'I could have left Chelsea this summer' admits record transfer

Suraj Radia

• 11 Sept 2024 20:30 BST
• 3 min read

One of Chelsea’s most expensive players has revealed he was in talks to leave the club this summer.

The Blues have spent more than €1.3 billion on players since the takeover of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital in 2022, with record outlays on the likes of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo.

Wesley Fofana also became the club's most expensive defender ever when he joined Chelsea for €80 million in 2022, however the Frenchman has endured a frustrating time at Stamford Bridge since.

READ MORE: Todd Boehly vs Behdad Eghbali: Chelsea's civil war explained

A succession of knee injuries has limited Fofana to just 23 appearances in two years, although he has started Chelsea’s opening three Premier League games this season after missing the entirety of the last campaign with a ruptured cruciate ligament.

However, Fofana has revealed he could have left Chelsea for his boyhood club Marseille this summer after being approached to join the French side.

“I had a conversation that really touched me. I would be lying if I said I didn’t weigh it up,” Fofana told FreeFoot. “It was from Mehdi Benatia, Marseille’s sporting director.

The objective is to succeed at Chelsea’ – Fofana. It touched me and I think everyone knows why. I thought about it but there you go, the current objective is to succeed at Chelsea, to try and play regularly, and to establish myself at my club.”

Fofana looking to bounce back after horror injury history

Fofana was considered one of the best young defenders in the Premier League during his time at Leicester, hence why Chelsea were willing to splash out on the French international even with his questionable injury record.

The 23-year-old was sidelined for most of the 2021/22 season with a broken fibula before recovering to finish the season strong with Leicester.

READ MORE: Chelsea's most expensive transfers of all time

But despite also having a number of knee injuries for Leicester and previous side Saint Etienne, Chelsea embarked on a summer-long transfer saga to convince Fofana to join the club on deadline day in 2022.

A player renowned for his pace and physical capabilities, many have questioned whether Fofana will ever be able to live up to his price tag due to the toll of his injuries, however the centre-back has started this season strongly as a first choice in Enzo Maresca’s defence.