Former Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begovic has expressed skepticism about the club’s £1 billion ($1.2 billion) spending spree, stating that he is unfamiliar with some of their recent signings. The Premier League giants have made substantial investments since Todd Boehly’s takeover of the club in the summer of 2022. They have spent staggering sums on players such as Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana, Mykhailo Mudryk, Enzo Fernandez, Malo Gusto, Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, and Cole Palmer.
Begovic, who played for Chelsea from 2015 to 2017, shared his views on The Byline podcast, saying, “When you’re spending £115 million on Caicedo, why not spend £120 million on Declan Rice? I don’t know Declan personally, and I’m not saying he doesn’t want to play for Arsenal, but I genuinely believe he would have preferred a move to Chelsea. When I look at some of these players, I wonder why Declan Rice is going elsewhere. In the past, players in their prime like Declan Rice would have gone to Chelsea.”
He continued, “I watch football obsessively, and I’m not familiar with half of these players! To me, the whole situation is odd. I don’t see the team’s structure. This rebuilding and transition phase seems like an excuse to me. I’m not saying I don’t like Enzo Fernandez, but if we’re spending £230 million on him and Caicedo, I’d rather have Declan Rice over any of those players if he’s available. Let’s bring in the best players.”
Begovic, who is now with Queens Park Rangers, further questioned Chelsea’s recent developments, saying, “Honestly, in the last 12 months, what has happened at Chelsea Football Club? It’s baffling. If you look at the squad of players Mauricio Pochettino has at his disposal, the amount of money spent is only 12th in the league—mid-table! Anything higher would be a miracle. There’s been some bad luck with Christopher Nkunku, I understand he’s a top player, and Cole Palmer has just joined.”
He concluded, “But what’s the deal with the recruitment of these players? Why is Chelsea Football Club in a rebuilding phase? Why are they in transition? This is one of the best clubs. I’ve been there, and I’m proud to have been there. It’s one of the best places to play football in the world. I remember being in the dressing room with world-class players, signing from Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich. Now it feels like we’re signing potential players from Brighton. I understand the need for young talent, but where are the top, world-class players?” Chelsea failed to secure European qualification last season, marking their first absence from continental competition since 2016-17, and their start to the 2023-24 season has been less than stellar, with just four points from their first four matches.