Top 10 Best Chelsea Midfielders of All Time (Ranked)

English giants Chelsea Football Club is one of the most successful English clubs of all time. They have won the English top-flight titles six times, including five Premier League titles. Additionally, they have also won every single UEFA club competition, including the UEFA Champions League twice and the Europa League, among numerous other honours. The Blues have been part of the ‘Big 6’ or even the ‘Big 4’ as they were called back in the day.

They achieved enormous success, and it only grew under Roman Abramovich’s ownership from 2003 to 2022. He helped them bring in incredible players and managers across positions to win trophies and break records. One area where the West London club Chelsea has had some incredible players is the midfield. A lot of their success was built on a midfield, which was solid, out of possession, creative, and impactful when on the ball. With that, now let’s take a look at the best Chelsea midfielders of all time.

List of Greatest Chelsea Midfielders

The table below contains the top 10 greatest Chelsea midfielders of all time who wrote the history books at Chelsea, bringing success with their skills and professionalism. This table is based on ranking factors, which are explained after the table.

How We Ranked the Top 10 Greatest Chelsea Midfielders of All Time?

The factors listed below cover all aspects of a great midfielder and help to pick the list of best Chelsea midfielders of all time. These factors not only evaluate players’ goal contributions, longevity trophies and impact at Chelsea.

• Goals + Assists: The first ranking factor to rank the greatest Chelsea midfielders is goal contributions, including goals and assists for the Blues.
• Longevity: The second factor to determine the rankings is longevity, or how long they have served Chelsea as players during their stint.
• Trophies/Achievements: The most important ranking factor is the number of trophies and achievements a player has achieved at the club.
• Overall Impact on the Club: Last and the key ranking factor is their impact as a player and how pivotal they have been in the club's success.

Who is the Best Midfielder Ever in Chelsea History?

Now, coming to who is the best midfielder in Chelsea history? Check out the detailed list of best Chelsea midfielders of all time to find the players who have marked their name on this list of greatest Chelsea midfielders of all time.

10. Ruud Gullit (Netherlands)

At the 10th position, we have one of the greatest Dutch footballers of all time, Ruud Gullit. The 1987 Ballon d’Or winner midfielder had arrived at Stamford Bridge from AC Milan towards the latter years of his career in 1985. He was versatile for the Blues, playing as a midfielder and even taking the role of player-manager.

Despite struggling with injuries, Ruud Gullit made a major impact at Chelsea, which wasn’t as big a force back then. Gullit made over 60 appearances for the club and also helped them win the club their first major trophy after more than 25 years, lifting the FA Cup in 1997. He also worked as a player-manager after his playing days were cut short due to injuries, yet he managed a place here.

9. Ray Wilkins

Born in London, Ray Wilkins is considered among the best Chelsea midfielders of all time, despite not winning a lot of trophies at Chelsea as the others on this list have, but his impact at the club is unparalleled. The English midfielder played for the likes of Manchester United, AC Milan and French club PSG, but his time with Chelsea remains the highlight of his career.

Wilkins became their youngest-ever captain at 18 the following year, after coming through the reserves in 1973. The Blues were relegated after losing several key players, but he led them back to the First Division two years later. However, the club dealt with major financial issues after suffering another relegation in 1979, and Wilkins joined Manchester United. He also served as an assistant manager under Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea.

8. Cesc Fabregas (Spain)

The Spanish icon Cesc Fabregas is hailed as one of the finest midfielders in the Premier League and the best Chelsea midfielders of all time. A La Masia and Arsenal youth product, Fabregas was already an established name when he joined the Blues from Barcelona in 2014 and stayed for more than four years at the club.

During that time, the former Arsenal player won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and one EFL Cup with the Blues. The 2010 World Cup winner was a key player for the side under Antonio Conte due to his creativity and attacking efficiency. He netted 22 goals and provided 57 assists in 198 games for the club. The Spanish midfielder played 198 games for the Blues and left the club in 2019 to join Ligue 1 club AS Monaco.

7. Charlie Cooke (Scotland)

The iconic Scottish midfielder, Charlie Cooke, served Chelsea on two spells at Chelsea. He first arrived from Dundee United in West London in 1966 and became well-known for his dribbling skills. He was a key player for the club as they won one FA Cup and one European Cup Winners’ Cup. He is widely remembered as one of the greatest Chelsea midfielders.

