Sebastian Kehl labels Chelsea’s transfer policy ‘very wild’ after €330 million January spending

Sebastian Kehl has labeled Chelsea’s transfer policy ‘very wild’ after the Premier League side spent 330 million euros in the January transfer window alone.

The January transfer window closed on Tuesday, and Chelsea completed their spending spree by signing Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez from SL Benfica for a British record fee of 120 million euros. That took their spending for January alone to 330 million euros, and their overall spending over the last two transfer windows to more than 600 million euros.

Sebastian Kehl spoke about Chelsea’s spending in an interview with Sky Sport on Tuesday, and said that Borussia Dortmund simply aren’t in a position to spend money like that. The BVB sporting director said:

"“Of course, I have followed what Chelsea has done in recent weeks and months. Very wild, you just have to say that. Money plays no role there. They’re running their own race.”“We have to earn our money here in a different way. That’s why we are not in a position to implement such transfers.”“We have to act faster and we have to be on the ball even earlier, which makes it challenging, but we still manage. Borussia Dortmund is a top club, not only in Germany but also on the international stage. And we will continue to do things our way.”"

Chelsea spent more money in the January transfer window than clubs in the Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga, and Ligue 1 combined. In addition to Fernandez, Mykhaylo Mudryk, João Félix, Noni Madueke, and Benoit Badiashile also joined the English Premier League side last month.

Hans-Joachim Watzke also commented on Chelsea’s recent spending in an interview with WAZ.

"“We are doing things our own way in Germany. We have the most spectators, we score the most goals, we have a democratic culture in the leagues and the lowest ticket prices. Which way is the right way will only become clear in ten or twenty years.”"

Borussia Dortmund made only two signings during the January transfer window, bringing in Julian Ryerson from Union Berlin (transfer fee of 5 million euros) and Julien Duranville from Anderlecht (initial fee of 8.5 million euros).

Borussia Dortmund are set to go up against Chelsea in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, with the first leg of that tie set to take place in two weeks’ time.

UEFA rules prohibit clubs from adding more than three new January signings to their squads for the knockout rounds. So Chelsea can only register three of their new arrivals to face the Black and Yellows.