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Under Roman Abramovich and now Todd Boehly, Chelsea have spent big over the last 20 years on a number of new signings, but how have the Blues fared when it comes to departures?

Those at Stamford Bridge have cashed in on a number of stars, with a plethora of players moving to the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United.

Here’s a look at Chelsea’s most expensive sales in their history, as per news reports and Transfermarkt, with a detailed look at the top 10.

Chelsea’s most expensive sales of all time

Rank

Player

Fee

Sold to

Year

1

Eden Hazard

£89m

Real Madrid

2019

2

Kai Havertz

£65m

Arsenal

2023

3

Oscar

£60m

Shanghai SIPG

2017

4

Alvaro Morata

£58.3m

Atletico Madrid

2020

5

Diego Costa

£57m

Atletico Madrid

2017

6

Mason Mount

£55m

Man Utd

2023

7

David Luiz

£50m

PSG

2014

8

Noni Madueke

£48.5m

Arsenal

2025

9

Nemanja Matic

£40m

Man Utd

2017

10

Juan Mata

£37.1m

Man Utd

2014

=11

Ian Maatsen

£35m

Aston Villa

2024

=11

Thibaut Courtois

£35m

Real Madrid

2018

13

Tammy Abraham

£34m

Roma

2021

14

Conor Gallagher

£33m

Atletico Madrid

2024

15

Romelu Lukaku

£30m

Napoli

2024

16

Kurt Zouma

£29.8m

West Ham

2021

=17

Lewis Hall

£28m

Newcastle

2024

=17

Romelu Lukaku

£28m

Napoli

2024

19

Joao Felix

£26.2m

Al Nassr

2025

20

Timo Werner

£25.3m

RB Leipzig

2022

Here’s a detailed look at Chelsea’s 10 most expensive sales… 10 Juan Mata £37.1m to Man Utd, 2014

Like Nemanja Matic, attacking midfielder Juan Mata also swapped Stamford Bridge for Old Trafford, but did so three years prior in 2014.

The Spaniard joined Chelsea from Valencia in 2011 and starred in the Premier League, but Jose Mourinho who had recently returned for a second stint at the club, was happy to cash in midway through the 2013/14 campaign, bringing in just over £37m.

9 Nemanja Matic £40m to Man Utd, 2017

Matic had two spells at Chelsea, returning to Stamford Bridge in 2014 from Benfica in a deal worth £21m.

The Serbian was a regular over the next three years and the Blues went on to make a tidy profit when selling him to Manchester United and Jose Mourinho in 2017, with their former boss shelling out £40m to prise him from the champions.

8 Noni Madueke £48.5m to Arsenal, 2025

Noni Madueke spent two-and-a-half years at Stamford Bridge after arriving from PSV Eindhoven in 2023, with the Blues making a profit when selling him to rivals Arsenal in 2025.

It looked to be a reasonable decision from Chelsea chiefs, however, Madueke’s start to life at the Emirates shows it could actually prove to be a call the club live to regret.

7 David Luiz £50m to PSG, 2014

Brazilian centre-back David Luiz made an immediate impact after joining Chelsea from Benfica for £21.3m in 2011 and was a regular for the next two and a half years.

Luiz was then sold to Paris Saint-Germain for big money in 2014 as the French giants swooped for a mind-boggling £50m, but two years on, Chelsea would buy the defender back, with Luiz picking up Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League titles during his second stint.

6 Mason Mount £55m to Man Utd, 2023

Chelsea chiefs did brilliantly to bring in an initial £55m for Mason Mount back in 2023, as the midfielder was heading into the final 12 months of his Stamford Bridge contract.

Manchester United were happy to splash the cash on the Englishman, but his first year at Old Trafford was hampered by injury, making the cash brought in for his services a shrewd decision by the Blues.

5 Diego Costa £57m to Atletico Madrid, 2017

Arguably Chelsea’s best striker since Didier Drogba, Diego Costa was signed from and sold to Atletico Madrid in 2014 and 2017 respectively.

