Marc Guehi return to Chelsea? The Premier League’s most expensive re-signings | OneFootball

Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi could reportedly be in line with a surprise return to his former club Chelsea, as the club look for a replacement for Wesley Fofana who had another injury setback to his career at Stamford Bridge.

Guehi came through the Chelsea academy but only made two appearances in the Carabao Cup during the 2019-20 campaign before spending time on loan at Swansea City in the Championship.

This was followed by a permanent switch to Crystal Palace in 2021 for a reported fee of £18 million, where he has gone on to make over 100 appearances for the Eagles and earn international caps for England.

Should the 24-year-old make the switch across London, it would cost Chelsea at least triple what they sold him for, and would be another of a string of expensive re-signings in Premier League history.

We take a look at some of those names who returned to former clubs:

Paul Pogba (Manchester United, 2016, £89m)

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The Frenchman completed a sensational return to Old Trafford back in the summer of 2016 after leaving Manchester United for Juventus as a 19-year-old.

Pogba had originally signed for United at 15 and would progress through the club’s youth setup before making his first-team debut in a League Cup tie back in 2011.

Sir Alex Ferguson admitted holding Pogba back would ultimately mean the midfielder leaving and, sure enough, the Frenchman departed the following summer.

Pogba would develop into one of Europe’s finest midfield players and sealed his return to United for a mammoth £89m.

The World Cup winner would go on to make a further 154 appearances, scoring 29 times throughout six seasons, before returning to Juventus.

Jermain Defoe (Tottenham, 2009, £16m)

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Defoe was not the first striker to return to Tottenham as the England international sealed his switch from troubled Portsmouth.

After 43 goals in 139 appearances, Defoe left Tottenham back in 2008 for the south coast, but returned just a year later and bagged a further 47 in 135 matches.

The striker played a significant role in Tottenham qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in their history.

Defoe eventually left Spurs in 2014 before returning for a third time on a short loan deal, making a further two appearances.

Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City, 2008, £8.5m)

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Another to complete a sensational return, Wright-Phillips made 217 appearances across two spells with City.

The flying winger opted to join newly-crowned champions Chelsea in 2005, becoming one of Jose Mourinho’s first high-profile signings at Stamford Bridge.

The England international managed just four goals in 82 appearances across three seasons, before making his return to the Etihad.

Despite scoring on his debut, Wright-Phillips’ second spell wasn’t as impactful as his first and he was often left on the bench as competition for places grew.

Robbie Keane (Tottenham, 2009, £16m)

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There’s a theme building… following Defoe back to Tottenham in the same season, Keane rejoined after just 18 months at Liverpool.

The prolific forward scored 80 in 197 appearances during his first spell, prompting Liverpool to splash over £19m to sign him in the summer of 2008.

Having struggled to settle at Anfield, Keane returned to White Hart Lane in the winter transfer window of 2009 and helped himself to another 11 goals in 41 appearances across a further two seasons.

After loan spells at Celtic and West Ham, Keane would eventually depart Tottenham for Los Angeles in 2011.

Nemanja Matic (Chelsea, 2014, £21m)

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When Matic left Chelsea back in 2011, it looked as though any hopes of being a success in the Premier League had gone with it.

However, a rejuvenated spell at Benfica prompted Mourinho to splash out £21m to secure his return three years later.

It proved to be an inspired move as Matic played a key part in Chelsea winning the Premier League title in his first season back, as the midfielder earned a place in the PFA Team of the Year.

Matic would win another title in 2017 before leaving to reunite with Mourinho at Manchester United.