Chelsea’s approach to recruitment has long revolved around stacking their squad with some of the brightest young prospects in world football.
In the past few years, they have paid significant sums to secure teenagers such as Estevão, Kendry Páez and Mamadou Sarr.
This summer alone, they have added some of the most exciting youth prospects in Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United and Jorrel Hato from Ajax.
The logic is simple: bring in rising stars before their price goes up and commit them to long contracts, typically seven years or more.
By doing so, Chelsea not only protect themselves against paying premiums later – as they did with Enzo Fernández’s £107m transfer in 2023 – but also keep themselves compliant with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) by spreading transfer fees across the length of those deals.
The result is the youngest squad in the Premier League, with an average age of just 23 years and five months.
Not all of these gambles work out, however. A number of players have grown frustrated at limited minutes and moved on.
This summer alone saw exits for Renato Veiga, Carney Chukwuemeka, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Christopher Nkunku.
And in previous years, Chelsea have made high-profile misjudgements by letting go of talents like Mohamed Salah, Kevin De Bruyne, Declan Rice and Romelu Lukaku too early.
Yet there are also success stories that show the model can deliver.
Nowhere is that clearer than with Cole Palmer.
Cole Palmer's stunning Chelsea stint so far
When Chelsea paid Manchester City £40m for Palmer in 2023, the deal was met with scepticism.
Could a player who had mostly been used sparingly by Pep Guardiola truly justify such a fee?
Two years on, the answer is an emphatic yes. Palmer is now the beating heart of Enzo Maresca’s side and widely regarded as the club’s most important player.
Since his arrival, Palmer’s market value has soared from €32m (£28m) to €120m (£110m), as per Transfermarkt.
He was central to Chelsea’s resurgence last season, guiding them to a fourth-place finish, a UEFA Conference League triumph and a Club World Cup title.
His influence was decisive in both finals, scoring twice against PSG in the Club World Cup and picking up man of the match awards in each.
Palmer’s output has been remarkable: 45 goals and 29 assists in his first 100 appearances for the club.
Beyond numbers, his creativity and ability to dictate games in the final third have been transformative.
It is no surprise he won the PFA Young Player of the Season award, or that he broke into the England team in 2023, scoring in the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.
Statistically, Palmer excels across multiple areas.
Matches Played
37
Goals
15
Assists
8
Progressive Carries
120
Progressive Passes
214
Source: FBref
His 2024/25 season included 37 appearances with 23 goal involvements, averaging 6.03 progressive passes per 90 and 5.70 shot-creating actions.
He is not just scoring and assisting, but consistently advancing Chelsea’s play in possession.
For all the criticism of the club’s scattergun transfer policy, Palmer stands as proof that sometimes they get it spectacularly right.
How Jamal Musiala compares to Palmer
For every Palmer success story, there is a cautionary tale.
Jamal Musiala’s departure is one Chelsea fans continue to regret.
Having been part of the Blues’ youth system, he left for Bayern Munich in 2019 for just €200k (£175k).
Today his market value is estimated at €140m (£130m), and he is widely considered among the best attacking midfielders in world football.
At Bayern, Musiala has blossomed into a superstar.
In 207 matches, he has scored 64 goals and provided 39 assists, while also cementing his place in the German national team with 40 caps and eight goals.
Former England youth teammate Jude Bellingham once roomed with him, and Musiala’s decision to represent Germany over England has only heightened the sense of loss.
Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes summed it up simply: Musiala is “one of the best number 10s in the world.” The statistics underline his world-class profile.
In 2024/25, he managed 14 goal involvements in 25 Bundesliga matches, with 1.55 shots on target per 90 and an outstanding 45.6% accuracy, as per FBref.
He edges Palmer in dribbling influence too, recording 39.6 carries per 90 compared to Palmer’s 33.0.
While Palmer is the superior progressive passer (6.03 per 90 to Musiala’s 5.35), Musiala’s ability to destabilise defenders with his direct running offers a complementary, if different, threat.
The irony is stark: Chelsea now pay premiums to secure players like Palmer, while having allowed Musiala to leave for a fraction of his current worth.
Injuries have unfortunately stalled his 2025/26 campaign – a broken leg at the Club World Cup means he will miss large portions of the season – but his trajectory remains upwards.
The Palmer-Musiala contrast highlights the dual nature of Chelsea’s youth model.
They are capable of landing gems that transform the team, but just as easily let diamonds slip through their fingers.