Chelsea have signed a lot of players in recent seasons, and not all of them have worked out.
Every transfer move is a gamble. No player is guaranteed to succeed in a new environment.
There has been a plethora of additions made to the Chelsea squad over the years, often young players, and often from abroad. As such, it’s no surprise that some don’t work out.
But Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaus thinks one Blues transfer didn’t just not work out, but derailed a young player’s career.
Lothar Matthaus says Chelsea move came ‘too early’ for Timo Werner
Timo Werner’s 2020 move to Chelsea happened as the forward was on the verge of superstardom, having registered 34 goals and 13 assists the season prior.
Speaking to Sky Sports Germany, Matthaus shared his thoughts on the then-24-year-old’s unsuccessful switch.
He said: “For me, the move to England was far too early for him. He scored many, many goals, decided many games and also appeared confident on the pitch [at Leipzig].”
“The move to England did something to him because he didn’t get the same warmth there either. There’s a family atmosphere at Stuttgart, and here at RB Leipzig, people hug each other, that doesn’t happen in England. It’s tough, professional football.”
Werner would be sold back to Leipzig by Chelsea in 2022 for just over half what the Blues paid for him, marking yet another unsuccessful transition from the Bundesliga to the Premier League.
On the surface, a failed experiment.
Werner’s Chelsea legacy after some distance
When you think of Werner’s time at Chelsea, the word flop comes to mind. But let’s summarise.
The German spent two years at Stamford Bridge, registering 23 goals and 21 assists in 89 appearances, while winning the Champions League and the Club World Cup.
That by itself looks like the resume of a successful signing, no?
Numbers aside, Werner at Chelsea was a tough watch at times. He was erratic, inconsistent and frustrated fans with some poor, poor performances and missed chances.
Maybe Chelsea would have won with or without him, but to call two continental trophies in two seasons an absolute failure seems harsh. Matthaus might have hit the nail on the head. Good player who moved too soon.