During his time in west London, Costa shone with his power and finishing ability, scoring 59 goals in 120 appearances and winning two Premier League titles.

Upon his departure following a reported falling-out with manager Antonio Conte, Chelsea managed to recoup some £57m as Atleti came calling for their former forward.

4 Alvaro Morata £58.3m to Atletico Madrid, 2020

Chelsea received the extremely handsome sum of £58.3m when selling Alvaro Morata to Atletico Madrid back in 2020. The Blues sold him on loan at the start of the 2019/20 season, with the La Liga giants obligated to buy the Spaniard in the following summer.

It meant that Chelsea almost broke even having bought the striker in the summer of 2017 for around £60m from Atleti’s city rivals, Real Madrid.

Considering things didn’t quite work out for Morata at Stamford Bridge, it was a pretty impressive deal from a financial point of view.

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Posts 2 ByStephan Georgiou Aug 23, 2024 3 Oscar £60m to Shanghai SIPG

Oscar was one of several Brazilians sold for big money by Chelsea, with the midfielder spending five years at Stamford Bridge from 2012 before a £60m switch at the height of the Chinese Super League boom.

He won four major honours with the Blues and made more than 200 appearances before moving to China with Shanghai SIPG. Oscar recently sealed a move back to his native Brazil with a January switch to former club Sao Paulo.

2 Kai Havertz £65m to Arsenal, 2023

Scorer of the winner in the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City, Kai Havertz was sold to London rivals Arsenal in 2023.

Three years prior, the German forward was signed from Bayer Leverkusen, but struggled to find a starring role at Chelsea, resulting in him joining Mikel Arteta’s side, where he has impressed since his £65m move.

1 Eden Hazard £89m to Real Madrid, 2019

Top of the charts is winger Eden Hazard, who starred for Chelsea between 2012 and 2019, resulting in Real Madrid swooping in a record deal.

The Belgian made more than 350 appearances for the Blues, scoring 110 times, providing 85 assists and winning six major honours. Those at the Bernabeu made Hazard a Galactico, but things didn’t go to plan for him in Madrid, with injuries limiting him to just seven goals in 76 appearances.

Reports stated that his transfer fee could have topped £150m, but Chelsea had to settle for a €100m (£89m) windfall following his departure.

Related Ranking Eden Hazard's 10 best career performances & moments

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Posts ByFreddie Taylor Oct 13, 2023

Adrien Rabiot didn't hold back while speaking about his AC Milan team-mate Rafael Leao, stating that "it would be a shame if he were to remain just a potentially great player" amid the Portuguese's middling performances for the Rossoneri. After spending more than a month on the sidelines due to an injury he picked up in August, Leao missed golden opportunities to help Milan clinch all three points against Juventus last weekend.

Leao continues to frustrate with AC Milan

Long stretches of inconsistency interspersed with flashes of brilliance – that has been the story of Leao's career at Milan so far. Now 26, the former Sporting CP and Lille wonderkid can be called a man who should be entering his prime. Somehow, he leaves a lot to be desired with his poor work ethic and lapses in concentration. In his six seasons at San Siro, Leao has managed to hit double digit tally for goals in Serie A just twice. There's a real cause for concern in the offices of Milan, who might be left with no option but to sell their once-promising talent in the next year. Last weekend, the left winger, who is being employed as a centre-forward by head coach Massimiliano Allegri, came off the bench in the second half in the 0-0 draw against Juventus and had two great opportunities to break the deadlock. However, he spurned both of them, much to the disappointment of Allegri, as Milan failed to keep hold of their place at the top of the Serie A table.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportRabiot urges Leao to focus on himself

Speaking in an interview with , Rabiot said: "I know there's a lot of talk about him. He's a player with potential, but at 26, you're no longer young. At his age, there's no time to waste. Time flies. It would be a shame if he remained just a potentially great player. I hope he realises he has the means to compete with the best. But maybe he doesn't have the willpower or passion of a Luka Modric. Leao needs to ask himself where he wants to go, or if he's content with what he's doing, or if his goal is to become what he can be. It would be a shame for us, because it would be a waste if he didn't reach his full potential and focus 100% on his work. Allegri knows how to get the best out of players. I hope it has a positive impact on him too. Maybe this is the right opportunity for Leao." 

