Has High Squad Turnover Benefited Chelsea and Nottingham Forest?
Both Chelsea and Nottingham Forest have undergone significant squad overhauls in recent years, but has this approach contributed to their improved fortunes?
Original Source

The Athletic

Written by
Steve Worrell
Nottingham Forest’s aggressive recruitment strategy following their promotion to the Premier League in 2022 was initially met with scepticism. However, two-and-a-half years later, they sit third in the table, three points ahead of defending champions Manchester City. While their early recruitment had a low success rate, Forest’s ability to identify value in Premier League talent has helped them build a team capable of challenging for European qualification. Chelsea, on the other hand, have taken a different approach under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, investing heavily in young talent from across Europe. While their squad turnover has been necessary to comply with financial regulations, their mixed success in recruitment has seen them fall short of expectations.
Nottingham Forest’s Squad Turnover:
- Summer 2022: Signed 22 players after promotion, spending over £150m.
- Current Squad: Only a handful remain from the initial recruitment, with key players like Morgan Gibbs-White, Anthony Elanga, and Callum Hudson-Odoi proving excellent signings.
- Premier League Experience Focus: Many signings have come from other English clubs, proving that value can still be found in the domestic market.
- Top Performers: Chris Wood (14 goals) and free-agent signing Ola Aina have been key to their success.
Chelsea’s Approach:
- Billion-pound rebuild: Todd Boehly’s Chelsea has spent heavily on young talent, securing long-term contracts to amortise fees.
- High-profile departures: Selling homegrown stars like Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher has caused fan unrest.
- Mixed Transfer Success: While signings like Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo have impressed, expensive recruits like Mykhailo Mudryk and Wesley Fofana have struggled.
- Current Position: Chelsea sit four points behind Forest in seventh place, despite their significant financial outlay.
Conclusion:While both clubs have undergone extreme squad changes, Forest’s ability to find value within the Premier League has played a crucial role in their rise. Chelsea’s financial muscle has allowed them to revamp their squad, but their inconsistent transfer success has hindered their progress. Both clubs prove that high turnover can be effective, but the strategy must be paired with smart recruitment to achieve long-term success.
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Written by
Steve Worrell
Steve, Co-founder of The 1905 Club, created the platform to provide honest, clickbait-free Chelsea FC content. He worked at Stamford Bridge from 2013 to 2016 with a Champions League sponsor. His first Chelsea match was a 1-0 win at Leeds in 2000, and his favourite was the epic 2012 Champions League game against Napoli.