FM24 Chelsea 1998/99 — Ultimate Transfer Guide

A season-by-season walkthrough for signing all-time greats and Chelsea legends from 1998 to 2026 in Football Manager 2024. Formation: 4-2-3-1 gegenpress. Budget: £25m initially.

Overall progress0 / 126 (0%)

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Year 1 (1998/99) — The Foundation

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Formation Note: You have no natural wingers for 4-2-3-1. Play 4-4-2 diamond or 4-1-4-1 until you sign wingers.

Real-Life Chelsea Signings

ActualMarcel Desailly — CB (BPD) — €4.8m from AC Milan — Already in squad
ActualAlbert Ferrer — RB (WB) — €3.4m from Barcelona — Already in squad
ActualPierluigi Casiraghi — ST — €5.4m from Lazio — Avoid, injury-prone

Your Recommended Signings

ImmediateBrian Laudrup — RW (IF) — Already at Chelsea, keep for 1 season
ImmediateSign young wingers — Essential for 4-2-3-1 transition

Scouting Assignments (Critical)

ScoutGrêmio (Brazil) — Ronaldinho — AM (AP) — Future global superstar
ScoutLiverpool Academy — Steven Gerrard — CM (B2B) — Born 1980
ScoutWest Ham — Frank Lampard — CM (DLP) — Born 1978
ScoutMalmö (Sweden) — Zlatan Ibrahimovic — ST (CF) — Born 1981
ScoutSporting Lisbon youth — Cristiano Ronaldo — RW (IF) — Born 1985
ScoutBarcelona La Masia — Xavi — CM (DLP) — Born 1980
ScoutBarcelona La Masia — Andrés Iniesta — CM (DLP) — Born 1984
ScoutDinamo Zagreb — Luka Modric — CM (DLP) — Born 1985

Squad Management — Keep

KeepGianfranco Zola — ST/AM (False 9) — Star player, sell after 2-3 years
KeepGraeme Le Saux — LB (WB) — Sell when offer arrives or age 33+
KeepMarcel Desailly — CB (BPD) — Anchor of defense for 3-4 years
KeepAlbert Ferrer — RB (WB) — Good for 2-3 years
KeepTore André Flo — ST (CF) — Striker depth
KeepDennis Wise — CM (BWM) — Captain, mentor, sell age 33+
KeepRoberto Di Matteo — CM (DLP) — Utility midfielder
KeepGustavo Poyet — AM (AP) — Attacking midfielder
DevelopJohn Terry — CB (BPD) — Future captain
DevelopSamuele Dalla Bona — CM — Youth prospect

Squad Management — Sell

SellGianluca Vialli — Retiring at end of season
SellPierluigi Casiraghi — Injury-prone, not worth wages
SellBjarne Goldbæk — Aging, not fitting 4-2-3-1
SellDmitri Kharin — GK surplus
SellAndy Myers — LB — Not good enough
SellEddie Newton — CM — Aging

Target Squad (Year 1)

Formation: 4-4-2 Diamond (no wingers yet)

Position	Player	Role
GK	Ed de Goey	SK
RB	Albert Ferrer	WB
CB	Marcel Desailly	BPD
CB	Frank Leboeuf	CD
LB	Graeme Le Saux	WB
DM	Dennis Wise	BWM
CM	Roberto Di Matteo	DLP
CM	Gustavo Poyet	AP
RW	Brian Laudrup	IF
ST	Gianfranco Zola	F9
ST	Tore André Flo	CF

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Year 2 (1999/2000) — Building Momentum

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Real-Life Chelsea Signings

ActualChris Sutton — ST — €15m from Blackburn — Expensive, poor fit
ActualGabriele Ambrosetti — LW — €4.89m from Vicenza — Squad player only
ActualEmerson Thome — CB — €4m from Sheff Wed — Not needed
ActualDidier Deschamps — DM — €2m from Juventus — Aging, avoid
ActualGeorge Weah — ST (loan) — from AC Milan — Worth it for one season

