Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has explained why one of his first signings for the Blues claims to have struggled in the Premier League.
Since taking over the west London club in 2022 as head of the Clearlake consortium, Boehly has spent more than £1 billion trying to assemble the right team to mount a decent campaign.
The American businessman spoke about the global greatness of football, and the Premier League in particular, but pointed out how the pace of the game left a £33million signing struggling to adapt after joining Chelsea.
According to Metro, Boehly said, “There is no bigger sport in the world.” When you just think about the size and scale of European football, it is overwhelming and there is no better league in the world than the Premier League.
‘If you look at how these guys play, the speed at which they play. One of my players who I had a great relationship with is Kalidou Koulibaly.
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly on why a signing struggled in the Premier League
Kalidou Koulibaly had a season to forget at Chelsea before being sacked last summer.
‘Koulibaly came from Serie A and once told me: ‘In Serie A I can think and then run, but in the Premier League I have to run while thinking, and I’m still adapting to that.’
The Senegalese defender was a star at Serie A side Napoli from 2014 to 2022, and was widely recognized as one of the best defenders in Europe, before joining Chelsea for £34 million, signing a four-year contract.
However, he never settled in England and spent just one season at Chelsea, making 32 appearances and scoring two goals in all competitions for Chelsea before being sold. to the Saudi team Al-Hilal for 20 million pounds.
After his departure, Koulibaly made a public criticism of Chelsea, saying Corriere dello Sport: ‘I had no guarantee of getting regular playing time (at Chelsea). I was always professional but I don’t like sitting on the bench doing nothing.
‘I prefer a place where they love me and I am the center of the project and I can be an example for young players. “The Premier League is fantastic and there are great players.”
Koulibaly joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal for £20m after a year at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea subsequently invested in new defenders such as Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi and Wesley Fofana.
They may also be entering the market for a centre-back this summer, following Thiago Silva’s departure from the club, as the Brazilian defender rejoins his boyhood club Fluminense in Rio de Janeiro.