After six years with the west London side, he joined fellow London club Crystal Palace but returned to Chelsea after an 18-month stint. The Blues were relegated that season, but Cooke stayed and helped them earn promotion two years later. Overall, Cooke played 340 games for the Blues and won several titles as well.

6. Michael Ballack (Germany)

Up next on the list of best Chelsea midfielders of all time is Michael Ballack, regarded as one of the finest German players to grace the English Premier League. Even though he spent most of his club career in Germany with the likes of Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. He developed into a key figure for Chelsea under Carlo Ancelotti, helping the Blues win six major trophies.

During Ballack's four years at Chelsea between 2006 and 2010, and won a Premier League trophy, three FA Cups and one EFL Cup. The German midfielder had scored some crucial goals for the club in cup competitions under Italian boss Carlo Ancelotti. Overall, he scored 26 goals and provided 22 assists in 167 games.

5. Michael Essien (Ghana)

One of the best African footballers ever, Michael Essien, remains one of the fan favourites at Chelsea. He started his European career in France and earned success with the French outfit Olympique Lyon. A highly-rated midfielder arrived at Stamford Bridge from Olympique Lyon for a then club-record fee of £24.4 million in 2005. He played a key role in their Premier League title win in their first season and won numerous trophies with the club.

The Ghanaian legendary midfielder was known for his reading of the game, defensive solidity and athleticism. Essien made over 250 appearances for the west London side, scoring 25 goals and providing 20 assists. He also won the UEFA Champions League in the 2011-12 season. He then spent one year on loan at Real Madrid before moving permanently to Italian giants AC Milan, after cementing himself as one of best Chelsea midfielders of all time.

4. Dennis Wise (England)

In 1990, Dennis Wise signed for Chelsea from Wimbledon FC to bolster the midfield unit of the Blues. He arrived as a forward but quickly became a central midfielder, making himself indispensable. Known for his toughness and leadership qualities, Wise quickly won the hearts of the fans with his determination on the pitch.

Three years later, the Englishmen became captain in 1993 and led the club to six trophies, including two FA Cups and one UEFA Super Cup. Wise is the second-most successful captain for the west London side, behind only John Terry. He made a staggering 427 appearances, scoring 69 goals and providing 46 assists in his 11-year stay at the club and earned the designation of greatest Chelsea midfielders.

3. N’Golo Kante (France)

The French star midfielder N’Golo Kante was a defensive midfielder who revolutionised the role with his running power, reading of the game and brilliance at interceptions. He arrived at Chelsea as a promising signing in 2016 after a historic Premier League title win with Leicester City in the 2015-16 campaign.

Overall, Kante made over 260 appearances for the club, winning one Premier League and one UEFA Champions League, among other honours. He left the club in 2023 and currently plays for the Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad. His legacy with the Blues has been remarkable, redefining the role of a defensive midfielder.

2. Claude Makelele (France)

There is a reason why Claude Makelele is hailed as one of the best Chelsea players of all time. The Frenchman was not just one of Chelsea’s best midfielders but also one of the greatest achnormen in the history of football. His impact on the position was such that it was widely called the ‘Makelele role’ established himself on this list of the top 10 greatest Chelsea midfielders of all time.

The France legend had arrived at Stamford Bridge from Spanish giants Real Madrid in 2003 as one of the first signings of the Roman Abramovich era. And during his five-year stay in the English capital, Claude won numerous trophies. He was a key part of the Chelsea side, which conceded a meagre 15 goals (a record) in the entire season in the Premier League in the 2004-05 season to lift the EPL silverware.

1. Frank Lampard (England)

Now, coming to the question, who is the best midfielder in Chelsea history? At first, we have none other than Frank James Lampard, not only the greatest midfielder, but the English icon is certainly Chelsea’s greatest ever player in history. He committed to a decade-long stint at Chelsea and played a remarkable 600 matches for the English club. Lampard is the club's record all-time top scorer with 211 goals in a total of 648 appearances, despite playing in midfield.

Known for his passing, intelligence and goal-scoring ability with his late runs in the box. He had joined the club from West Ham United in 2001 and spent 13 years there. He had many iconic moments as he helped them win three Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy, among other honours. He also returned to Stamford Bridge as a manager and a caretaker manager later on.