The 5 players Chelsea signed alongside Lukaku in 2011 and how they fared

The 5 players Chelsea signed alongside Lukaku in 2011 and how they fared

Planet Football·2021-08-19 10:00

Romelu Lukaku has now completed his £97.5million move from Inter Milan to Chelsea, returning to the Blues for a second spell. Lukaku first joined Chelsea from Anderlecht in 2011 but struggled to establish himself in the side and was sold to Everton three years later.But he wasnt the only arrival at Stamford Bridge that summer, and weve taken a closer look at the other five players they signed ahead of the 2011-12 season.Thibaut CourtoisLukaku wasn’t the only talented Belgian that Chelsea snapped up in the summer of 2011.Courtois joined the Blues from Genk and was immediately sent out on loan to Atletico Madrid, where he developed into one of the best goalkeepers in the world.After three successful years in Spain, he returned to Stamford Bridge in 2014 and usurped Petr Cech to become their undisputed No.1. The Belgium international then made over 150 appearances for the club over the following four seasons, winning two Premier Leagues, the FA Cup and the League Cup.Despite’s Chelsea’s best attempts to keep him, Courtois decided to return to Spain and completed a permanent move to Real Madrid in 2018. Happy birthday, @ThibautCourtois! pic.twitter.com/KM453s49OY— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 11, 2018Oriol RomeuA La Masia academy graduate, Romeu made his senior debut under Pep Guardiola before joining Chelsea in a £4.35million deal.He made 24 appearances in all competitions in his debut season at Stamford Bridge but suffered a serious knee injury in December 2012 and then failed to regain his place in the side.The midfielder joined Southampton in 2015 and has since carved out a decent career at St Mary’s, making over 200 appearances for the club.Juan MataSigned from Valencia for £23.5million, Mata enjoyed a brilliant debut season at Chelsea and provided the assist for Didier Drogba’s assist in the 2012 Champions League final. The Spain international also established himself as a fan favourite at Stamford Bridge, winning Chelsea’s Player of the Year award in both of his first two seasons. But he fell out of favour following Jose Mourinho’s arrival and was surprisingly allowed to join Manchester United in January 2014.READ: Celebrating Juan Mata at Chelsea: Part creator, part cold-blooded killerUlises DavilaAfter impressing at the Under-20 World Cup in 2011, Davila left Chivas Guadalajara and became the first Mexican to sign for Chelsea, hoping to follow in the footsteps of Javier Hernandez at Manchester United.But he never played for the Blues due to his inability to secure a UK work permit, spending time on loan at Vitesse Arnhem, Sabadell, Cordoba, Tenerife and Vitoria Setubal.The 30-year-old returned to his native Mexico with Santos Laguna in December 2015 and is now playing for Macarthur FC in Australia. “For sure it’s frustrating because that was my target, to play for Chelsea,” Davilla said in 2019. “But I’m not sad when I look back. I try to be positive and look forward. Every year I went on loan I got better, I got more experience and I grew up as a football player and a person.“I’m proud of where I played because it was not easy to go from Mexico to adapt, learn English and then have to change club so I’m happy.”Raul MeirelesChelsea failed to sign Luka Modric from Tottenham and then turned their attention to Meireles, who had just won the PFA Fans Player of the Year award during his sole season at Liverpool.The former Portugal international made 45 appearances in 2011-12 and earned a Champions League winners medal, despite missing that famous final in Munich through suspension.He was then deemed surplus to requirements in September 2012 and joined Turkish side Fenerbahce, where he saw out his playing career.  Raul Meireles nets for Chelsea back in 2012 #UCL | #OTD | @ChelseaFCpic.twitter.com/jM8qzACDtc— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 4, 2020What happened to the 3 Chelsea kids Mourinho tipped for stardom in 2014Romelu Lukaku & the assist that shows Chelsea are buying a killer and creatorCan you name Chelseas XI from Romelu Lukakus debut in 2011?Remembering Andriy Shevchenkos first 45 minutes as a Chelsea hero

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