During the Roman Abramovich era Chelsea have signed several players who became global stars.
Think Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Eden Hazard and many more.
But the recruitment team at Stamford Bridge hasn’t always got it right.
So we have looked back over the past 17 years to bring you the most bizarre signings made under the Russian’s watch.
Juan Sebastian Veron
Signed from: Manchester United
Fee: £15m
Appearances: 15
In the summer of 2003, after Abramovich’s arrival, Chelsea splashed the cash like no club before. But quite why the Blues decided Veron was worth poaching away from Manchester United was curious.
The Argentine maestro failed to produce his best form during his two seasons at Old Trafford and Sir Alex Ferguson was prepared to let him leave. A telling sign and one Chelsea should have heeded.
Veron did score on his Blues debut but made only 14 more appearances before he was sent on a two-season loan to Inter.
Maniche
Signed from: Dynamo Moscow
Fee: Loan
Appearances: 11
The Portuguese midfielder worked with Jose Mourinho at Porto, probably the only reason he was signed. Maniche joined a midfield which contained Frank Lampard, Essien, Claude Makelele, Lassana Diarra and converted striker Eidur Gudjohnsen.
He was a little out of his depth. But what Maniche lacked in quality he made up for in exuberance. So much so that during his first Premier League start he was sent off in the 17th minute.
Fabio Paim
Signed from: Sporting
Fee: Loan
Appearances: 0
"If you think I'm good, wait until you see Fabio Paim," Cristiano Ronaldo claimed in 2003. Yet by the time the winger arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2008, the hype had very much faded.
This was Paim’s last shot at stardom. It didn’t work out. He never made a first-team appearance and after four months turning out for the reserves, returned to Portugal.
Ricardo Quaresma
Signed from: Inter
Fee: Loan
Appearances: 5
Many will not even know Quaresma spent six months at Stamford Bridge in 2009. But yes it happened and yes it was thoroughly underwhelming.
The Portuguese winger was signed in the dying embers of Luiz Felipe Scolari’s tenure and was quickly forgotten about once the Brazilian coach was sacked. Still he did manage an assist in an FA Cup clash against Coventry, so that’s something.
Papy Djilobodji
Signed from: Nantes
Fee: £2.7m
Appearances: 1
It wasn’t his fault he was bought by Chelsea but Djilobodji will be forever remembered as one of the club’s strangest and worst signings.
He joined on September 1, 2015 from Nantes. On September 2 he was left out of the Blues’ Champions League squad. On September 11 Mourinho admitted Djilobodji wasn’t his signing. On September 24 he was given a one-minute substitute appearance against Walsall. And that was that.
The Senegal international was packed off on loan to Werder Bremen six months after he arrived and was sold to Sunderland 2016.
Radamel Falcao
Signed from: Monaco
Fee: Loan
Appearances: 12
Falcao endured a miserable loan spell at Manchester United during the 2014/15 season yet - in the spirit of Veron - Chelsea thought they could restore the South American to his former self.
They were wrong. The Colombian managed just 12 appearances, scored one goal, and strengthened the belief among Chelsea fans that the No.9 shirt was cursed.
Alexandre Pato
Signed from: Corinthians
Fee: Loan
Appearances: 2
Not content with having one striker who was a shadow of his former self, Chelsea doubled down in the 2015/16 season and signed the Brazilian at the end of the January transfer window. “I cannot wait to play,” he said.
Over two months later, he finally did. And he scored in a win over Aston Villa. An appearance against Swansea followed before he took Falcao’s place on the substitutes’ bench and watched out the season in comfort.
