Incredible Chelsea XI if they kept all their best players | OneFootball

Chelsea have had their fair share of top talent across the years, with full internationals, Champions League winners and World Cup stars having been on the club's roster.

From legendary club captain John Terry, to record top-scorer Frank Lampard, and everyone in between, Chelsea fans know a world-class player when they see one.

But despite their ability to sign and develop the world's best players, there have been plenty of transfer window howlers for the Blues. Not one to stand in the way of a player when they want to depart the club, Chelsea's starting line-up might've looked much different right now, had they not sold any of their best players in recent years.

So, in recognition of that, GIVEMESPORT have taken a look at what the Blues' best possible team could've been, had the two-time European champions kept hold of the club's biggest names.

GK - Thibaut Courtois

Unlike other names in this list, Chelsea were somewhat backed into a corner by Thibaut Courtois' desire to leave the club, with the goalkeeper having flourished since joining Real Madrid back in August 2018.

The Belgian international had spent four years as the club's number-one between the sticks, having previously spent the first four years of his Chelsea career out on loan at Atletico Madrid.

Signing for Real Madrid ahead of the 2018/19 campaign, Chelsea pocketed a healthy £35 million for Courtois' signature, but it's a position they've struggled to fill ever since his departure. The likes of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Edouard Mendy and most recently Robert Sanchez have all been given the gloves, but none of them match Courtois' ability.

RB - Reece James

The first player on this list who is still at Chelsea, it's difficult to see Reece James being allowed to leave the club anytime soon, such is his connection with the Blues' faithful.

A product of the world-renowned Chelsea academy, James initially broke into the first team back in September 2019, having spent the 2018/19 campaign out on loan at Wigan Athletic. Ever since, the right-back has enjoyed patches of brilliance, marred by spells on the touchline through injury.

Frustrating, as when the Englishman is fit and firing, James has demonstrated that he has the potential to be one of the best fullbacks in the Premier League. Alas, the now 23-year-old was handed the captain's armband ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and is looking ahead to a successful career as the club's skipper.

CB - Fikayo Tomori

Now for a player whose path would've most likely crossed with James' while in the Chelsea academy, but one who unlike the right-back, was sold early on in his Chelsea career.

Fikayo Tomori has been a leading light for players in England, showing them that life can exist outside of the Premier League, with the centre-half having impressed ever since joining Italian giant AC Milan. Initially joining on loan during the 2021 January transfer window, the move would be made permanent the following summer, with Milan paying Chelsea a reported £25 million fee.

It was a move that would prove worthwhile, as in that same season, Tomori shone for Milan as they went on to lift the Serie A title. The England international played in 31 of the Rossoneri's 38 Serie A matches en route to winning the Scudetto and has remained a fixture in their starting-11 ever since.

CB - Nathan Ake

There's a reason Chelsea were so keen to bring Nathan Ake back to the club during the 2022 summer transfer window, given his unique ability as a left-footed centre-back.

It's reported that Chelsea were interested in signing the Dutch international, but a move eventually broke down because they were unwilling to match the £50 million valuation set by Manchester City. It would be to the Manchester outfit's benefit, as Ake played 41 times across all competitions as City went on to win the Premier League, the FA Cup and their first-ever Champions League.

The 28-year-old represents a better centre-half option than most players the west Londoners currently have on their roster, with Ake likely a lock in the current Chelsea starting-11, had they not sold him to Bournemouth for £20 million in June 2017.

LB - Lewis Hall

Whisper it, but Lewis Hall could end up being the next former Chelsea academy graduate the club regret selling in years to come.

Leaving Stamford Bridge during the recent summer transfer window, Hall has made an immediate impact since linking up with Eddie Howe at Newcastle United. While the left-back is currently on loan at St. James' Park, there is an expectation that the Magpies will make the move permanent at the end of the season, with a £35 million fee being touted.

