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Chelsea have consistently been among the top clubs in the Premier League over the years. The Blues have enjoyed immense success in the English top flight since Roman Abramovich took charge of the club in 2003.
Since 2003, Chelsea have been crowned champions of England five times and have won the Champions League twice. With more financial muscle, glamor and success, Chelsea have been home to some of the Premier League's finest footballers over the years.
Footballers obviously want to grow more in their career which is why their transfer from one club to another is natural nowadays. However, sometimes it so happens that players leave their clubs to join a direct rival. This in turn angers the fanbase and shocks the world.
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On that note, let's take a look at
5 Chelsea players who moved directly to a rival Premier League club
#5 William Gallas to Arsenal
French defender William Gallas was part of a transfer deal which brought Ashley Cole from Arsenal to Chelsea. Gallas had a fallout with former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho which led the Frenchman to ask for a transfer back in 2006. The Blues were pursuing Cole's signature and swapped their player with the Gunners.
Gallas' four-year tenure at Arsenal was filled with controversy. The centre-back featured over 100 times in the Premier League with the Gunners but failed to leave a mark with his performances.
Following his fallout with the Arsenal board regarding his wages, Gallas again chose to join rivals Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer in 2010.
#4 David Luiz to Arsenal
Brazilian defender David Luiz played a major role in Chelsea's success for the majority of the last decade. The centre-back arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2011. He helped the Premier League giants win their first UEFA Champions League title back in 2012.
Luiz was sold to Paris Saint-Germain in 2014 and won nine trophies during his two-year stint in Paris. The Brazilian returned to the Premier League after the Blues opted for a deadline day transfer for the defender in 2016.
Success followed the Brazilian during his second stint at Chelsea, where he led the Blues to a Premier League title. During his six seasons at the club, the centre-back scored 18 goals in 248 appearances. He won one Premier League and one UEFA Champions League, among other notable accolades.
Luiz was sold to Arsenal in 2019 where he struggled due to his injuries, featuring in only 73 games in all competitions for the Gunners.
#3 Petr Cech to Arsenal
Petr Cech is statistically the best goalkeeper to have graced the English top flight with a record haul of 202 clean sheets to his name. Ever reliable between the posts, Cech enjoyed 11 successful campaigns with the Blues. He eventually moved to Chelsea's Premier League rivals across London.
During his tenure at Stamford Bridge, Cech was almost an immovable object for the opposition attackers. The goalkeeper won 16 major trophies at Chelsea. This includes four Premier League titles, four FA Cups and one Champions League, among other notable accolades.
Cech signed for Arsenal in 2015, spending four years at Arsenal and winning the FA Cup title in 2017.
#2 Frank Lampard to Manchester City
Undoubtedly, Frank Lampard was a legendary player for Chelsea. The midfielder boasts a mammoth haul of 211 goals and had 150 assists under his belt for the Blues. This is a testament to the midfielder's caliber.
Lampard's 13 seasons at Chelsea were trophy laden. He won three Premier League titles and one Champions League, among other notable accolades. The Englishman was a terrific playmaker with a penchant for scoring screamers from long range.
Lampard featured for Manchester City for a single campaign following his final season at Chelsea. The midfielder made the move to MLS side New York City FC in 2014 as a free agent in the summer.
However, the move was filled with controversy. Manchester City, the parent club of New York City FC, decided to secure Lampard's services on a six-month loan deal. They extended the loan period which saw Lampard miss the entirety of the 2015 MLS season.
Lampard was on the scoresheet when Manchester City faced Chelsea but he didn't celebrate as a sign of respect.
#1 Juan Mata to Manchester United
The sole reason why Juan Mata is at the top of the list is due to the fact that he was at his peak when the transfer to Manchester United took place. It was a bizarre decision from the Chelsea hierarchy as Mata was awarded the Blues' Player of the Year award twice in 2012 and 2013.
During his brief tenure at Stamford Bridge, Mata was the standout performer in the team. The Spaniard went on to score 32 goals and rack up 58 assists for Chelsea. He was skilled at dislodging opposition defenses at will with his immaculate passing and vision.
Mata has spent seven years at Manchester United since his move in 2014, scoring 51 times for the Red Devils.
