da prosport bet： The Blues shattered winter spending records 12 months ago – but have those signings justified their price tags?

da 888： The contrast between Chelsea's 2023 and 2024 winter transfer windows could not be more stark. Twelve months ago, the Blues put together world-record January spending spree; this year, they did not spend a single penny, and instead tried – and failed – to raise funds through the permanent sales of academy products Armando Broja and Trevoh Chalobah – transfers that would have represented 100 percent profit as the Boehly-Clearlake ownership aim to ensure they fall in line with Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.

With the first month of 2024 proving to be a deafeningly quiet one at Stamford Bridge, it is perhaps the perfect moment to reflect on Chelsea's frenzied spending by this point in 2023. Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali bankrolled an eye-watering spend of north of £320 million ($407m) on a handful of players who were supposed to turn the club's fortunes around at the midway point of their dire 2022-23 campaign. Of course, last season proved to be irreconcilable, but what of the big-money new-year arrivals?

A year on from Chelsea's record-breaking January spend, GOAL assesses whether each signing has been a hit or a miss…

Getty ImagesBenoit Badiashile (£35m)

At this stage in his budding career, it seems as though injuries will be the main barrier to Badiashile becoming a top-level centre-back. Chelsea's first capture of the 2023 winter window, his arrival for a relatively modest £35m (£44m) was massively overshadowed by the mindboggling spending it preceded.

Nevertheless, his quality has been a pleasant surprise to those unfamiliar with his exploits at Monaco; an elegant, ball-playing centre-back, his absence was felt at the backend of last season and for the opening months of the current campaign as he was sidelined with a hamstring injury.

He has looked a little rusty since his return, making a couple of high-profile errors, but there is the feeling that he will become an important figure in this side going forward as a left-sided option, especially given veteran Thiago Silva seems destined to depart in the summer and Wesley Fofana is continuing to struggle with recurrent serious knee problems.

Result? Hit.

AdvertisementGettyMykhailo Mudryk (£89m)

It speaks volumes that the jury is still out on Mudryk's chances of success at Stamford Bridge a year on from Chelsea's staggering decision to splurge £89m ($113m) to beat Arsenal to the inexperienced Ukrainian winger.

There is no doubting his potential, but it's evident that – alongside so many other members of the squad that was eviscerated in the summer – his confidence was shot by last season's debacle, which reached its lowest ebb in the final months of the campaign with the Blues effectively playing for nothing and several players growing disillusioned under Frank Lampard's interim stewardship.

As expected, Mudryk has reaped the rewards of Pochettino's appointment, with the Argentine tactician clearly working hard to build a rapport with the attacker and in turn restore his confidence. He has shown – in flashes – his incredible ability, with some scintillating runs and dazzling footwork, but those moments have been too few and far between, and he is far too prone to a rush of blood to the head.

Currently, it feels as though the whole club and its fanbase are willing him to succeed, and he seems to be working tirelessly to repay their faith – but he has undeniably fallen well short of expectation, and if there is not an improvement then it would be little surprise to see Chelsea cut their losses.

Result? Miss.

Enzo Fernandez (£106m)

Enzo has certainly endeared himself to the Chelsea faithful, who view him as one of the finest central midfielders on the planet, but they would be lying if they claimed they weren't expecting more of a return on the club's £106m ($135m) investment – a deal that was struck on deadline day after a transfer tug-of-war with Benfica that lasted the duration of the window.

The Argentine World Cup winner is certainly consistent, and he has shone in moments, but he is arguably yet to fully adapt to the rigours of the Premier League. His adjustment certainly wasn't aided by the malaise that engulfed the club throughout last season, and the expectation to perform immediately despite arriving from a relatively inferior league in Portugal's Primeira Liga.

However, he has predictably benefited from compatriot Mauricio Pochettino's arrival in the summer, as well as Chelsea's capture of his fellow South American midfielder, Moises Caicedo. He has been unshackled in a more advanced role, combining well with another fresh face in Cole Palmer. That said, he could always improve his attacking output, but this was always going to be a long-term investment, and at just 23 years old, Enzo is demonstrating the potential to become world-class.

Result? Hit.

GettyAndrey Santos (£13m)

To date, Chelsea's handling of Santos has been somewhat baffling. Signed to much fanfare in January last year before being loaned back to his boyhood club Vasco da Gama, then-18-year-old Santos inspired Brazil's Under-17 World Cup triumph and – given his growing reputation as a prodigious talent – was widely expected to form part of the first-team picture under Pochettino at Stamford Bridge.

However, right at the end of the summer transfer window, the decision was abruptly taken to loan the midfielder to Nottingham Forest. Inevitably, former Forest boss Steve Cooper chose to rely upon the more experienced members of his squad as he sought to stave off relegation and the sack, with the latter to no avail. Rightly or wrongly, it is unsurprising that he was unwilling to place much responsibility on the shoulders of the teenage Brazilian amid that dogfight, and he clearly felt Forest wouldn't benefit from developing a player they didn't own. As such, Santos was recalled at the start of January having barely kicked a ball.

Result? Miss (so far).