In the illustrious history of Chelsea F.C., the club has won an impressive 34 trophies, including two prestigious Champions League titles.

Since the club’s inception in 1905, some of the best players in the world have donned the iconic blue jersey, showing off their remarkable talents and creating unforgettable moments for Chelsea fans.

In today’s article we delve into the legacy of these Chelsea legends and see why they have earned their rightful places as the best players of Chelsea.

Who are the most valuable Chelsea players this Premier League 2023-24 season?

The Chelsea soccer team is one of the most valuable teams in the world, let alone the Premier League. After a summer of spending, the blues splashed out an incredible £115m to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton for a British-record fee, to play alongside Argentinian Chelsea player Enzo Fernandez.

However, in the 2023/24 season it’s Raheem Sterling who is proving to be Chelsea’s most valuable player on the pitch. Chelsea Manager, Mauricio Pochettino, has the youngest squad in the division and it’s been 28-year-old Raheem Sterling who is taking responsibility as one of Chelsea’s key players to help them win games.

Current Chelsea Players Below are the current players on the Chelsea roster for the 2023/24 season, including their squad numbers.

1. Robert Sanchez, 2. Axel Disasi, 3, Marc Cucurella, 5. Benoit Badiashile, 6. Thiago Silva, 7. Raheem Sterling, 8. Enzo Fernandez, 10. Mykhailo Mudryk, 11. Noni Madueke, 13. Marcus Bettinelli, 14. Treboh Chalobah, 15. Nicolas Jackson, 16. Lesley Ugochukwu, 17. Carney Chukwuemeka, 18. Christopher Nkunku, 19. Armando Broja, 20. Cole Palmer, 21. Ben Chilwell, 23. Conor Gallagher, 24. Reece James, 25. Moises Caicedo, 26. Levi Colwill, 27. Malo Gusto, 28. Dode Petrovic, 29. Ian Maatsen, 33. Wesley Fofana, 36. Deivid Washington, 45. Romeo Lavia 

Are there any US players on Chelsea?

The only US Player on Chelsea’s books is American goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina. The 18-year-old signed a six-year contract with the Blues, joining Chelsea from MLS side Chicago Fire where he returned on loan to complete their season before moving to west London at the start of 2023. 

In August 2023 he joined Belgian Pro League side K.A.S. Eupen on a season-long loan and immediately became their first-choice goalkeeper. 

Famous Chelsea Players

In recent years the Chelsea squad has grown increasingly popular with their ever-growing fan base and incredible transfer spending. As the poster boy for this new Chelsea era, Enzo Fernandez joined Chelsea as a World Cup winner and the Best Young player of the Tournament at the World Cup in 2022. He’s now one of the most famous Chelsea players on the roster in 2023.

If we’re looking further into the club’s history, some of the most famous Chelsea FC players include the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba.  

Ranking the Top 10 Greatest Chelsea Players of all time

10. Dennis Wise

Position: Midfielder
Nationality: English
Years Active: 1985 - 2006
Teams: Wimbledon, Grebbestads IF (loan), Chelsea, Leicester City, Millwall, Southampton, Coventry City, Swindon Town
Awards: FA Cup 1996-97, 1999-2000, League Cup 1997-98, Charity Shield 2000, UEFA Super Cup 1998, Chelsea Player of the Year 1997-98, 1999-2000, Alan Hardaker Trophy 1998

Dennis Wise joined Chelsea after winning the FA Cup with AFC Wimbledon. Just three years after joining the club, he was given the captains armband. Wise holds the record of being Chelsea’s second most successful captain, securing two FA Cups, a League Cup, and a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup during his time.

Wise made 445 appearances for Chelsea scoring 76 goals in the process. His leadership skills were essential as the club was starting to recruit more international players to Chelsea and he was tasked with maintaining perfect harmony in the dressing room.

With the arrival of Claudio Ranieri, Wise was sold to lower the average age profile of the Chelsea squad. Despite this, Wise’s contribution to Chelsea F.C. in the 1990s earns him a spot on this list.

9. Ron Harris

Position: Defender
Nationality: English
Years Active: 1962 - 1983
Teams: Chelsea, Brentford
Awards: European Cup Winners’ Cup 1970-71, FA Cup 1969-70, Football League Cup 1964-65, FA Youth Cup

Ron Harris will forever be known as one of Chelsea’s best players ever. This is simply because he played more games for the club than any other Chelsea player, accumulating a grand total of 795 appearances between 1962 and 1980.

Harris was known for his no-nonsense style of play in an era where sheer grit and determination won you matches. He could play anywhere along the back line and got given the nickname ‘Chopper’ due to his hard tackling ability.

