Chelsea midfielder Wesley Fofana marks his 23rd birthday today. Born in Marseille, Fofana’s early potential led to his inclusion in Didier Deschamps’ national squad after serving in the youth team. He gained recognition in 2021 when Uefa listed him amongst the 50 most promising young players for the future.
There were two significant events that no one could have predicted. He would become one of the most sought-after players on the transfer market, outperforming many of his peers on the list. Then, he suffered a knee injury which severely impacted his growth. In late November, Fofana revealed on Instagram that he had returned to training four months after tearing his cruciate ligament during pre-season. Following surgery and a long rehabilitation phase, journalist David Pasztor commented that, “Wes still has many weeks to regain full fitness and form to play a match, but he could still make a significant contribution in a season that seemed lost long ago.”
Fofana’s journey in football has been remarkable. His talent was apparent from his early days with Saint-Etienne, impressing observers across Europe, including Italian giants Milan. The Daily Mail reported initial transfer fee interest of 30 million Euros, which was rebuffed by Milan, while Leicester came in with an offer of 8 million less. Ultimately, Leicester won with an significantly higher bid of 35 million Euros.
After becoming a key player at Leicester, manager Brendan Rodgers stated at a press conference, “He’s a great defender, young, and there aren’t many like him his age. Another year at Leicester would be great for his development. He’s just moving forward, training well.”
Chelsea then announced the signing of Fofana in a statement that read, “Wesley Fofana is a Chelsea player, having completed his move from Leicester City and signing a seven-year contract with the Blues. Regarded as one of the most appreciative young players in the Premier League, he joins to further strengthen Thomas Tuchel’s defence for the 2022/23 season following the arrivals of Kalidou Koulibaly and Marc Cucurella earlier in the summer.”
With his move securing a hefty 82.5 million euros, Fofana ranks second only to Romelu Lukaku in Chelsea’s internal signing-spree. He narrowly missed the podium for most costly defender transfers, a record held by Harry Maguire, Virgil Van Dijk, and Matthijs de Ligt. Notably, Fofana’s contract extends until 2029, an exception to FIFA’s five-year contract limit, which is permitted under English law. The contract term amplifies the unfortunate circumstances considering his initial two years were affected by injuries, a continuing concern since he missed several games at Leicester due to a fractured fibula.