Amongst the most successful English clubs since the turn of the millennium and the first London side ever to be crowned champions of Europe, Chelsea have possessed some of the division’s finest talents throughout much of the modern era.
Only Manchester United have won the Premier League on more occasions than the west London side, the club benefitting from a wealth of forward firepower, with seven players having reached a half century of top-flight goals in the club’s colours.
Here is the rankings of every player to score more than 50 Premier League goals for Chelsea:
Diego Costa – 52 goals
Loved by his own fans and hated by the opposition in equal measure, Costa would prove to be one of Chelsea’s best forwards of the Premier League era during a successful three-year spell at Stamford Bridge.
A snarling and aggressive presence who would make shithousery seem like an art form, Costa was much more than a marauding wind-up merchant, as evidenced by his impressive goal record in England’s top flight.
The Brazilian-born Spanish international would score 52 Premier League goals in just 89 appearances for the club, winning two league titles and the League Cup before rejoining former club Atletico Madrid.
Eidur Gudjohnsen – 54 goals
A popular figure who would precede the Roman Abramovich era before thriving during Jose Mourinho’s first spell as Chelsea manager, playing a key role in the club’s drought-breaking title success before securing back-to-back Premier League titles the following year.
Prior to Abramovich’s arrival, Gudjohnsen had formed a fine partnership in attack with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, the duo enjoying a superb understanding and scoring prolifically for the west London side.
Gudjohnsen would score 54 Premier League goals during a six-year spell before joining Barcelona, where he would win a continental treble under Pep Guardiola in 2009.
Gianfranco Zola – 59 goals
Gianfranco Zola may have missed out on the wealth of silverware that would head to Chelsea following that aforementioned takeover by Roman Abramovich, but there is no denying the little Italian’s place in the club’s history as one of the Blues’ greatest ever players.
Arriving at Chelsea as a 30-year-old and for what would prove a bargain fee, Zola made an instant impression following his November arrival, becoming the first player in history to be named as the FWA Footballer of the Year after arriving mid-season.
Zola’s sublime technique and penchant for magical moments made him a hero amongst the Chelsea faithful, scoring 59 goals in 229 Premier League appearances and lifting two FA Cups, a League Cup and the Cup Winners’ Cup amongst his honours.
Those triumphs ended a 26-year wait for major silverware, whilst Zola was named as the club’s Player of the Season after helping the Blues into the Champions League during his final campaign at the club.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink – 69 goals
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was well known to Premier League fans upon his arrival at Chelsea, having finished as the division’s leading scorer during a two season stay at Leeds United before heading to Atletico Madrid.
Brought back to English football in a club record deal, the Netherlands international proved to be money well spent following a prolific spell in Chelsea colours.
Hasselbaink would hit 69 Premier League goals in just 136 appearances for Chelsea, winning a second Premier League Golden Boot during his debut campaign at the club.
The forward would develop a reputation as one of the sharpest shooters in England’s top flight, many of goals coming in spectacular fashion with thunderous shooting ability in either foot.
Eden Hazard – 85 goals
Arguably Chelsea’s most influential player of the past decade, Eden Hazard delivered a host of mesmerising moments in English football during a seven-year stay at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues beat off competition from across Europe to secure the winger’s signing in 2012, Hazard flourishing from promising talent into one of the finest attacking talents in world football.
Hazard was named as winner of the PFA Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year during the club’s triumphant title-winning campaign in 2015, one of two league titles he would win amongst six major honours in west London.
Few players have been as enthralling to watch in full flight as the diminutive Belgian, his flawless close control and ability to twist and turn past defenders marking him out as a star of the division.
Hazard fulfilled his boyhood dream by joining Real Madrid in 2019, his 85 goals scored the third-highest tally of any Chelsea player in Premier League history.
Didier Drogba – 104 goals
Voted as the greatest player in Chelsea’ long history in 2012, few players have had as great an impact on the club’s modern history as the talismanic Ivorian.
The ultimate big-game player, Drogba cemented his status as a bonafide club legend over two spells in west London, scoring 164 goals in all competitions including 104 in the Premier League – the second-highest total of any Chelsea player.
Didier Drogba scored 9 goals in 9 finals for Chelsea:
9️⃣ Finals
7⃣ Wins
2⃣ Losses
9️⃣ GoalsThe Ultimate Big Game Player. #CFC
— CFC-Blues (@CFCBlues_com) March 11, 2020
A four-time title winner, the forward also twice won the division’s Golden Boot, including a career-best haul of 29 league goals as the Blues claimed a domestic double on 2010.
Drogba’s legacy and legend, however, is built upon his ability to influence the biggest of occasions, scoring nine goals in nine major finals throughout his career – including the equaliser and winning shoot-out penalty as Chelsea were crowned champions of Europe for the first time.
Frank Lampard – 147 goals
Frank Lampard was a midfielder.
His goal record is so impressive that it is important to remember that particular fact, in order to truly gain perspective over the achievements of the former England international.
The fifth-highest goalscorer in Premier League history and the most prolific Chelsea player of all-time, Lampard plundered goals with a regularity that is unlikely to ever be matched by a central midfield player.
Lampard scored double figures for league goals in ten successive seasons in Chelsea colours between 2004 and 2013, including a career-best of 22 goals during the club’s double-winning season of 2009/10.
That title was one of three won during a glittering career at Stamford Bridge, the midfielder winning 11 major honours including four FA Cups and the 2012 Champions League.
Comfortably ahead as Chelsea’s record Premier League goalscorer with 147 goals, Lampard also finished as the top assist provider in the Premier League on three separate occasions.
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