When Todd Boehly pushed through a late move to sign Wesley Fofana from Leicester City back in the summer of 2022, it looked like a real coup. The hype around Chelsea’s new signing was enormous.
But four years later, things haven’t gone to plan. The transfer fee has weighed heavily on the France star, and injuries have played their part. A lack of discipline and reliability has caused distrust among fans.
What do you make of Wesley Fofana in a Chelsea shirt? Is he good enough?🤔
Fofana’s laughing and joking with Ousmane Dembele after Chelsea’s defeat to PSG summed it up. This is a player that Chelsea paid a huge amount of money for, and yet, he doesn’t seem committed to the club.
Committed to putting things right, or finally proving his worth in a Chelsea shirt. This summer, Fofana is a candidate to leave the club as Chelsea look to sort out their centre-back options ahead of 2026-27.
What Enzo Maresca used to tell Wesley Fofana behind the scenes
Indeed, reports say Chelsea are ‘very happy’ to sell Fofana this summer. His last appearance for Chelsea saw him sent off, just after Cole Palmer had equalised against Sunderland with Europe still a possibility.
According to BBC Sport, a £30m fee would see Chelsea break even in the eyes of Financial Fair Play, given it has been four years since he joined and amortisation. Barcelona have been offered Fofana recently.
But one thing is clear. Fofana has failed to live up to the hype at Chelsea, and has not been able to show Chelsea fans why he cost £70m. Enzo Maresca used to tell Fofana he was ‘better than the others’.
Again, according to BBC Sport, with Nizaar Kinsella reporting that Maresca would go out of his way to try and boost the ego of the defender. But four years after joining Chelsea, it simply is not the case now.
Where does Wesley Fofana rank in Chelsea’s centre-back options?
As things stand, Chelsea have 10 potential options in the middle of defence. Axel Disasi and Aaron Anselmino will return to Stamford Bridge this summer after loan spells at West Ham and Strasbourg.
Levi Colwill is one of Chelsea’s seven untouchables, and Kinsella says Chelsea want a top-quality defender to go alongside him. Jorrel Hato was excellent towards the end of the 2025-26 season, in the middle.
How would you rank Chelsea’s so-called “untouchables” ahead of the new season?
Here is The Chelsea Chronicle's list!
7. Josh Acheampong
6. Estevao Willian
5. Levi Colwill
4. Moises Caicedo
3. Joao Pedro
2. Reece James
1. Cole Palmer
Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah, Mamadou Sarr, Benoit Badiashile, Josh Acheampong and Fofana make up the 10. Chelsea will want to keep Colwill, Acheampong and Hato moving into the new season.
Chalobah is likely to remain, albeit there are doubts over his long-term future. Chelsea plan to take a look at Anselmino in pre-season. He is likely to go on loan again. But the other five could all be sold.
Tosin, Fofana, Sarr, Badiashile and Disasi could all realistically leave going into the summer window. A shame regarding Fofana, because he looked like he could be Thiago Silva’s replacement at one stage.
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