Chelsea sold ‘one of the best in world football’ for £28m as owners face backlash

Chelsea have let a number of quality young players leave the club in recent years with Lewis Hall among those sold for a modest fee before going on to be a success at another Premier League club

Chelsea have been told they let “one of the best left-backs in world football” leave for £28million with Lewis Hall now plying his trade for Premier League rivals Newcastle.

The Englishman continues to blossom and last week kept Lamine Yamal under wraps in the Champions League. He was a product of the Blues’ academy, joining them at the age of eight and signing his first scholarship in 2021.

Soon after he was playing in the first-team but Chelsea’s appetite for spending big in the transfer window meant that Hall headed elsewhere for regular football. He joined Newcastle in 2023, initially on loan but with an obligation to buy for less than £30m.

The west Londoners’ model has seen them go after young players who will develop, into what they hope, are world class stars. But Harry Redknapp believes they let one of the best leave Stamford Bridge with England honours now in his sights.

Redknapp told BetVictor: “Lewis Hall is currently one of the best left-backs in world football. What a week he’s had! He kept Lamine Yamal very quiet and then cruised it back at Stamford Bridge. Right now, the left-back spot for England looks like it will be his to lose.”

Chelsea’s recruitment and retention method has led to mixed results with some of their signings proving to be hits. However plenty have failed to live up to expectations with the team no closer to winning the Premier League. Former player Joe Cole said on The Dressing Room podcast that “the fans are not happy (with the owners).”

He added: “Clearlake have come in and gone, this is too structured, we’re going to try a new long-term plan. The first alarm bell to me is the number of managers sacked. That tells me that it isn’t long-term thinking; it can’t be. If it’s long-term, you stick with a manager.

“Cole Palmer at £40m has worked, Caicedo and Enzo were a lot of money but have worked. But there are lots that haven’t worked. There is a lot.

“Players who have gone out the door as well like Hall and Livramento who could be in the England squad. Mason Mount hasn’t worked at Man United but he was a legend at Chelsea. Marc Guehi, now he’s starting for England. Conor Gallagher, just to balance the books and make this long-term plan work, how long do you go down the road with this long-term plan before you go, we need to adjust. I feel like a broken record.”

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