Milan in great form at the start of the 2025-26 season, without Leao…

Milan currently sit third in the league table with 13 points from six games, just two points behind defending champions Napoli and Roma. They've also triumphed in their Coppa Italia matches against Bari and Lecce, as Allegri continues to shape Milan in his vision, steadily positioning them as genuine contenders for the Scudetto.

Leao, however, was absent for 45 days before returning to action in the 2-1 win over Napoli at the end of last month. He suffered an injury in his right calf during the win over Bari on August 17, coming off after playing just 17 minutes and scoring a goal. 

With Christian Pulisic indespensible, and Christopher Nkunku (when fit) and Santiago Gimenez proving their worth, Leao will have to step up and reach the next level if he wants to be Milan's decisive star.

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Getty Images SportWhen will Leao play for AC Milan again?

With the October international break already underway, Leao will have to wait until October 19 to put on the Milan shirt again in his bid to continue building rhythm after his injury. Allegri's side will host Fiorentina at the San Siro, with the objective to continue piling pressure on Napoli and Roma at the top of the table.

Fast bowler available for next two Championship matches as cover for Anderson and Mahmood

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Apr-2025

John Turner claimed Brandon King as his maiden international wicket in November•Getty Images

John Turner, the Hampshire and England fast bowler, has joined Lancashire on a short-term loan for the next two Rothesay County Championship matches, as cover for the injured James Anderson and Saqib Mahmood.Turner, who turned 24 on Thursday, is considered one of the most promising fast bowlers in the country, and last year made his England white-ball debut on the tour of West Indies in November, having been named in a number of squads since his breakthrough season in 2023.However, his opportunities at first-class level have been limited to date, partially through injury and partially due to the established quality of Hampshire’s pace attack, which continues to be led by Kyle Abbott, and had included Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas until his departure for Nottinghamshire this season.Last week, Hampshire handed a Championship debut to another rising fast bowler, Sonny Baker, 22, who had impressed in his maiden first-class appearance for England Lions against Australia A in Sydney in January.Turner himself has featured in five first-class matches to date, most recently in August 2024, in which he has claimed 14 wickets at 19.85. He will join Lancashire on an initial 14-day loan, covering the next two Championship fixtures including the visit of Northamptonshire on Friday.”I haven’t played a lot of first-class or red-ball cricket, particularly recently,” Turner told Lancs TV. “It’ll be a good opportunity to gain some experience, get a bit of a run out and contribute to Lancs winning some games hopefully, and just put some performances together.”At the club, Turner will also be re-united with Hampshire’s former head coach, Dale Benkenstein, who has been in charge at Lancashire since 2023.”He was my school coach in South Africa and he was the one who gave me the opportunity to come over to the UK,” Turner said. “That was with Hampshire and now we reconnect at Lancs.”Mark Chilton, Lancashire’s Director of Cricket Performance, said: “John is an exciting young bowler who is well regarded both domestically and by England at international level.”With Jimmy (Anderson) recovering from injury and Saqib (Mahmood) sticking to an agreed plan ahead of his return to red-ball cricket, John’s loan signing and immediate availability provides us with another bowling option for the next couple of matches in the Rothesay County Championship.”We are looking forward to seeing what he can bring to our side, and we hope that he can get some valuable red ball playing time and enjoy his spell with us here at Emirates Old Trafford.”

Liverpool fans always enjoy seeing Gary Neville make poor predictions, and one claim regarding Mohamed Salah in 2019 has come back to haunt him.

Salah Liverpool's hero yet again

The Reds were never wholly convincing in Sunday’s 1-0 win away to Burnley, but ultimately, their dominance of possession and chance creation means they were worthy of all three points.

