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Tammy Abraham during Roma's win against Udinese. Stadio Olimpico, September 2021.

9 former Chelsea players excelling across Europe’s top leagues in 2021

It’s safe to say that things are going well at Stamford Bridge, as a Chelsea side brimming with talent currently sit top of the Premier League table.

However, the level of competition under Thomas Tuchel and those who came before him means that some players with serious ability have left the west Londoners for pastures new.

Here, we’ve taken a look at nine of the former Chelsea men who are excelling in other major leagues across Europe.

Juan Cuadrado

It feels like the Colombian has been at Juventus forever, but then again, he did go on two loan spells there before moving permanently from Stamford Bridge in 2017.

Including the loan periods, he has 11 trophies with the Bianconeri and the 33-year-old is still an important part of their first team, having start eight games for Juve in all competitions this season and scored one goal – against Udinese on the opening day of the season.

Cuadrado also remains an intergral part of the Colombian national team and scored a vital late equaliser for them in a World Cup qualifying match with Paraguay in September.

Gael Kakuta

Lens are causing quite the stir in Ligue 1, currently sitting second in the league behind Paris Saint-Germain and in the hunt for a possible Champions League spot.

While Kakuta only has one goal this season – the opener in a 3-2 win against Bordeaux – he has proven an integral creative presence in the team, as signified by the fact that both of their losses came in the two games when the 30-year-old was missing.

Fikayo Tomori

The Chelsea academy graduate impressed on loan at AC Milan and hasn’t slowed up at all since making his move permanent, playing the full 90 minutes in all but one of the Rossoneri’s matches across Serie A and the Champions League this term.

The 23-year-old has even impressed Gareth Southgate enough to earn a second England cap, having won his first back in November 2019.

AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori, September 2021.

READ: Fikayo Tomori & a stunning tackle that may cause Chelsea some regret

Tammy Abraham

There were plenty of people wondering whether Abraham should be heading to Italy or if Roma were right to pay what they did for him; four goals and two assists in all competitions and an England return later, that move has been vindicated on both sides.

Long gone are Abraham’s days of sitting in the background, he’s front and centre in Jose Mourinho’s Giallorossi side and absolutely loving it.

Mario Pasalic

Remember him? We forgive you if not, as the Croatian was a member of Chelsea’s loan army who never actually played for the club, eventually joining Atalanta permanently in the summer of 2020 after a two-year loan.

Liek Abraham and Tomori, he’s doing very well in Serie A and got a hat-trick of assists as the club from Bergamo beat Empoli 4-1 in October.

Thibaut Courtois

The big Belgian wasn’t exactly the most popular of people at Stamford Bridge after his departure, but the goalkeeper has certainly done well for himself at Real Madrid.

So far, he’s played 139 times for Los Blancos, kept 55 clean sheets and won three trophies.

Kevin De Bruyne during his time at Chelsea

READ: A superb XI of players that Chelsea have sold since 2013: KDB, Salah…

Pedro

Having become the first player to cross the Lazio-Roma rivalry in 36 years, Pedro only went and scored in the Derby della Capitale to help beat Jose Mourinho’s side 3-2.

He’s got a couple of assists for Lazio too, but that goal alone makes the Spaniard worthy of a place on this list.

Alvaro Morata

It’s often hard to tell whether Morata is actually doing well or not, especially as there’s talk that Juventus might try to sign Dusan Vlahovic in the summer instead of making his loan from Atletico de Madrid permanent.

Still, he’s got four goals and an assist from nine games this season, including the Bianconeri’s only goal in a draw against AC Milan, which is strong enough form to merit a mention here.

Ola Aina

After going out on loan to a Fulham side that got relegated, Aina has managed to work his way back into the Torino team, starting all but two of their games this season.

While their mid-table position is far from spectacular, Aina has been a solid, reliable performer, paying from his position as a left wing-back in setting up 1.1 chances per match on average and completing the second most dirbbles in the Torino squad.


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