Netting a wonder strike during Newcastle's October 2023 League Cup victory over Manchester United, the teenage sensation looks destined for a stellar career in English and European football, with Chelsea likely to regret sanctioning his sale.

CM - Moises Caicedo

Another one of the current Chelsea lot now, much was made of Moises Caicedo's transfer to Stamford Bridge, but early on in his time with the club, things haven't necessarily gone to plan.

Of course, the midfielder has plenty of time on his side, but there is a feeling the Ecuador international might've been a little overpriced, with Chelsea splashing £115 million to sign him from Brighton & Hove Albion.

He still gets into the current Chelsea starting-11 though, and in truth he's likely to get into the side for most of the next decade. With Caicedo, the idea was to buy into his potential and it's difficult to see him not improving as the years go by.

CM - Enzo Fernandez

Much like his midfield partner Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez's transfer to Chelsea was part of a nine-figure deal, which saw the Argentine join from Benfica in the 2023 January transfer window.

A metronomic operator, Fernandez is the beating heart of Chelsea's midfield, with the 2022 World Cup winner averaging at least 80 passes per match, according to the FBref statistics database. While his performances have at times been left wanting, Fernandez is another player who is likely to spend the best part of the next decade at Stamford Bridge.

Aged just 22 years old, if he is given the time to grow, there is nothing stopping Fernandez from developing into one of the best midfielders in world football.

CM - Kevin De Bruyne

From a player who could end up being one of the best midfielders in the world, to one who is arguably the greatest midfielder of all time, Kevin De Bruyne remains one of Chelsea's worst-ever transfer mistakes.

When the Belgian was sold to Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg in January 2014, De Bruyne had started just five matches for the Blues, in what would turn out to be a cataclysmic error from the Chelsea board. No sooner had he left the Premier League, was De Bruyne putting pen to paper on a return, with Man City splashing £51 million to bring him to the Etihad Stadium in August 2015.

Since then, De Bruyne has notched up over 350 appearances for City, scoring close to 100 goals, making over 150 assists, and of course, winning a plethora of trophies along the way. What could've been, ey?

RW - Mohamed Salah

The only thing stopping De Bruyne from being labelled as the worst Chelsea transfer mistake of all-time, is the fact they also let Mohamed Salah leave the club at a similar time.

Signing for Chelsea as a replacement for the departing Juan Mata, Salah cost the Blues an initial £12 million, but the move would quickly be dubbed a flop, as the Egyptian mustered up just six G/A contributions in 19 matches for the club. Sold to Serie A outfits Fiorentina on loan in January 2015, and then Roma the following summer, Salah would rebuild his career in the Italian first tier, before eventually rocking up at Liverpool in June 2017.

Costing the Merseyside outfit just £34 million, the transfer represents one of the bargains of the century, as Salah has gone on to score close to 200 goals in just over 300 appearances for Liverpool.

ST - Alvaro Morata

Perhaps somewhat of a surprise pick, given his time with Chelsea was nothing but a complete failure, Alvaro Morata is just one of a number of strikers the Blues have let go who could've come in handy for them this season. The likes of Tammy Abraham and Romelu Lukaku both have a case to be on this list, but it's Morata's form in the 2023/24 campaign that edges him ahead of the other two.

Looking back to his devastating best, Morata has netted an impressive 12 goals in the first 14 matches of the season for Atletico Madrid - a tally which is close to half the number of goals the Spanish international managed for Chelsea during the entirety of his 72-game stay.

LW - Cole Palmer

Rounding off this list is Cole Palmer, who has captured the imagination of the Chelsea supporters ever since agreeing on a big-money move from Man City in the recent summer transfer window.

Ironically, Palmer could prove to be the first major transfer faux pas made by City since their rise to dominance, with Chelsea this time the side benefiting from a top club letting their academy talent leave. He did cost Chelsea a pretty penny though, with a £40 million payment needed to get the deal across the line, but so far it has proved good value for money.

, indicating he has the potential to go on and be a worthwhile signing for the Blues.