Your Recommended Signings

HijackThierry Henry — ST (CF) — €16m from Juventus — HIJACK from Arsenal! Real-life signed Aug 1999
FutureDamien Duff — LW (IF) — from Blackburn — Future winger for 4-2-3-1
FutureZlatan Ibrahimovic — ST (CF) — from Malmö — Sign if affordable

Scouting Assignments

ScoutBarcelona B — Xavi — CM (DLP) — Prepare bid for 2001
ScoutGrêmio — Ronaldinho — AM (AP) — Prepare bid for 2001
ScoutBarcelona youth — Andrés Iniesta — CM (DLP) — Appears ~2000

Squad Management — Sell

SellFrank Leboeuf — CB — Aging, sell for profit
SellBernard Lambourde — CB — Not needed with Terry developing
SellDan Petrescu — RB — Aging with Ferrer covering
SellKevin Hitchcock — GK — Aging

Target Squad (Year 2)

Formation: 4-1-4-1 (transitioning to wingers)

Position	Player	Role
GK	Ed de Goey	SK
RB	Albert Ferrer	WB
CB	Marcel Desailly	BPD
CB	John Terry	BPD
LB	Graeme Le Saux	WB
DM	Dennis Wise	BWM
RW	Brian Laudrup	IF
CM	Roberto Di Matteo	DLP
CM	Gustavo Poyet	AP
LW	Damien Duff	IF
ST	Thierry Henry / Tore André Flo	CF

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Year 3 (2000/01) — The Lampard Window

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Real-Life Chelsea Signings

ActualJimmy Floyd Hasselbaink — ST (CF) — €17m from Atletico — Excellent striker
ActualEidur Gudjohnsen — ST (CF) — €5.5m from Bolton — Good depth
ActualMario Stanić — RM — €6m from Parma — Decent but not essential

Your Recommended Signings

ChelseaPRIORITY: Frank Lampard — CM/AM (DLP) — €15m from West Ham — MUST SIGN THIS SEASON
GlobalPRIORITY: Ronaldinho — AM (AP) — from Grêmio — HIJACK from PSG! Real-life moved 2001
GlobalCristiano Ronaldo — RW (IF) — from Sporting Lisbon youth — Scout immediately
GlobalWayne Rooney — ST (CF) — from Everton youth — Will appear ~2001, prepare bid

Scouting Assignments

ScoutWest Ham — Joe Cole — AM — Homegrown talent for future
ScoutBarcelona — Andrés Iniesta — CM (DLP) — Should be in B team now
ScoutDinamo Zagreb — Luka Modric — CM (DLP) — Already exists, scout for future

Squad Management

SellZola — if big offer arrives (age 34)
SellDennis Wise — aging captain
KeepLampard (if signed), Hasselbaink, Gudjohnsen, Terry, Desailly

Target Squad (Year 3)

Formation: 4-2-3-1 (now possible with wingers)

Position	Player	Role
GK	Ed de Goey / Carlo Cudicini	SK
RB	Albert Ferrer	WB
CB	Marcel Desailly	BPD
CB	John Terry	BPD
LB	Graeme Le Saux	WB
DM	Frank Lampard	DLP
CM	Roberto Di Matteo	DLP
RW	Damien Duff / Brian Laudrup	IF
AM	Ronaldinho	AP
LW	Damien Duff	IF
ST	Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink	CF

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Year 4 (2001/02) — Golden Generation Begins

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Real-Life Chelsea Signings

ActualWilliam Gallas — CB (BPD) — €8.1m from Marseille — Good CB
ActualBoudewijn Zenden — LW (IF) — €8.5m from Barcelona — Squad player
ActualEmmanuel Petit — DM — €9m from Barcelona — Aging, avoid
ActualJesper Grønkjær — RW (IF) — €10m from Ajax — Not essential

Your Recommended Signings

GlobalPRIORITY: Zlatan Ibrahimovic — ST (CF) — from Malmö — HIJACK from Ajax! Real-life moved 2001
GlobalPRIORITY: Cristiano Ronaldo — RW (IF) — from Sporting senior — Sign immediately!
GlobalPRIORITY: Wayne Rooney — ST (CF) — from Everton senior — Sign immediately!
GlobalXavi — CM (DLP) — from Barcelona — Audacious bid
GlobalLuka Modric — CM (DLP) — from Dinamo Zagreb — Future star