The game was decided by a penalty from Salah in the dying seconds, with the Liverpool legend nervelessly burying a spot-kick past Martin Dubravka to retain his side’s 100% winning start to the Premier League season.

In truth, the 33-year-old was actually a long way from his best at Turf Moor, in what has been a slow start to the campaign for him, but when the Reds really need him to produce something, he is so often the man to get them out of trouble.

Incredibly, Salah now has 100 more goal contributions than any other player in the Premier League since he joined Liverpool in the summer of 2017, summing up what a remarkable signing he has been.

Neville's awful Salah claim from 2019

Speaking back in 2019, with his quotes relayed by The Mirror, Neville claimed that Salah would leave Liverpool the following summer, saying that an exit was inevitable.

“Salah will leave, he will, I can absolutely guarantee it. I can see it, you can feel it, you can smell it, you know it.”

That same summer, Neville also predicted that Manchester United would win a league title again before Liverpool, less than a year before the Reds were crowned champions under Jürgen Klopp.

“Liverpool, City, Tottenham – all these clubs have had poor recruitment policies over the last 25-30 years at times, so United are going through one at the moment. Eventually they’ll stumble across the right recruitment system, the right recruitment people. We’ll get a great manager – hopefully that’s Ole – and they’ll start to win again.

“That’s going to happen, I can guarantee you as clear as day Manchester United will win again, they’ll win again no problem. They’ll win a league – probably win the league before Liverpool in my opinion, I’m not being disrespectful.”

These are the kind of bold predictions that Neville has become famed for over the years, with the United legend failing to see just how far away his club are from the teams.

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As for his Salah comments, six years have now passed since them and the Egyptian King is still a Liverpool player, cementing his place as not only one of the Reds’ best-ever players, but also one of the greatest in Premier League history.

Phil Foden is back to his best at the perfect time for Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola full of praise for the England star ahead of Sunday's blockbuster clash with Arsenal. After a difficult 2024-25 season, Foden has rediscovered his spark in recent games, scoring against Manchester United on Sunday and assisting versus Napoli in the Champions League on Thursday.

• Foden back in form after forgettable 2024-25 season

  Foden struggled for form throughout the 2024-25 campaign, netting just seven league goals after being crowned Player of the Season a year earlier. However, he has reignited his impact this term with goal contributions in back-to-back matches against Manchester United and Napoli. His standout performance came against the latter on Thursday in the Champions League, where he created eight chances – the most in his Manchester City career to date.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Guardiola lays praise on 'the Phil that we know'

  "You could not imagine how much I missed him," Guardiola said in his post-match press conference. "The last two games have been the Phil that we know. He brings a sense of danger close to the box and he could have scored again.

  "We are so happy because I know that he is happy and has joy. Life is fine so the rest is natural with his incredible talent. Some people are sensitive, and he is a guy who needs to feel embraced. With me, with the club. After that he is the player that he is."

• Man City need Foden's resurgence

  Foden’s resurgence comes at a vital time, with City already under pressure in the title race following early defeats to Tottenham and Brighton. Guardiola’s faith in using him centrally rather than out wide has helped him rediscover his best form. With Arsenal up next, Foden’s creativity and energy could prove decisive in a match that feels crucial even at this early stage.

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• AFP
  

  Foden and Man City up against Arteta's Arsenal

  Manchester City head to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday for a huge Premier League test against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. Guardiola will be hoping Foden can extend his purple patch and make the difference in a game that may set the tone for the title race.

West Ham United have now submitted a major enquiry over a deal for a “magic” midfielder, who is keen on a move to the Premier League this summer, according to a report.

West Ham set sights on midfielder amid Alvarez uncertainty

There is now an expectation that Edson Alvarez will exit the London Stadium this summer, having fallen down the pecking order, and Ajax are thought to be considering a loan move for their former midfielder.

The Mexican was benched for Saturday’s 3-0 defeat against Sunderland, but starters Guido Rodriguez and James Ward-Prowse didn’t exactly fare well at the Stadium of Light, both being withdrawn after the 70-minute mark with the Hammers 2-0 down.

