An overview of Chelsea's past few January signings

#3 Nemanja Matic- Success

Matic was one of the best defensive midfielders for Chelsea

Nemanja Matic was amongst the few Chelsea players to have managed to crack into the first team despite the club's vicious loan system. After signing for the blues in 2009, aged just 21, the Serb was restricted to just three appearances in his first campaign. A loan spell at Vitesse followed by interest from Benfica drove him out of Chelsea in 2011 making him one of the first players to fall prey to the club's way of dealing with young talents.

Over the next two years, the Serbian with his performances for Benfica established himself as one of the best in his position, attracting the interest from various top clubs across Europe. Amongst those, he impressed the most was Jose Mourinho, who brought him back to Stamford Bridge in January 2014 for £21 million. He instantly became an integral part of the squad making 17 league appearances in the second half of the season.

Under Mourinho, Matic became highly regarded for his ability to screen the defense while providing cover for the attack. His first full season with the blues earned him the League Cup, the Premier League and inclusion in the PFA team of the year. Following Jose's sacking in December 2015, the Serb remained a key player even for the new manager Antonio Conte who used him effectively in Chelsea's 2016-17 title-winning season.

Despite his success at Chelsea, Matic was longing a reunion with former boss Jose Mourinho and signed a deal with Manchester United in 2017. Before joining the Red Devils, the midfielder boasted of an impeccable 75% tackle success rate in 123 Premier League appearances.