Five players who appeared to be joining other clubs before signing for Chelsea.
SEE ALSO: the top 10 best Chelsea players of all time.
5. Juan Mata
With Cesc Fabregas, edging towards a return to Barcelona, Arsenal were in need of a new creative playmaker in summer 2011. The Gunners were thought to have matched Mata’s release clause with Valencia and a move to North London appeared to be in the offing for the pass-master.
But soon after, Chelsea agreed a £23.5m deal for the then 23-year-old and Mata moved to Stamford Bridge. The Spaniard was named the Blues’ player of the year for two consecutive seasons but is about to join Manchester United.
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