"He’s perfect...": Joe Cole urges Chelsea to resign former star who will be a free agent in the summer
- Barnaby Lane
- Apr 17
- 3 min read
Chelsea have made some serious transfer missteps over the years, offloading players who went on to become global stars elsewhere – think Mohamed Salah, Romelu Lukaku (the first time), and Thibaut Courtois.
But none of those decisions were quite as monumental as the 2014 sale of Kevin De Bruyne to Wolfsburg.
Barely given a chance to prove himself at Stamford Bridge, De Bruyne left West London with unfinished business.
What followed is now the stuff of legend: he lit up the Bundesliga, secured a move to Manchester City, and over the next decade became one of the finest midfielders in world football – winning six Premier League titles, a Champions League, and countless other honors.
Now, Chelsea may just have a rare shot at redemption.
De Bruyne recently confirmed he will leave Manchester City at the end of the current campaign when his contract expires. While the 33-year-old is widely tipped to head to either Major League Soccer or the Saudi Pro League, former Chelsea and England star Joe Cole believes there’s a twist in the tale.
Cole says the Belgian playmaker may not be so keen on leaving England after all – and that could open the door for a sensational return to Stamford Bridge.
Speaking on The Dressing Room Podcast, Cole – who won three Premier League titles with Chelsea between 2003 and 2010 – revealed details of a recent conversation with De Bruyne.
“I asked something like, ‘How do you feel about moving?’, and he said his kids are a bit scared,” Cole explained. “I got the impression he really doesn’t want to leave.”
“If he’s that worried about moving and he’s settled in England, maybe there’s another Premier League club for him," he said. "Is there anyone cheeky enough to try it? You know who he’s perfect for? Chelsea. I know he’s been there before.”
Cole went on to highlight why De Bruyne could be exactly what this youthful Chelsea squad needs.
With an average age of just 23.7 – the youngest in the Premier League – Chelsea are crying out for experienced, proven winners.
“Kevin De Bruyne has been injured a bit, but what he brings to a dressing room as a winner, as a leader... even if we only need him for 30 games a season, we can manage him,” said Cole. “Imagine him walking through the door with those young players in those difficult moments.”
“I would say, ‘Whatever you want, we’ll write it off. Come and play for us for two years.’”
De Bruyne confirmed his City departure in a heartfelt social media post earlier this week.
“Football led me to all of you—and to this city. Chasing my dream, not knowing this period would change my life," he wrote. "This city. This club. These people... gave me everything. I had no choice but to give everything back. And guess what—we won everything.”
“Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter.”
But maybe, just maybe, there’s one final chapter still to be written. And perhaps it could be the one that sees Kevin De Bruyne return to Stamford Bridge – giving Chelsea a rare chance to right one of their biggest-ever wrongs.
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