Todd Boehly has demonstrated significant ambition during his two-year ownership of Chelsea Football Club, investing over £1.1 billion in new transfers to revamp the squad. While some of these signings have been unpredictable, many have proven to be valuable assets, enhancing the team’s quality under new manager Enzo Maresca.
Cole Palmer stands out as Boehly’s best investment, with the club spending £40 million to acquire him. Palmer has delivered exceptional performances, contributing to 45 goals in just 51 appearances for Chelsea.
Christopher Nkunku has been unable to make the impact he envisioned at Chelsea due to injury issues, but he has still managed to score six goals in 20 appearances. Another player who has thrived since the arrival of manager Enzo Maresca is Noni Madueke, who has elevated his performances at the club.
Madueke, a winger, joined Chelsea from Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven in January 2023 in a £29 million deal. Since then, he has shown great promise and continues to develop his form at Stamford Bridge.
Noni Madueke had to be patient under former manager Mauricio Pochettino, making just 13 league starts during the 2023/24 season. Despite limited opportunities, he still scored five Premier League goals, finishing as Chelsea’s fourth top scorer in his first full season.
Since the arrival of Enzo Maresca, Madueke’s fortunes have improved significantly. The 22-year-old has started all but one league match this season and already netted three goals, including a hat-trick in a 6-2 win over Wolves, earning him his first call-up to the England national team during the recent international break.
However, despite his rise in form, Callum Hudson-Odoi, a former Chelsea winger who left 12 months ago, has outshined Madueke since his departure. Once considered one of Europe’s brightest young talents, Hudson-Odoi struggled with injuries and fell down the pecking order at Chelsea. In the summer, he moved to Nottingham Forest for £5 million—a bargain, considering his performances since joining.
Hudson-Odoi scored eight league goals last season and recently netted the winner against Liverpool, bringing his tally to nine league goals since the start of the 2023/24 season, surpassing Madueke’s eight over the same period. Chelsea may now regret letting him leave given his strong form at Forest.
| Callum Hudson-Odoi’s stats for Nottingham Forest (2023/24) | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | Tally |
| Games played | 29 |
| Minutes played | 1854 |
| Goals scored | 8 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Pass accuracy | 85% |
| Dribbles completed | 61% |
| Touches in opposition box | 80 |
| Stats via FotMob | |
Callum Hudson-Odoi has already been linked with a potential £40 million move to Tottenham Hotspur in recent months, highlighting how cheaply Chelsea allowed the “sensational” forward, as described by U23 scout Antonio Mango, to leave his boyhood club. His impressive form at Nottingham Forest has only increased the sense that Chelsea may have made a mistake in letting such a talented player go for just £5 million.
Callum Hudson-Odoi’s recent form in the Premier League shows that he still possesses the qualities to excel at the highest level, despite his past injury struggles. While Noni Madueke has certainly been a valuable addition for Chelsea, the club may have been better off placing their faith in Hudson-Odoi. His goalscoring record has already surpassed that of Madueke, despite the latter’s £29 million price tag, suggesting Chelsea might have missed out by letting their homegrown talent go.
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