Wesley Fofana has admitted that Chelsea sold the physically strongest player he has ever seen for a fee of just £17m.
Fofana picks Koulibaly as the best defender Chelsea had
Chelsea have been through countless defenders in recent years. Wesley Fofana has seen many of them up close since his £70m move from Leicester. But, when asked to build his “perfect defender” in an interview, he didn’t hesitate on the strength department.
For him, Kalidou Koulibaly was unmatched. Signed in 2022 for £33m, Koulibaly arrived with the weight of expectation, even wearing John Terry’s iconic number 26 shirt. Fans thought he’d be the rock to steady the backline after Thiago Silva.
Instead, his spell at Stamford Bridge fizzled out after just 32 appearances. By June 2023, he was off to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia for around £20m. That was a transfer Fofana now describes as Chelsea losing their most powerful player for cheap.
Frenchman’s struggles at the Bridge
While Koulibaly’s exit raised eyebrows, Fofana’s own Chelsea career has been a story of setbacks. Injuries have kept him out since his arrival none worse than the ACL blow in November 2023. That injury sidelined him for the season.
The club has had to ease him back carefully, limiting his minutes. Most recently, he was forced off under concussion protocol in the EFL Cup. Fofana has yet to show his full potential in blue. However, his remarks on Koulibaly highlight a larger truth.
Chelsea’s defence resets have been disjointed, with talented players leaving and replacements finding it difficult to be settled. Koulibaly did not hit levels that fans were hopeful for in London. But, Fofana’s respect for his sheer strength shows the qualities the Blues let walk out the door far too cheaply.
Author’s Opinion:
Chelsea’s decision to move Koulibaly on so quickly feels like another case of impatience in their rebuild. He may not have shone in the PL, but players of that physical profile aren’t easy to find.
As featured on Chelseanews.com
