5 most profitable transfers in Chelsea's history

Chelsea, owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, are one of the smartest football clubs in the world. Their business model not only helps them earn success on the field, but also off it.

It was only after their takeover by Abramovich that the club started earning accolades regularly. Credit goes to the Russian for his vision and how he has gone about transforming the Blues' fortunes.

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Chelsea are shrewd with their transfers

Chelsea have been quite intelligent with the players they have invested in. Moreover, they always send out a lot of players on loan to aid in their development.

However, when the time comes, the Blues don't hesitate in selling their key players, and that has turned out well for them in most cases. In the process, they have amassed heavy profits on those sales. On that note, here's a look at the Blues' five most profitable transfers over the years."

Note: All values are as per Transfermarkt.

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#5 Diego Costa - £19.8 million

Diego Costa was a beast of a striker when he played in the Premier League.

There are very few players with the prowess of Diego Costa. The tall striker signed by Chelsea for £34.2 million in 2014 after an impressive spell with Atletico Madrid.

Using his strong physique and excellent finishing abilities, Costa fared well for the Blues. In his three seasons at Stamford Bridge, he scored 52 goals in 89 Premier League games. He helped the club win two league titles, and was also named in the PFA Team of the Year in the 2014-15 season.

After falling out with then Blues manager Antonio Conte, Costa left the club, and rejoined Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2017. The transfer fee involved was £54 million, helping the Blues make a profit of £19.8 million on his sale.

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#4 David Luiz - £22.05 million

David Luiz had two spells with the London club.

David Luiz has had an interesting career. His fine performances with Benfica helped him earn a move to Chelsea in 2011 for £22.5 million.

Thanks to his aggressive approach, intense tackling and amazing aerial abilities, Luiz was quite effective at the back. He was also reckless at times, and made some poor decisions, but he was largely useful to the club's cause.

He won the UEFA Champions League and Europa League with the London club before deciding to move to Paris Saint-Germain.

The French club signed Luiz in 2014 for £44.55 million, helping the Blues make a profit of £22.05 million on his sale. The Brazilian centre-back returned to the Premier League club for a second spell in 2016.

#3 Thibaut Courtois - £23.45 million

Thibaut Courtois is currently one of the best goalkeepers in La Liga.

Chelsea have a penchant of investing in players, and loaning them out to bolster their development. They did so by sending Thibaut Courtois on loan to Atletico Madrid.

The Belgian evolved into one of the finest goalkeepers in La Liga while playing for Atletico. Signed from Genk for £8.06 million in 2011, Courtois was brought back to Stamford Bridge from Madrid in 2014.

With the Blues, Courtois did quite well, as he won the Premier League twice, and the FA Cup and Football League Cup once.

He also won the Premier League Golden Glove in 2016-17. Courtois' impressive performances helped him earn him a move to Real Madrid in 2018. His transfer cost £31.5 million, helping the Blues make a profit of £23.45 million on his sale.

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#2 Oscar - £25.2 million

Chelsea vs West Bromwich Albion - Premier League

The London club signed Oscar from Internacional in 2010. The Brazilian, with his attacking attributes and vision to create, was quite impactful for the Blues.

In his 131 Premier League appearances for the club, Oscar scored 21 goals and registered 19 assists. He won the league twice, League Cup once and the UEFA Europa League once.

To the surprise of many, the Brazilian midfielder joined Shanghai Port in China in 2017. The only positive that came out of the transfer for Chelsea was the transfer fee of £54 million involved, helping the club make a profit of £25.2 million.

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#1 Eden Hazard - £72 million

Eden Hazard enjoyed an excellent career with the Blues.

Eden Hazard was a much sought-after player while he was at Lille. The Belgian was eventually signed by Chelsea in the summer of 2012 for £31.5 million.

Thanks to his mind-boggling dribbling, quick footwork and ability to score goals, the dynamic winger became a superstar in the Premier League. In his seven seasons with the Blues, Hazard scored 85 goals and registered 54 assists in the league.

He won the Premier League and Europa League twice with the Blues, and earned plenty of individual accolades in the process.

Hazard expressed his desire to leave the club in 2019, and was signed by Real Madrid in the summer. The transfer fee involved was £103.5 million, helping the Blues make a profit of £72 million on his sale.