Consequently, Graham Potter may be eager to get at least one new central midfielder through the door prior to the transfer deadline, and the Irons have now joined the race for Bayer Leverkusen’s Aleix Garcia.

However, the five-time Spain international is not the only option on the shortlist, with Potter’s side now joining the race for a versatile midfielder, who is able to play in a multitude of positions.

That is according to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness), which states West Ham have now submitted a major enquiry over a deal for RB Leipzig’s Eljif Elmas, who has regularly featured in attacking midfield and on both wings throughout his career.

Elmas has predominantly been utilised in a central midfield role, however, and the maestro was particularly impressive during a stint with reigning Serie A champions Napoli, who are also in the race for his signature.

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Despite only arriving at Leipzig for a fee of €24m (£21m) in 2024, the 25-year-old wants to leave the German club this summer, and he would be keen on a move to the Premier League or a return to the Serie A.

"Magic" Elmas could be exciting addition for West Ham

While the North Macedonia international’s move to Leipzig hasn’t worked out, with the Bundesliga side open to sanctioning a departure this summer, there are plenty of signs he could be a solid addition to Potter’s midfield.

The former Napoli man was a key player for the Italian club during their Scudetto-winning 2022-23 campaign, picking up six goals and three assists in 36 outings, with his side going on to lift the title.

Robert Earnshaw has also praised the Leipzig ace for his performances at international level in the past, saying: “He has this magic in him. He has the ability to create something out of nothing. Great movement, intelligent, he understands spacing and time and he can finish.”

Elmas’ attacking prowess, coupled with his versatility, could make him an exciting addition to West Ham’s squad, although the fact the North Macedonian struggled to adapt to life in the Bundesliga will be a concern.

For many fans, Arsenal have acted in an unrecognisable manner this summer.

Instead of sitting idly by and waiting until the closing stages of the transfer window to try and complete their deals, the Premier League runners-up have been incredibly proactive.

There is still well over a month left in the window, and the club have already announced the signings of Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, and Noni Madueke, with Cristhian Mosquera to be announced any day now.

On top of that, Mikel Arteta looks to have finally got his number nine in Viktor Gyokeres, and now the North Londoners look set on adding another attacker to the squad, someone who’d be an even more exciting signing than the Swede.

Arsenal move for a more exciting signing than Gyokeres

Arsenal’s hunt to sign Gyokeres over the last few weeks has undoubtedly been one of the biggest stories of the window thus far.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

It was clear for some time that the Swedish international was desperate to join the North Londoners, and while a base fee of £55m was agreed upon well over a week ago, talks over the significant add-ons dragged on.

Fortunately, fans were able to finally celebrate their new striker yesterday afternoon when the deal received the ‘here we go’ treatment from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

There can be no denying that this is one of the most exciting moves of the summer, at least for the Gunners faithful, but now it looks like the club could do one better.

At least that’s according to Romano, who, in a recent update, revealed that Arsenal are still very interested in signing Eberechi Eze.

The Italian journalist has reported that the Crystal Palace star remains the North Londoners’ “top target” for that position on the pitch, and that they’ve already had positive talks with his camp.

It wouldn’t be a cheap deal to get over the line, though, as the Englishman has a release clause worth around £68m in his current contract.

Yet, it’s one Arsenal should pursue, as Eze’s more than proven he’s ready to step up and fight for titles, and for our money, his signing would be more exciting than Gyokeres’.

Why Eze would be a more exciting signing than Gyokeres

Okay, so the first thing to say here is that we aren’t disputing that Gyokeres is an incredibly exciting signing, as he most certainly is.

However, there are several reasons why we’d lean towards Eze being that bit more this summer, with the first being his experience.

For example, while the Sporting star has played in the Champions League, the Championship, and the Primeira Liga, he has never actually played a minute of football in a top-five league.

In other words, we have no idea just how well his numbers will translate to what is officially the toughest league in the world, especially when the one he’s spent the last two campaigns playing in ranks as just the eighth.