Scouting Assignments

ScoutBarcelona youth — Lionel Messi — RW/CF (IF) — Will appear ~2003
ScoutBarcelona youth — Cesc Fabregas — CM — Will appear ~2003

Squad Management

SellZola — to Cagliari (real-life move path)
SellLe Saux — if not already sold
SellFerrer — aging
KeepLampard, Hasselbaink, Terry, Desailly

Target Squad (Year 4)

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Position	Player	Role
GK	Carlo Cudicini	SK
RB	Albert Ferrer / William Gallas	WB
CB	Marcel Desailly	BPD
CB	John Terry	BPD
LB	Graeme Le Saux / Wayne Bridge	WB
DM	Frank Lampard	DLP
CM	Roberto Di Matteo / Joe Cole	DLP
RW	Cristiano Ronaldo	IF
AM	Ronaldinho	AP
LW	Damien Duff	IF
ST	Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink / Wayne Rooney	CF

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Year 5 (2002/03) — Abramovich Revolution Begins

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Note: Abramovich takes over July 2003 — Budget increases dramatically!

Real-Life Chelsea Signings

ActualGlen Johnson — RB (WB) — €8.3m from West Ham — Not essential
ActualWayne Bridge — LB (WB) — €10.5m from Southampton — Good for 4-2-3-1
ActualJoe Cole — AM (AP) — €9.9m from West Ham — Homegrown talent
ActualScott Parker — CM (B2B) — €14.5m from Charlton — Good but Lampard > Parker

Your Recommended Signings

ChelseaPRIORITY: Claude Makelele — DM (Anchor) — €20m from Real Madrid — HIJACK! Real-life joined 2003
GlobalPRIORITY: Lionel Messi — RW/CF (IF) — from Barcelona youth — SIGN IMMEDIATELY (16 years old, appears ~2003)
GlobalPRIORITY: Cesc Fabregas — CM (DLP) — from Barcelona youth — Scout and sign
GlobalAndrés Iniesta — CM (DLP) — from Barcelona — Bid if available
ChelseaArjen Robben — LW (IF) — from Groningen — Real-life joined 2004

Scouting Assignments

ScoutMarseille — Didier Drogba — ST (CF) — Real-life was at Guingamp/Marseille
ScoutRennes — Petr Čech — GK (SK) — Real-life joined 2004
ScoutBarcelona youth — Continue monitoring Messi/Fabregas

Target Squad (Year 5)

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Position	Player	Role
GK	Carlo Cudicini	SK
RB	Glen Johnson / William Gallas	WB
CB	Marcel Desailly	BPD
CB	John Terry	BPD
LB	Wayne Bridge	WB
DM	Claude Makelele	Anchor
CM	Frank Lampard	DLP
RW	Cristiano Ronaldo / Lionel Messi	IF
AM	Ronaldinho / Joe Cole	AP
LW	Damien Duff / Arjen Robben	IF
ST	Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink / Zlatan Ibrahimovic	CF

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Year 6 (2003/04) — Roman's First Season

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Real-Life Chelsea Signings (€173m spent!)

ActualHernán Crespo — ST — €26m from Inter — Not needed (you have better)
ActualDamien Duff — LW (IF) — €24.5m from Blackburn — Get him if you didn't earlier
ActualAdrian Mutu — ST — €22.7m from Parma — Expensive, disciplinary issues
ActualJuan Sebastián Verón — CM — €21.8m from Man Utd — Expensive flop
ActualClaude Makelele — DM (Anchor) — €20m from Real Madrid — CRITICAL signing
ActualScott Parker — CM — €14.5m from Charlton — Not needed if you have Lampard
ActualWayne Bridge — LB (WB) — €10.5m from Southampton — Good signing
ActualJoe Cole — AM — €9.9m from West Ham — Good homegrown talent
ActualGlen Johnson — RB (WB) — €8.3m from West Ham — Not essential

