The get the current squad Chelsea have now, they have spent over £300 million in transfer fees over the years, beginning with Frank Lampard in 2001, through Michael Essien in 2005, Fernando Torres in 2011 (the most expensive player in Premier League history) and Eden Hazard this summer, for a change looking like someone worth the money spent.

FYI – Players purchased over the years but no longer with the Chelsea squad are no longer included, as aren’t players who came over on a free transfer or moved up through the academy (very rare in this case).

Frank Lampard, 2001

Hard to believe Lampard isn’t a home & grown Chelsea player, spending over a decade with the team since moving from West Ham for £11 million. Along with John Terry, they are the only players from the Pre-Mourinho era still with the team. Lampard has 562 appearances for the club, scoring 188 goals.

Paulo Ferreira, 2004

The Portuguese right back was the first player ever signed during the Jose Mourinho era, costing £13.2 million at the time. He never played more than 29 matches in the league during one season for the club, slowly edged further and further down the bench, playing less and less through the years. He has made 204 appearances for the team.

Petr Cech, 2004

In hindsight, one of the greatest deals the club ever made. Claudio Ranieri first wanted him, but the move didn’t work out, so in the 2004 summer the two teams (Rennes) finally agreed on a £7 million fee. Cech has won three league titles and one Champions League trophy with Chelsea, playing in 362 matches for the club and a number of individual awards in the Premier League.

Michael Essien, 2005

No one thought Essien would be such a force of nature when arriving from Lyon, despite his £24.4 million price tag, helping transform Chelsea’s midfield into one of the more physical and dominating groups in Europe, when he was healthy, although at this stage of his career, it seems the injuries have taken too much of a toll on his body. He has played 243 matches for Chelsea, scoring 25 goals.

Ashley Cole, 2006

Cole’s departure from Arsenal to Chelsea was quite the newsmaker back in 2006, as Arsenal fans were in fury over his “betrayal” and greed. Cole was signed for £5 million plus sending William Gallas to Arsenal, since then playing in 250 matches for Chelsea. He has been voted as the fans’ player of the year twice since his arrival.

John Obi Mikel, 2006

A huge transfer scandal at the time, Mikel was first signed by Manchester United and then signed for Chelsea, causing Chelsea to pay United £12 million for a player they never had and Lyn, his Norwegian club, £4 million. Since then Mikel has played in 239 matches for the club.

Florent Malouda, 2007

The final Jose Mourinho signing before he was sacked early in the 2007-2008 season. Malouda came over from Lyon for £13 million, playing a big role under Carlo Ancelotti in the 2010 league title and the first half of the following season. He has 220 appearances and 45 goals since joining the club.

Branislav Ivanovic, 2008

The Serbian multi-task defender arrived at Chlesea during the Avram Grant period, in January 2008. His cost was £9.7 million, arriving from Lokomotiv Moscow in Russia. He has since, slowly, grabbed a spot in the first team, be it at centre or right back, playing in 161 matches for the club, scoring 16 goals, being part of the 2010 Premier League title and a vital part in the 2012 Champions League triumph.

Daniel Sturridge, 2009

Sturrdige, after the add-on fees, cost £5.5 million to bring over from Manchester City. His status with the club took a boost after his loan season at Bolton, but new arrivals seem to suggest his future under Roberto Di Matteo isn’t exactly bright. He has 83 matches under his belt, scoring 22 goals.

Ramires, 2010

The Brazilian midfielder who began his way disappointing as a central midfielder but impressed when moved into a more wide role arrived from Benfica in the 2010 summer for £17 million, since then playing 85 times for the club, scoring 14 goals, making a huge contribution in last season’s Champions League campaign.

Yossi Benayoun, 2010

The Israeli was signed from Liverpool for £5.5 million before the 2010-2011 season, managing only 12 appearances for the club since then, also spending last season on loan with Arsenal.

Fernando Torres, 2011

The most expensive transfer in the history of the Premier League, Fernando Torres cost £50 million to get from Liverpool midway through the 2010-2011 season, since then producing only 15 goals in 71 appearances for the club, maybe only starting to put things back together this season.

Juan Mata, 2011

Chelsea’s biggest signing of the previous summer, the 24 year old Spanish international arrived from Valencia for £23.5 million, winning the Chelsea player of the year award in 2012 after a fantastic season with 12 goals and 23 assists in all competitions for the club.

Raul Meireles, 2011

The Portuguese midfielder was signed just after the beginning of the 2011-2012 season from Liverpool, costing £12 million to get. Meireles had a disappointing first season for the Blues, playing in 45 matches and scoring six goals, but not playing as well as expected most of the time.

Oriol Romeu, 2011

The 20 year old Spaniard out of the Barcelona factory line was signed a season ago for £4 million, making 22 appearances for the club last season.

David Luiz, 2011

The Brazilian defender arrived in the January transfer window of 2011, a very busy and expensive one for Chelsea. He came from Benfica for €25 million during Carlo Ancelotti’s final months as Chelsea manager, since then playing in 52 matches and scoring 5 goals.

Gary Cahill, 2012

Chelsea like purchasing centre backs midway through the season, with Cahill arriving from Bolton seven months ago for a fee of £7 million, taking a place behind the first two starting centre backs, so far playing 20 times and scoring 3 goals for the team, winning the FA Cup – Champions League double on his first season with the club.

Eden Hazard, 2012

So far, a bingo. The Belgian talent cost £32 million after being named the French Ligue 1 player of the year two seasons in a row. So far, three matches into the season, he’s been Chelsea’s best player with a goal and six assists.

Marko Marin, 2012

The German winger, purchased for £7 million from Werder Bremen has yet to make an appearance for Chelsea, still carrying an injury into the start of the season.

Oscar, 2012

The 20 year old Brazilian was signed from Internacional for £25 million after a long summer of chasing him. So far, the midfielder has made two off-the-bench appearances for the club.

Cesar Azpilicueta, 2012

Arrived just this week, signed from Marseille for £7 million.

Victor Moses, 2012

Another new and fresh arrival, Moses cost £9 million to sign.

Total – £328.8 million.