Eze recent form
Season	23/24	24/25
Appearances	36	43
Minutes	2285′	3303′
Goals	11	14
Assists	6	11
Goal Involvements per Match	0.47	0.58
Minutes per Goal Involvement	134.41′	132.12′
All Stats via Transfermarkt

In stark contrast, the Palace star has more than proven his ability in the Premier League, as he racked up eight goals and eight assists last season alone, despite playing for a mid-table side at best.

Moreover, FBref ranked him in the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the league for shots last season, the top 10% for successful take-ons, and the top 11% for shot-creating actions, all per 90.

What those statistics tell us is that the Englishman is a creative machine, and aside from goals, what tends to get fans on their feet? Players who take on and beat opposition defenders.

Finally, while we expect the former Coventry City star to help the Gunners over the line in at least one competition next season, his lack of experience in the toughest competitions means we must have faith that he’ll do so.

On the other hand, the former QPR gem, who analyst Ben Mattinson described as a “superstar,” showed us he’s capable of doing that last season, when he scored in the quarter-final, semi-final, and final of the FA Cup to win his side their first-ever major trophy.

Ultimately, Gyokeres is an excellent signing for Arsenal, and he could be the missing piece for them in attack. However, given his own record and body of work, we’d argue that Eze would be a more exciting signing.

50% duels won, only 6 passes: 5/10 Arsenal star must now be axed for Eze

Arsenal started their pre-season with a 1-0 win over AC Milan.

By
Matt Dawson

Jul 23, 2025

Manchester United’s summer transfer window is finally moving forward. While INEOS pulled a blinder in signing Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the early stages, progress has since been stagnant.

However, Ruben Amorim has now moved a step closer to reshaping his Red Devils side, for a £71m deal has been agreed with Brentford for right-sided forward Bryan Mbeumo.

However, something’s still missing at the front of the ship. Indeed, Man United need a reliable centre-forward.

Man United's search for a striker

It’s been a frustrating summer of searching for a number nine so far. Rasmus Hojlund is not necessarily leaving Old Trafford, but Amorim has still been seeking an upgrade, with Liam Delap and Viktor Gyokeres both earmarked, both headed elsewhere.

Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike has also emerged as a target, but the French forward has rejected United in favour of a move to Liverpool, which is in the works.

Thus, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Man United have added Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson to their list, with the Blues’ signings of Delap and Joao Pedro sure to be a concern for the Senegal international.

Chelsea priced Jackson, 24, at £100m when AC Milan registered their interest earlier in July, but United technical director Jason Wilcox will be focused on striking a deal for a more agreeable figure, as he lines up a swoop for the attacker.

Why Man Utd want Nicolas Jackson

Two years ago, Chelsea signed Jackson from Villarreal for a reported £32m fee. He has since won the Conference League and Club World Cup, notching 42 goal contributions from 81 matches across all competitions.

He’s not perfect; far from it. Jackson is raw and lacks a cool temperament in the final third. As per Sofascore, he has missed 43 big chances in the Premier League, having scored only 24 goals across his two terms.

But there’s a really good player in there. Jackson, only 24 last month, is already heading toward becoming one of the Premier League’s more seasoned strikers, and he started the Enzo Maresca era on firm footing before flaking away across the latter half of the term.

Hailed for his “special” qualities by journalist Rahman Osman, there’s a lot to like, and Jackson might even shape into United’s own version of the aforementioned Ekitike. He is dynamic, mobile, and varied in his attacking output.

Nicolas Jackson vs Hugo Ekitke (24/25)

Stats (per 90)

Ekitike

Jackson

Goals scored

0.51

0.41

Assists

0.29

0.20

Shots taken

3.74

3.08

Shot-creating actions

3.50

2.80

Touches (att pen)

6.73

5.72

Progressive passes

1.95

1.54

Progressive carries

3.04

1.91

Successful take-ons

1.90

0.73

Ball recoveries

2.75

1.95

Tackles + interceptions

0.81

1.01

All data via FBref

There’s no denying that Ekitike is the cleaner striker, more effective with his tools, but Jackson is cut from a similar cloth, hardly just a static target man. In this way, he would already make for an upgrade on Hojlund, who was so often caught adrift across the 2024/25 campaign.