Your Recommended Signings

ChelseaPRIORITY: Didier Drogba — ST (CF) — €24m from Marseille — HIJACK! Real-life joined 2004
ChelseaPRIORITY: Petr Čech — GK (SK) — from Rennes — Get your sweeper keeper!
ChelseaArjen Robben — LW (IF) — from PSV — Real-life joined 2004
ChelseaRicardo Carvalho — CB (BPD) — from Porto — Real-life joined 2004
GlobalLionel Messi — RW/CF (IF) — from Barcelona youth — SIGN NOW (16 years old)
GlobalCesc Fabregas — CM (DLP) — from Barcelona youth — SIGN NOW
GlobalXavi — CM (DLP) — from Barcelona — Another attempt

Squad Management

SellZola — to Cagliari (real-life move)
SellLe Saux — retiring
SellHasselbaink — if Drogba signed
KeepLampard, Makelele, Terry, Bridge, Cech (if signed)

Target Squad (Year 6)

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Position	Player	Role
GK	Petr Čech	SK
RB	Ricardo Carvalho / Glen Johnson	WB
CB	John Terry	BPD
CB	William Gallas	BPD
LB	Wayne Bridge	WB
DM	Claude Makelele	Anchor
CM	Frank Lampard	DLP
RW	Cristiano Ronaldo / Lionel Messi	IF
AM	Ronaldinho / Joe Cole	AP
LW	Arjen Robben / Damien Duff	IF
ST	Didier Drogba	CF

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Year 7-8 (2004/05-2005/06) — Mourinho Era

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Target Core XI

Formation: 4-2-3-1 gegenpress

Position	Player	Role
GK	Petr Čech	SK
RB	Ricardo Carvalho	WB
CB	John Terry	BPD
CB	William Gallas	BPD
LB	Wayne Bridge	WB
DM	Claude Makelele	Anchor
CM	Frank Lampard	DLP
RW	Lionel Messi	IF
AM	Joe Cole / Arjen Robben	AP
LW	Arjen Robben / Damien Duff	IF
ST	Didier Drogba	CF

Recommended Signings

GlobalGareth Bale — LW/RW (IF) — from Southampton youth — Appears ~2006
GlobalSergio Busquets — DM (DLP) — from Barcelona youth — Appears ~2006
GlobalToni Kroos — CM (DLP) — from Bayern youth — Appears ~2006
GlobalRobert Lewandowski — ST (CF) — from Znicz/Lech — Appears ~2006
ChelseaN'Golo Kanté — DM (BWM) — from Boulogne youth — Appears ~2006
ChelseaEden Hazard — LW (IF) — from Lille youth — Appears ~2006

Target Squad (Years 7-8)

Formation: 4-2-3-1 gegenpress

Position	Player	Role
GK	Petr Čech	SK
RB	Ricardo Carvalho	WB
CB	John Terry	BPD
CB	William Gallas	BPD
LB	Wayne Bridge / Gareth Bale	WB
DM	Claude Makelele / Sergio Busquets	Anchor
CM	Frank Lampard	DLP
RW	Lionel Messi / Cristiano Ronaldo	IF
AM	Joe Cole / Toni Kroos	AP
LW	Arjen Robben / Eden Hazard	IF
ST	Didier Drogba / Robert Lewandowski	CF

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Years 9-15 (2006/07-2012/13) — Modern Era Transition

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Key Targets

GlobalKevin De Bruyne — AM/CM (DLP) — from Genk — Appears ~2008
GlobalMohamed Salah — RW (IF) — from Al Mokawloon — Appears ~2010
GlobalVirgil van Dijk — CB (BPD) — from Groningen — Appears ~2008
GlobalSon Heung-min — LW (IF) — from Hamburg youth — Appears ~2008
ChelseaN'Golo Kanté — DM (BWM) — from Caen — Real-life joined 2016
ChelseaEden Hazard — LW (IF) — from Lille — Real-life joined 2012

Target Squad (Years 9-15)

