Chelsea transfers: The mad 2003 summer window when 13 players were signed, including Glen Johnson, Hernan Crespo and Juan Veron
Glen Johnson has announced he is retiring from football.It doesn’t seem that long ago when Chelsea splashed out 6m on a then 18-year-old Johnson, taking him from West Ham to Stamford Bridge in 2003.
15Johnson was 18 when Chelsea signed him in 2003 and he stayed to win the Premier League and League Cup with the BluesThat summer was an eventful one for the Blues.Back then, Chelsea were on the edge of a financial abyss, deeply in debt and praying that Champions League football would help the club to stave off oblivion.Then Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich came to the rescue. It is said he was convinced to buy the club from Ken Bates on 1 July, after the Blues nabbed the final Champions League qualifying spot at Liverpool’s expense with a 2-1 win.
15Roman Abramovich paid Ken Bates 140m for ChelseaHe cleared debt and suddenly, not only were the Blues saved from going to the wall, the club launched an unprecedented spending spree that heralded an era of success to rival the biggest clubs in England and Europe.Now, fans who had given up supporting the club during its bleaker years, were returning to Stamford Bridge and, as you might expect, success also attracted new supporters.
15Chelsea’s fanbase has grown hugely since 2003Take a look at the incredible list of players they signed that summer.
15Jrgen Macho was signed on 1 July 2003 from Sunderland on a free transfer – The Austrian goalkeeper arrived shortly before Abramovich's takeover, at a time when Chelsea were teetering on the brink, financially. Macho was second-choice shot stopper at the Stadium of Light, and had made 22 Premier League appearances for the club, though he wouldn't feature in a single match for the Blues before leaving in 2004. Little did Chelsea fans know that Macho's low key arrival was about to be overshadowed by a glut of super signings.
15Marco Ambrosio was also signed on 1 July 2003, from Chievo, on a free transfer – Another goalkeeper arrival before Abramovich officially took over, Ambrosio had been capped at U21 level by Italy and was intended to be an understudy to his compatriot Carlo Cudicini. He lasted just a season at the Bridge, but did play in the memorable 2-1 Champions League quarter-final win against Arsenal at Highbury.
15Glen Johnson signed on 15 July 2003, from West Ham, for 6m – Johnson was just 18 when he signed on the dotted line from relegated West Ham.
15Geremi signed on 16 July 2003, from Real Madrid, for 7m – Cameroon international Geremi was snapped up after a season on loan in the Premier League with Middlesbrough.
15Wayne Bridge signed on 21 July 2003, from Southampton, for 7m – Like Johnson, but on the opposite flank, Bridge was a highly rated young full-back when Chelsea swooped for his signature.
15Damien Duff signed on 21 July 2003, from Blackburn Rovers, for 17m – Now the big spending went into overdrive, as talented attacker Duff was lured to the Bridge for a big fee.
15Joe Cole and Juan Sebastian Veron signed on 6 August 2003, from West Ham for 6.6m and Manchester United for 15m, respectively – A double whammy, Cole arrived as one of the hottest prospects in English football, while Veron was an immense talent who had won the title with Man United, if not won over the doubters that he could shine in the Premier League.
15Adrian Mutu signed on 12 August 2003, from Parma, for 15.8m – Next up, Chelsea signed an attacker who'd been tearing up Serie A.
15Alexey Smertin signed on 25 August 2003, from Bordeaux, for 3.45m – One for Roman? Russian international Smertin was signed as the month was drawing to a close. But there was more to come…
15Hernan Crespo signed on 26 August 2003, from Inter, for 16.8m – World class striker Crespo arrived to bolster the Blues' attack.
15Neil Sullivan signed on 29 August 2003, from Tottenham, for 500,000 – Another goalkeeper! Sullivan was tempted from Tottenham, to provide competition for Cudicini.
15Claude Makelele signed on 31 August 2003, from Real Madrid, for 16m – And finally, Madrid man Makelele came on the last day of August, taking Chelsea's spending to over 110m, which was huge money in 2003.
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