With Mbeumo and Cunha adding new layers to Amorim’s frontline, it’s inconceivable that an energetic forward such as Jackson wouldn’t enjoy plenty of chances.

And let’s not forget, Liverpool’s transfer target has yet to step foot in the English game, and there is no promise that he will uphold his present numbers, having scored 22 goals and supplied 12 assists last year.

Jackson would be a calculated risk, for sure, but flanked by two of the Premier League’s most wide-ranging attacking talents, he might just grow into his skin.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb Jul 18, 2025

Chris Benjamin and Michael Burgess half-centuries set up Warwickshire win

ECB Reporters Network02-Aug-2024Warwickshire retained their 100 per cent record in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup as they beat a heavily-depleted Surrey side by three runs in a thriller at Rugby School.Chris Benjamin’s cleanly-hit 75 and Michael Burgess’ classy 60 offered high entertainment to a 2,500 crowd as they lifted the home side to 311 for 9. James Taylor and Cameron Steel led the bowling for a Surrey side missing 15 players on England or Hundred duty.Surrey’s reply fell just short at 308 for 9 despite a brilliant List A-best 149 by Dom Sibley against his former team-mates. Sibley struck 12 fours and four sixes but only Ben Geddes (62) offered significant support as Surrey sustained a fourth successive defeat and Warwickshire harvested a fourth successive victory.After choosing to bowl, Surrey enjoyed early success when Ed Barnard edged Taylor to slip in the fourth over. Rob Yates (40) and Will Rhodes (44) then added 58 in 11 overs but perished before turning their innings into match-shaping ones.Yates’ fluent knock ended when he pulled a Geddes long-hop to deep square leg. Rhodes was bowled off-stump by Steel. Hamza Shaikh (39) belted a Steel full toss into the trees over midwicket but then sought a straighter six off the spinner and found only Conor McKerr at long-on.Benjamin and Burgess supplied impetus with a stand of 117 in 14 overs. Benjamin has endured a difficult season but struck the ball with a sweetness and power which evoked memories of his burst into prominence in 2021. He raced to 50 in 38 balls and Burgess followed to his eighth List A half-century (51 balls) before top-edging a sweep at Steel.Benjamin, having struck six fours and four sixes, hoisted McKerr to mid off but a violent cameo from Kai Smith (26) lifted the total over the 300 mark.Surrey’s reply was given a perky launch by openers Sibley and Ryan Patel before the latter drove Barnard straight to extra cover.While Sibley and Geddes were together, adding 124 in 24 overs, Surrey were ascendant but the fall of Geddes, who edged Michael Booth to wicketkeeper Burgess, triggered the loss of four wickets in eight overs. Rory Burns was bowled behind his legs, sweeping at Yates, Ben Foakes lifted Barnard to mid off and Steel fell lbw, reverse-sweeping Jake Lintott.Sibley reached his fourth List A century, his first for Surrey, the previous three having come for Warwickshire, but Josh Blake’s lively 26 ended when he scooped Oliver Hannon-Dalby to deep midwicket.With 39 needed from three overs, Sibley lifted Hannon-Dalby for successive sixes but edged the next ball to Burgess. Last pair Nathan Barnwell and Taylor had a real go at collecting the required 20 from the last over, failing only narrowly at the end of a fine game of cricket.