He was a fierce competitor who remained loyal to the club through thick and thin, enduring both the highs of European glory and the lows of domestic relegation. He spent the majority of his senior career with Chelsea before joining Brentford as a player coach, but he will always be a legend and forever in Chelsea F.C’s history book.

8. Kerry Dixon

Position: Striker
Nationality: English
Years Active: 1979 - 1997
Teams: Chesham United, Dunstable, Reading, Chelsea, Southampton, Luton Town, Millwall, Watford. Doncaster Rovers, Basildon United.
Awards: Second Division 1983 & 1989, Golden Boot 1984

Kerry Dixon joined Chelsea in 1983 when the club was in the Second Division. That season, he scored 34 goals, helping Chelsea win the Second Division title. The next season, he scored 36 goals in the First Division, earning him the Golden Boot award. This took his tally to 70 goals in just 101 games.

Unfortunately for Dixon, he struggled with injury after that season and was unable to recover his goal scoring form, but he finished his Chelsea career scoring 193 goals in 421 appearances.

Dixon makes the list for his early goal scoring form and his contribution to the club, taking them from a team battling relegation in the Second Division, to the top of the First Division and a dominant force in English soccer. Had he avoided injury during his time at Chelsea, we might be talking about Dixon as one of the best Chelsea players of all time.

7. Eden Hazard

Position: Forward
Nationality: Belgium
Years Active: 2007 - 2023
Teams: Lille, Chelsea, Real Madrid
Awards: Premier League 2014-15, 2016-17, FA Cup 2017-18, League Cup 2014-15, UEFA Europa League 2012-13, 2018-19, Belgian Sportsman of the Year 2018, UEFA Europa League Player of the Season 2018-19, FWA Footballer of the Year 2014-15, Premier League Player of the Season 2014-15, PFA Players’ Player of the Year 2014-15, PFA Fans’ Player of the Year 2018-19, Belgium Player of the Year 2017, 2018, 2019, Best Belgian Abroad 2017, 2018, 2019, Chelsea Player of the Year 2013-14, 2014-15, 2016-17, 2018-19, Chelsea Players’ Player of the Year 2014-15, 2018-19, FIFA World Cup Silver Ball 2018, Bravo Award 2011, PFA Young Player of the Year 2013-14, Premier League Player of the Month x2, Premier League Playmaker of the Season 2018-19, Premier League Goal of the Month x2, Chelsea Goal of the Year 2015-16, 2016-17, 2018-19, FIFA FIFPro Mens World XI 2018, 2019, Premier League Team of the Year 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2016-17, UEFA Team of the Year 2017, 2018

Eden Hazard joined Chelsea in 2012 and the Belgian winger cemented himself in the hearts of Chelsea fans after seven years at the club. Known for his electrifying dribbling skills, Hazard captured everyone’s attention. When he had the ball at his feet you just couldn’t take your eyes off him.

He quickly adjusted to the fast pace of the Premier League and will forever be remembered for some of the best goals in Chelsea’s history. When Hazard donned the famous blue shirt, many compared him to the likes of Messi and Ronaldo, he was that good.

He had the ability to immobilize a defender with one touch then bury the ball in the back of the net with the next. He was hugely influential in Chelsea’s Premier League title wins picking up multiple individual awards along the way.

Hazard scored 110 goals in 352 appearances for Chelsea and sits ninth in the all-time goal scorers list. The former Chelsea player recently announced his retirement from soccer but his contribution to Chelsea will never be forgotten.

6. Petr Cech

Position: Goalkeeper
Nationality: Czech Republic
Years Active: 1991-2019
Teams: Chmel Blsany, Sparta Prague, Rennes, Chelsea, Arsenal
Awards: Premier League 2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10, 2014-15, FA Cup 2006-07, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12, League Cup 2004-05, 2006-07, 2014-15, Community Shield 2005, 2009, UEFA Champions League 2011-12, UEFA Europa League 2012-13
UEFA European Under 21 Championship Golden Player 2002, UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament 2004, Premier League Golden Glove 2004-05, 2009-10, 2013-14, 2015-16, PFA Premier League Team of the Year 2004-05, 2013-14, Czech Footballer of the Year 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, Czech Golden Ball 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper 2005, Best European Goalkeeper 2005, 2007, 2008, 2012, UEFA Best Goalkeeper 2005, 2007, 2008, UEFA Team of the Year 2005, ESM Team if the Year 2004-05, 2005-06, Premier League Player of the Month x1, Chelsea Player of the Year 2011, Premier League Hall of Fame

Petr Cech is undoubtedly the greatest Chelsea GK of all-time. He holds the Chelsea clean sheet record with 24 clean sheets that he set in 2005 and helped Chelsea win back-to-back Premier League titles in the 2004 and 2005 season.

