In the final days of the 2021 summer transfer window, Chelsea secured the signing of Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan for €115 million, making him the club’s most expensive acquisition ever.
This marked the Belgian striker’s second stint at Stamford Bridge, having previously played for Chelsea from 2011 to 2014 with limited success. As Lukaku returns to the Premier League, let’s revisit the Chelsea lineup from his debut in 2011 and see where those players are today.
Goalkeeper: Henrique Hilario
Henrique Hilario joined Chelsea in 2006 after stints with top Portuguese clubs Porto and CD Nacional. He spent eight seasons with the Blues, retiring in 2014.
In 2016, Hilario returned to Chelsea as a goalkeeping coach, a role he holds to this day.
Right-Back: Jose Bosingwa
Bosingwa spent five seasons at Porto before signing with Chelsea in the summer of 2008. Over four years at Stamford Bridge, he won two FA Cups, a Champions League, a Premier League, and a Community Shield.
He later played one season for Queens Park Rangers and ended his career at Turkey’s Trabzonspor.
Center-Back: Branislav Ivanovic
The Serbian defender joined Chelsea in 2008 and stayed for nine seasons, winning nearly every major trophy with the club.
After leaving in 2017, Ivanovic played three seasons at Zenit Saint Petersburg. Last season, he returned to the Premier League with West Brom but parted ways with the club in May 2021. He remains without a new team.
Center-Back: John Terry
John Terry is Chelsea’s most successful homegrown player. Rising through the academy, he joined the first team in 1999 and dedicated 19 years to the club. The English defender became a standout leader and was entrusted with the captain’s armband.
After leaving Chelsea, Terry joined Aston Villa in 2017 for one season before retiring. Since 2018, he served as an assistant coach at Villa but left before the 2021/22 season.
Left-Back: Ashley Cole
A product of Arsenal’s youth system, Ashley Cole debuted for their senior team in 1999. In 2006, he crossed London to join Chelsea, where he enjoyed immense success.
Leaving Stamford Bridge in 2014, Cole played for AS Roma and LA Galaxy before retiring at Derby County in August 2019. Now, the 1980-born former defender coaches Chelsea’s youth teams.
Midfielder: Ramires
The Brazilian midfielder played for Chelsea from 2010 to 2016. He then moved to China’s Jiangsu Suning for three seasons.
In 2019, Ramires returned to Brazil with Palmeiras on a four-year deal, but his contract was terminated in November 2020.
Midfielder: Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard joined Chelsea from West Ham in 2001 and stayed for 13 seasons, becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer.
After leaving in 2014, he signed a two-year deal with New York City FC in MLS, with a brief loan at Manchester City. He retired in early 2017 and turned to coaching, managing Derby County before taking Chelsea’s head coach role in 2019. His return disappointed, and he was sacked in early 2021.
Midfielder: John Obi Mikel
John Obi Mikel joined Chelsea in 2006 and remained for 11 seasons, leaving in early 2017.
After departing, the Nigerian midfielder played for China’s Tianjin TEDA. In 2019, he returned to England, featuring for Middlesbrough and Stoke City. In July 2021, the 34-year-old signed with Kuwait SC to see out his career.
Winger: Florent Malouda
Malouda played at Stamford Bridge from 2007 to 2013. Afterward, he drifted through clubs in Turkey, France, India, Egypt, and Luxembourg, retiring in 2018 with FC Differdange 03.
In February 2019, Malouda became FC Zurich’s head coach but was sacked after just two months.
Forward: Didier Drogba
Arriving from Marseille in 2004, Didier Drogba quickly became a Chelsea legend. He stayed until 2012, then joined Shanghai Shenhua in China and later Galatasaray.
In 2014, the Ivorian star returned to Chelsea for one more season. After leaving, he played for other clubs before retiring with Phoenix Rising in the USL in November 2018. Today, “The Elephant” is a global ambassador for Chelsea and helps run Phoenix Rising.
Forward: Fernando Torres
Torres moved from Liverpool to Chelsea in early 2011 for €50 million, making him the Premier League’s priciest player at the time. His spell at Stamford Bridge until 2015 was underwhelming.
After leaving, Torres played for AC Milan before returning to his boyhood club, Atletico Madrid. In 2018, he joined Japan’s Sagan Tosu, retiring there. In July 2021, he became head coach of Atletico Madrid’s U19 team.
Substitute: Juan Mata
The Spanish midfielder joined Chelsea from Valencia in 2011. After two and a half years, he was sold to Manchester United in 2014.
Still with the Red Devils, Mata’s playing time is limited due to age.
Substitute: Nicolas Anelka
Anelka played for Chelsea from 2008 to 2012, alongside stints at top European clubs like Arsenal, Real Madrid, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, and PSG.
Retiring in 2016, he turned to coaching. In 2018, he coached Lille’s youth team. In 2021, he joined French amateur club Hyeres FC as sporting director.
Substitute: Romelu Lukaku
The Belgian striker first joined Chelsea in 2011. After one season, he was loaned to West Brom and Everton.
Lukaku impressed, earning a move to Manchester United in 2017. Struggling to meet expectations at Old Trafford, he was sold to Inter Milan in 2019. There, he rediscovered his form, becoming a top Serie A striker and helping Inter win the Scudetto after 11 years.
Recently, Lukaku left Inter to rejoin Chelsea in the Premier League.