Liam Livingstone has batted just 33 balls in three innings at three venues during this T20 World Cup. He has 61 runs at a strike-rate of 184.84 but he is a disappointed man. Welcome to the world of a lower-middle order batter in a short and sharp tournament in atypical conditions characterised by slower pitches. He is most disappointed with his 33 off 17 against South Africa, when he hit a full toss into a strong wind, leaving England needing 25 off 16.They didn’t make it. The next game a must-win for England in which Livingstone didn’t get to bat but played a role with the ball: his offbreaks to left-hand batters and legbreaks to right-hand batters yielded 4-0-24-1.The thing on slower pitches is that the top order tries to bat deeper, the No. 7 gets to bat either in crisis or when it’s time to go, go, go, and has to adjust to many variables that are hard to train for. After that four-over spell against USA, Livingstone was asked whether he felt like he is the tournament.”It’s a bit different,” Livingstone said. “I don’t really have the most glamorous role in this team, to be honest. I guess my role in the team is to be there, bang on it whenever I’m needed. And even the game against the West Indies, having bowled that one over, getting the wicket of Rovman Powell, I’d probably rather take that 1 for 20 than none for 4 or something.”It’s a different role to what I’ve been used to my whole career. It’s something that takes a bit of getting used to more mentally than anything else, and that’s why I was so disappointed the other day that I didn’t finish it off against South Africa because I felt like that was my time in the tournament, my chance in the tournament to really win us a game. Hopefully there’s a time still to come.”It’s different: bowl when I’m needed, don’t always bat in the games that are finished quite quickly. I guess it’s more a mental challenge for me over the last few months of making sure that I’m right on it whenever I’m needed.”Liam Livingstone has faced only 33 balls in three innings during this T20 World Cup•ICC/Getty Images

It is difficult because elite cricketers are ultra-competitive athletes who have made it this far by getting involved in every bit of play they can. “As a kid, I always wanted to be involved,” Livingstone said. “That’s the reason I started bowling a few years back. Bating at seven and bowling one over every couple of games or whatever … that’s where the hard bit comes because you want to try and get involved in the game. But yeah, it’s the role that I’m playing in this team and the best way for me to do well for the team is making sure that I’m right on it whenever I’m needed.”Thankfully the last two games I feel like I struck the ball pretty well against South Africa and I feel like I bowled pretty well today. So I guess they’re the last two performances with bat and ball. I feel like I’m in a really good place. So who knows, hopefully I’m not needed in the next two games and we can win a World Cup, but if I am needed, I feel like I’m in a decent place.”When that rare chance comes, though you strike the ball well, you are expected to finish the game, which Livingstone didn’t. But the fact is that nobody has aggregated 100 runs batting at Nos. 6 and 7 this World Cup.”Look, I’m in the team to finish off games with the bat and try and get wickets with the ball when we feel like we’re struggling for one,” Livingstone said. “So yeah, I’m always going to be harsh on myself. I had the chance to finish the game off the other day and didn’t quite do it. But yeah, I feel like I was hitting the ball really well. I felt like I was bowling really well. I guess the most pleasing thing for me over the last two or three years is my body feels really good, and that’s the biggest pleasing thing for me. If there’s an opportunity to affect a game of cricket over the next one or two games, then hopefully I’m ready to do that.”It’s difficult to train for such a role too. Without giving away secrets, Livingstone shed some light on his process. “Anything that you do for a living, you’ve got to find a way to train for that,” he said. “My training’s been a bit different. You’ve got to try and put yourself in pressure situations. Having Polly [Kieron Pollard] around has made things a little bit easier for me, having someone who’s done the role for so long, being able to speak to him about that. I guess I’ve kind of enjoyed the challenge of not getting loads of opportunities, but when it comes, trying to make sure I can deliver.”The physical challenge of this role often doesn’t get spoken about. Livingstone nearly did his knee at the IPL two years ago. He almost injured his side in this tournament. “Touch wood, a lot of wood,” Livingstone said when asked if his side was fine. “Yeah, my knee’s been really good. I had the same sort of thing in an IPL a couple of years ago when I missed the ball, and I think it comes from sitting down for a couple of hours and then trying to hit the ball out the ground first ball.”Yeah, my side feels alright. My knee is really good, which is most pleasing thing for me. So fingers crossed, the last couple of years of niggles are behind me and I’m back enjoying my cricket and that’s the main thing for me. So playing with a smile on my face, which is something that I always used to do.”