Among the plethora of foreign stars to play for Chelsea down the years there have been plenty from Spain.
The Blues have been fortunate to have had a lot of top Spanish talent at Stamford Bridge in the past, from long-serving former skipper Cesar Azpilicueta to silky midfielder Cesc Fabregas, playmaker Juan Mata and forward Pedro.
Meanwhile, among the current squad, goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and left-back Marc Cucurella are keeping the Spanish link well and truly alive.
We have taken a look at some of the most notable Spanish players to have played in the famous blue shirt.
Cesar Azpilicueta (2012-2023)
Cesar Azpilicueta is a modern-day Chelsea great, having made 508 appearances for the club in a trophy-laden 11-year spell between 2012 and 2023.
The defender holds the record for the most games played for the Blues by a non-Englishman and is among a small group of just six to have featured over 500 times for the club.
Signed from Marseille, Azpilicueta quickly established himself as a superb all-round defender in the Premier League and was eventually named Blues skipper in 2019.
He left in 2023 having won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup, the League Cup, two Europa Leagues and a Club World Cup.
Juan Mata (2011-2014)
After catching the eye at Valencia, Juan Mata joined Chelsea in a £23.5million deal in August 2011 and he enjoyed success in his first season, helping the Blues win the Champions League and FA Cup.
Mata was a typical nifty Spain international of that period, and he could be relied upon for producing key passes in the final third and contributing with important goals for the Blues.
Before he left to join Manchester United in 2014, Mata had amassed 33 goals and 53 assists from just 135 appearances.
Cesc Fabregas (2014-2019)
Another diminutive and dynamic playmaker, Cesc Fabregas had graced Arsenal and Barcelona before starring for Chelsea in a five-year spell between 2014 and 2019.
Fabregas was a vital member of the Blues squad that won the Premier League twice in that time and he also lifted the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League while at Stamford Bridge.
Now manager of Italian side Como, Fabregas was a graceful, technically-gifted midfielder who won 110 caps for Spain.
Diego Costa (2014-2017)
Born in Brazil but a Spain international, Diego Costa brought his fiery brand of attacking talent to Chelsea in 2014 and was a big hit in the Premier League.
Costa is one of several players on this list who helped the Blues be crowned champions of England twice and his physical, fully-committed approach endeared him to Chelsea fans.
Costa scored 59 goals in a very successful three-year stint at the club before returning to Atletico Madrid.
Marcos Alonso (2016-2022)
Marcos Alonso had played in England for Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland before Chelsea snapped him up from Fiorentina in the summer of 2016 for around £24million.
Alonso won multiple trophies while in London, including the Premier League and Champions League, and was a reliable and versatile defender, who also loved to get forward from out wide.
After 29 goals and 21 assists in a six-year spell, he left for Barcelona in 2022.
Fernando Torres (2011-2015)
Fernando Torres is not held in the same regard at Chelsea as he is by Liverpool, who he left to join the Blues in a stunning £50millon deal on transfer deadline day at the end of January in 2011.
However, he played more games for the Blues than he did for the Reds and even though his Chelsea career got off to a slow and frustrating start, he ended up bagging 45 goals.
Pedro (2015-2020)
Pedro won multiple Spanish leagues and cups and was part of a squad that was crowned kings of Europe three times while at Barcelona before he opted for a switch to the Premier League in 2015.
The forward spent five years at Chelsea and added more medals to his collection as he helped the Blues win the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League, often dazzling with his pace, skill and finishing ability.
Kepa Arrizabalaga (2018-2025)
Still the world’s most expensive goalkeeper, it is fair to say Kepa Arrizabalaga’s Chelsea career did not exactly go to plan.
There were very high expectations when he joined from Athletic Bilbao in summer 2018 for £71.6million but he never really lived up to the hype and was roundly criticised for refusing to be substituted in the League Cup final in 2019, when then Blues boss Maurizio Sarri wanted to replace him for the upcoming penalty shootout with Willy Caballero.
Kepa showed flashes of his ability but overall struggled for consistency at Chelsea and, after loan moves to Real Madrid and Bournemouth, is now Arsenal’s back-up keeper.
Alvaro Morata (2017-2020)
Similarly, Alvaro Morata failed to live up to expectations at Chelsea as the striker never seemed to settle in England following a huge £60million move in summer 2017.
He did win the FA Cup and Europa League during his time at the club but often found himself on the bench.
Clearly a talented goalscorer, Morata has bagged 37 goals for Spain and, away from his struggles at Chelsea, has looked much better when starring for the likes of Atletico Madrid, Juventus and, more recently, Galatasaray.
Oriel Romeu (2011-2015)
A bit-part player, Oriel Romeu spent four years contracted to Chelsea but played more football out on loan during that period for Valencia and Stuttgart between 2011 and 2015.
Injuries also restricted his chances of regular action at Stamford Bridge but he has performed well in England for Southampton, racking up over 250 appearances for the south coast club.
Current Spanish Chelsea Players
Robert Sanchez
Robert Sanchez has established himself as first-choice goalkeeper for Chelsea after initially impressing in the Premier League for Brighton.
He starred in last summer’s Club World Cup, where he won the Golden Glove award as Chelsea were crowned world champions.
Marc Cucurella
Like Sanchez, Marc Cucurella headed to Stamford Bridge from Brighton and he has continued to excel at left-back.
The former Barcelona youth team player has won 23 caps for Spain and was part of his country’s victorious Euro 2024 squad.
Marc Guiu
Arriving from Barcelona in 2024, Marc Guiu is in the early stages of his Chelsea career and he is yet to establish himself as a regular part of the first team.
The 20-year-old joined Sunderland on a season-long loan in the summer and made three appearances in all competitions before being recalled early to Stamford Bridge.
