Top 5 Most Expensive Chelsea Departures After Mount and Havertz Sales

• Chelsea signed 16 players for over £600m in Todd Boehly's first two windows as owner, thus over bloating the squad
• Mauricio Pochettino is eager to reduce this to a moderate 24-man squad ahead of the new season
• Mason Mount and Kai Havertz have led the high-profile departures so far, with more to come

Chelsea's reputation of being 'heavy spenders', which was built by former owner Roman Abramovich, was immediately taken up by Todd Boehly, who splashed over £600m on transfers in his first two windows.

But Chelsea are not only about huge signings; they have made some smart sales in the past. In fact, their most expensive sale is on par with their most expensive signing.

Sports Brief looks at the top five most expensive sales in the club's history, with former talisman, Eden Hazard leading the line, as detailed by Transfermarkt.

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1. Eden Hazard

One of the best players to put on the famous blue shirt, Eden Hazard left for Real Madrid in 2019 after seven years at Stamford Bridge. Sky Sports claimed the total fee for the transfer, including add-ons, was around £130 million. The transfer never worked out, though, and the Belgian is without a club after leaving Spain by mutual termination last month.

2. Kai Havertz

The German was Chelsea's most expensive signing for £72 million when he joined from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020. He made the switch across London and joined Arsenal last month for a reported fee of £65 million, as reported by Sports Brief.

3. Mason Mount

The academy graduate's departure to Manchester United has caused division in the fan base, similar to how his presence in the team was equally divisive. The hierarchy won't care too much about that after receiving £55 million upfront. They could also receive a further £5 million in add-ons, as Sports Brief reported.

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4. Diego Costa

The Diego Costa deal was one that Chelsea profited from in a massive way. The Spanish striker moved to Stamford Bridge from Atletico Madrid in 2014 for £32 million and helped the club win two Premier League titles in three years. The Guardian reported that he rejoined Rojiblancos in 2017 for £57 million.

5. Oscar

The Brazilian playmaker surprisingly left London in the winter window of 2017 to join Shanghai SIPG when he was hitting his prime at 24. The Blues received £52 million, and the player has remained there since, even though he has reiterated his desire to return to Chelsea on multiple occasions.

Drogba sends message to Mount

Sports Brief reported that Chelsea legend Didier Drogba sent a special message to Mount after the midfielder joined Manchester United after contractual disputes in West London.

Drogba hailed the 24-year-old as a 'prince' and appeared displeased at how his final days were handled, as he expected that an academy star who spent 18 years at the club would be treated differently.