Chelsea "baffled" their rivals by completing signing amid visa issues: report

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly comes onto the pitch to join the lap of honour after the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Watford at Stamford Bridge in London
(Image credit: GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

Chelsea managed to complete a January signing that left rivals stunned, as to how the paperwork was even allowed to go through.

That's according to a new report that says the Blues covered all angles to make sure that they were granted a visa, when they went after David Datro Fofana early in the winter window.

The striker cost around £10 million from Molde – but apparently, he wasn't originally going to meet the threshold required for a work permit ahead of a move.

David Datro Fofana of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Southampton FC at Stamford Bridge on February 18, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.

Mykhaylo Mudryk has seemed strangely subdued since his move to the Premier League (Image credit: Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)

The Mail claims that the Blues went back to the Football Association with a "good presentation" as to why they wanted the forward. 

Arsenal and Everton were the main rivals most surprised with the decision. "Sporting directors up and down the country are honing their PowerPoint skills as we speak," the report adds.

Fofana was linked with a loan move away from Stamford Bridge after joining but stayed in the end. The loan would likely have enabled the 20-year-old to earn his work permit and return to the club.

As it is, he has made three appearances for the Blues. 

Chelsea manager Graham Potter gestures during defeat to Tottenham in February 2023.

Chelsea are struggling this season, with Graham Potter looking for ways to get his £600m squad to gel (Image credit: Getty Images)

Chelsea had a busy January window with Enzo Fernandez and Mykhaylo Mudryk being the headline acquisitions. David Fofana was the cheapest signing. 

Fofana is valued at around €7m by Transfermarkt

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Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.