Chelsea owner Todd Boehly revealed defender Kalidou Koulibaly could not adjust to the pace of the Premier League before being sold to Saudi Arabia. Koulibaly joined as an exciting £33 million transfer as Boehly’s ushered in a new era at Stamford Bridge, but the Senegal international – like many of Chelsea’s recent signings – failed to live up to the billing.
Since Boehly and his Clearlake consortium took the reins of the west London club, money has flowed. The billionaire businessman began exploiting a risky loophole in the Premier League’s financial fair play regulations by offering unusually long contracts to players to spread transfer costs, which hit headlines.
The American’s willingness to spend on sporting success was clear to see with more than a billion invested in recruits, although he would have undoubtedly hoped for a smoother transition to success. In the first full season since his takeover, Boehly’s Chelsea finished a lowly 12th in the Premier League – the Blues’s worst finish since 1993/94 – and are currently sat in seventh following a recent run of good form inspired by Cole Palmer.
Boehly recently discussed the global nature of football and the reach of the Premier League. While he is still relatively new to the nuances of English football, the speed of the game has left an impression on him – and derailed Koulibaly’s time at Chelsea.
“There’s no bigger sport in the world,” Boehly said. “When you think about just the size and scale of European football, it’s just mind-numbing and there’s no better league in the world in the Premier League.
“If you look at how these guys play, the speed with which they play the game. One of my players who I had a great relationship with is Kalidou Koulibaly.
“Koulibaly came over from Serie A and he told me one time, ’In Serie A, I get to think and then run but in the Premier League, I have to run while I think, and I’m still adjusting to that.’”
Koulibaly starred for Napoli in Serie A from 2014 to 2022, establishing himself as one of the best defenders in world football. He then joined Chelsea on a four-year deal but failed to settle in England.
He spent just one season with the Blues, making 32 appearances and scoring twice before he was sold to Al-Hilal for £20m. After his exit, Koulibaly told Corriere dello Sport: “I had no guarantees to get regular playing time [at Chelsea]. I was always professional but I don’t like to sit on the bench doing nothing.
“I prefer a place where I am wanted and at the centre of the project and can be an example for young players. The Premier League is fantastic and there are great players.”
Following his exit, Chelsea invested in new defenders like Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi and Wesley Fofana although none have lived up to the billing, struggling with poor form, errors and injuries. Chelsea face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday in their next Premier League contest.