In 2006 he came face to face with death as he suffered a fractured skull after a collision with Stephen Hunt. This led to him wearing the iconic rugby cap that we associate with him. Many Chelsea fans admire his resilience to come back from the injury and keep playing at the highest level.

Not only did he come back, but Cech also came back and helped the team win another Premier League title, the Champions League and Europa League. He broke numerous Chelsea player stat records and holds the prestigious title for the most Premier League Clean Sheets, tallying an impressive 202. With a remarkable 494 appearances over his 11-year tenure, he cemented his status as a true Chelsea icon. Undoubtedly, he is a legend in the sport and will be remembered as one of the all-time greats.

5. Gianfranco Zola

Position: Forward
Nationality: Italian
Years Active: 1984 - 2005
Teams: Nuorese, Torres, Napoli, Parma, Chelsea, Cagliari
Awards: FA Cup 1996-97, 1999-2000, League Cup 1997-98, Charity Shield 2000, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup 1997-98, UEFA Super Cup 1998, ESM Team of the Year 1994-95, Premier League Player of the Month x2, FWA Footballer of the Year 1997, Chelsea Player of the Year 1999, 2003, OBE 2004 (Order of the British Empire), Chelsea Centenary XI 2005, English Football Hall of Fame

Chelsea legends come in all sizes, none more diminutive than Gianfranco Zola. Zola joined Chelsea in 1996 after playing over ten years in Italy. His arrival marked the start of a new era for Chelsea, and he took the league by storm with his mesmerizing dribbling skills. He had a unique mix of flair, creativity, and passion, making him a favorite among Chelsea fans. He also brought an exciting attacking style to the club that fans worldwide enjoyed watching.

Zola helped Chelsea win four domestic trophies and two European titles. His ability with a ball is something you’d only witness once in a generation, which is why Chelsea fans were so lucky to have him at their club. He scored 80 goals in 312 games for the Blues and has provided Chelsea fans with many unforgettable moments that left them gasping in awe. Zola was the first of many Chelsea Italian players that would go on to become legends at the club.

4. Peter Osgood

Position: Striker
Nationality: English
Years Active: 1964 -1979
Teams: Chelsea, Southampton, Norwich City (loan), Philadelphia Fury
Awards: FA Cup 1970, 1976, European Cup Winners’ Cup 1970-71

Peter Osgood was a fan favorite who played for Chelsea in two stints, 1964 -1974 and 1978-1979. Rising up from the youth team, he was known as ‘The King of Stamford Bridge”.

“Ossie” scored in every round of the FA Cup in 1970, helping Chelsea lift the cup and a year later led them to the European Cup Winners’ Cup.

Osgood embodied what it meant to be a Chelsea player. His tenacity and determination on and off the pitch won fans over, with his never-die attitude. Chelsea have had many good strikers over the years, but none have matched up to Osgood in terms of skill and class on the pitch. He scored 150 goals for The Blues in 380 appearances, making him one of Chelsea’s best players.

3. Didier Drogba

Position: Striker
Nationality: Ivory Coast
Years Active: 1998 - 2018
Teams: Le Mans, Guingamp, Marseille, Chelsea, Shanghai Shenhua, Galatasaray, Chelsea, Montreal Impact, Phoenix Rising
Awards: Premier League 2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10, 2014-15, FA Cup 2006-07, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12, League Cup 2004-05, 2006-07, 2014-15, Community Shield 2005, 2009, UEFA Champions League 2011-12

Chelsea Players’ Player of the Year 2007, Chelsea Player of the Year 2010, ESM Team of the Year 2006-07, FIFPro World XI 2007, FWA Trubute Award 2015, Golden Foot 2013, GQ  Sportsman of the Year 2012, Ivory Coast Player of the Year 2006, 2007, 2012, Alan Hardaker Trophy 2007, Barclays Spirti of the Game Award 2015, BBC African Footballer of the Year 2009, Africa Cup of Nations Top Scorer 2012, Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament 2006, 2008, 2012, Premier League Golden Boot 2006-07, 2009-10, Premier League Most Assists 2005-06, PFA Premier League Team of the Year 2006-07, 2009-10, UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match 2012, UEFA Cup Top Scorer 2009-04, UEFA Presidents Award 2020, UEFA Team of the Year 2007, UNFP Trophy of Honor 2019, West African Footballer of the Year 2010, Premier League Hall of Fame.

Didier Drogba is one of the greatest strikers to ever grace the Premier League. His elite strength, power and finishing ability helped Chelsea win four Premier League titles, multiple Cups and win them the elusive Champions League.