Formation: 4-2-3-1 gegenpress

Position	Player	Role
GK	Petr Čech / Thibaut Courtois	SK
RB	Branislav Ivanović / César Azpilicueta	WB
CB	Virgil van Dijk / John Terry	BPD
CB	David Luiz / Gary Cahill	BPD
LB	Ashley Cole / Eden Hazard	WB
DM	N'Golo Kanté / Sergio Busquets	BWM
CM	Frank Lampard / Kevin De Bruyne	DLP
RW	Mohamed Salah / Willian	IF
AM	Oscar / Juan Mata	AP
LW	Eden Hazard / Son Heung-min	IF
ST	Didier Drogba / Diego Costa	CF

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Years 16-28 (2013/14-2025/26) — The New Generation

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Key Targets

GlobalKylian Mbappé — ST (CF) — from AS Monaco youth — Appears ~2014
GlobalErling Haaland — ST (CF) — from Bryne/Molde youth — Appears ~2016
GlobalVinícius Júnior — LW (IF) — from Flamengo youth — Appears ~2016
GlobalRodrygo — RW (IF) — from Santos youth — Appears ~2016
GlobalPhil Foden — CM/AM — from Man City youth — Appears ~2016
GlobalPedri — CM — from Las Palmas youth — Appears ~2018
GlobalJude Bellingham — CM — from Birmingham youth — Appears ~2019
GlobalJamal Musiala — AM — from Bayern youth — Appears ~2020
GlobalBukayo Saka — RW — from Arsenal youth — Appears ~2018
GlobalFlorian Wirtz — AM — from Leverkusen youth — Appears ~2020

Target Squad (Years 16-28)

Formation: 4-2-3-1 gegenpress

Position	Player	Role
GK	Édouard Mendy / Kepa Arrizabalaga	SK
RB	Reece James / César Azpilicueta	WB
CB	Virgil van Dijk / Thiago Silva	BPD
CB	Kalidou Koulibaly / Wesley Fofana	BPD
LB	Ben Chilwell / Marc Cucurella	WB
DM	N'Golo Kanté / Enzo Fernández	BWM
CM	Jude Bellingham / Mason Mount	DLP
RW	Mohamed Salah / Bukayo Saka	IF
AM	Jamal Musiala / Florian Wirtz	AP
LW	Vinícius Júnior / Phil Foden	IF
ST	Erling Haaland / Kylian Mbappé	CF

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Completionist Notes

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Critical Hijack Opportunities

These are players who moved to specific clubs in real life that you should try to intercept:

Thierry Henry — Real-life moved to Arsenal in Aug 1999. Hijack from Juventus!
Ronaldinho — Real-life moved to PSG in 2001. Hijack from Grêmio!
Zlatan Ibrahimovic — Real-life moved to Ajax in 2001. Hijack from Malmö!
Claude Makelele — Real-life moved to Chelsea in 2003. Make sure you get him!
Didier Drogba — Real-life moved to Chelsea in 2004. Hijack from Marseille!
Arjen Robben — Real-life moved to Chelsea in 2004. Hijack from PSV!

Player Birth Year Quick Reference

Year	Players Born (will appear as regens)
1973	Claude Makelele
1978	Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba
1980	Xavi, Steven Gerrard, Ronaldinho
1981	Zlatan Ibrahimovic
1984	Andrés Iniesta
1985	Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric
1987	Lionel Messi
1988	Sergio Busquets, Robert Lewandowski
1989	Gareth Bale
1990	Toni Kroos
1991	N'Golo Kanté, Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Virgil van Dijk
1992	Son Heung-min, Mohamed Salah
1998	Kylian Mbappé
2000	Erling Haaland, Vinícius Júnior

Formation Evolution

1998-2001: 4-4-2 diamond or 4-1-4-1 (no wingers available)

2001-2005: Transition to 4-2-3-1 with Duff/Robben

2005+: Full 4-2-3-1 gegenpress with your complete squad

Long-term Save Tips

- Keep scouts permanently assigned to Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Brazilian clubs for regen generation

- Youth recruitment: Focus on countries with high youth rating (Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Germany, France)

- Homegrown quota: Keep English players (Terry, Lampard, Cole, Gerrard if signed) for squad registration

- Financial management: Sell aging legends for profit to fund wonderkid purchases