breaking the English transfer record twice, signing Enzo Fernández and Moises Caicedo for £106 million and £115 million, respectively. To comply with Premier League Financial Fair Play regulations, Chelsea had to balance their books, resulting in the departures of players like Kai Havertz and Mason Mount to make room for new signings.
While Havertz’s £65 million sale seemed like a smart move initially, his impressive performance under Arteta, with eight goals and five assists in his last 13 Premier League matches, suggests otherwise.
However, Chelsea’s blunder extends beyond Havertz. Another young talent they let go, Ethan Ampadu, could be making waves in the Premier League once again next season.
Ampadu, signed for a compensation fee of £2.5 million from Exeter City in 2017 at just 16, had high hopes at Stamford Bridge. Despite loan spells at RB Leipzig and Sheffield United, he left permanently last summer, joining Leeds United for around £7 million, after making only 12 first-team appearances for Chelsea.
Since then, Ampadu has been a standout performer for Leeds in the Championship, earning a spot in the league’s team of the season and winning the club’s Player of the Season award. His market value has skyrocketed to £20.4 million, surpassing the £18.8 million valuation of Mykhailo Mudryk, Chelsea’s £89 million signing who has struggled to make an impact.
If Farke’s Leeds secure promotion, Chelsea may have to face Ampadu in the Premier League, a scenario where he’ll undoubtedly want to prove himself. Football scout Jacek Kulig described Ampadu as “top-class,” highlighting Chelsea’s missed opportunity to utilize his talents in their backline.
Despite Boehly’s lavish spending, Chelsea still seek reinforcements, making Ampadu’s departure all the more regrettable.