Drogba scored 164 goals for Chelsea in 381 games making him the clubs fourth highest all-time goal scorer.  His most notable contribution was in the Champions League Final in 2012. He scored the equalizer against Bayern Munich and the penalty to win Chelsea the title. Didier’s efforts will forever be remembered in Chelsea’s history.

Drogba came to Chelsea in his prime, aged 26, ready to showcase his goal-scoring talent. His great partnership with manager Jose Mourinho and strong presence in the locker room filled the leadership role Chelsea sought in their main striker.

His first spell with the club was an eight-year stint where he won everything he could at club level. He returned two years later after a brief spell in China and Turkey and helped Chelsea win another Premier League title. His influence on the club is undeniable, and he was also hugely inspirational as an African player in the Premier League. He is a Chelsea legend and a true joy to watch play.

2. John Terry

Position: Centre-back
Nationality: English
Years Active: 1998-2018
Teams: Chelsea, Nottingham Forest (loan), Aston Villa
Awards: Premier League 2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10, 2014-15, 2016-17, FA Cup 1999-2000, 2006-07, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12, League Cup 2004-05, 5006-07, 2014-15, Community Shield 2005, 2009, UEFA Champions League 2011-12, UEFA Europa League 2012-13, Chelsea Player of the Year 2000-01, 2005-06, Premier League Player of the Month x1, Alan Hardaker Trophy 2005, 2015, PFA Players’ Player of the Year 2004-05, PFA Premier League Team of the Year 2009-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2014-15, FIFA FIFPro World XI 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, ESM Team of the Year 2004-05, 2008-09, 2009-10, UEFA Club Defender of the Year 2005, 2008, 2009, UEFA Team of the Year 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, FIFA World Cup All-Star Team 2006, PFA Team of the Century.

John Terry was Mr. Chelsea. Coming up through the youth system in West Ham and Chelsea, he went on to make 717 appearances for Chelsea and would become their fearless leader and captain.

Terry is considered the best defender of his generation and one of the best in Premier League and soccer history. His tenacity, aggression and skill were unmatched at times.

He led the team to five Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, one Europa League and one Champions League. His individual accolades are also impressive with multiple Player of the Year Awards.

Terry is the highest scoring defender in Chelsea F.C’s history. His exceptional ability to both score and defend played a pivotal role in inspiring the team's success. His

leadership ability was evident to anyone who watched him play, making him without a doubt the greatest captain in Chelsea's history. He is truly deserving of the “Captain, Leader, Legend” banner draped from the upper tier of the Matthew Harding stand.

1. Frank Lampard

Position: Midfielder
Nationality: English
Years Active: 1995 - 2016
Teams: West Ham United, Swansea City (loan), Chelsea, Manchester City, New York City FC
Awards: Premier League 2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10, FA Cup 2006-07, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12, League Cup 2004-05, 2006-07, Community Shield 2005, 2009, UEFA Champions League 2011-12, UEFA Europa League 2012-13.

FWA Footballer of the Year 2005, PFA Fans’ Player of the Year 2005, PFA Merit Award 2015, FWA Tribute Award 2010, Premier League Player of the Season: 2004-05, Premier League Most Assists 2004-05, 2008-09, 2009-10, PFA Team of the Year 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, FIFPro World XI 2005, UEFA Midfielder of the Year 2008, England Player of the Year 2004, 2005, ESM Team of the Year 2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10. UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament 2004, Premier League Player of the Month x4, Chelsea Player of the Year 2004, 2005, 2009, FA Cup Best Player 2006-07, 2008-09, 2009-10, League Cup Best Player 2004-05, 2006-07, Premier League Hall of Fame.

Frank Lampard is without question, the greatest Chelsea player of all-time. Joining Chelsea from West Ham in 2001, he joined a Chelsea roster that had high ambitions. Few thought he would develop into the legend that he is today.

He is one of ten players to have scored 150 or more goals in the Premier League. What’s even more impressive is that he’s the only midfielder to do so. He’s also Chelsea’s all-time leading goal scorer with 211 goals in all competitions. He also holds the premier league record for most goals from outside the box with 41.

Lampard is considered one of the most intelligent players to ever play the game. An engine like no other, Lampard exemplified the term ‘box-to-box. His accolades speak for themselves as he’s won everything he possibly could at club level. He was an integral part of the Chelsea spine that was successful under Jose Mourinho and will forever be a Premier League and Chelsea Icon. Would you include him in the greatest Chelsea managers of all time?

Parameters of Rankings

The ranking of these legendary Chelsea players takes into account their notable achievements for the club, the awards and records they hold, and the significant impact they had on the team.

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