The Premier League Hall of Fame was announced in 2020, with the first inductions taking place in 2021. It was created to recognise players who have made an exceptional impact on the league since its formation in 1992, with several Chelsea legends among those honoured. This article will look at the former Blues who have been inducted, as well as possible future entrants.
Hall of Fame Criteria
Players are judged solely on their Premier League performances, rather than their achievements in other competitions. The standard baseline for consideration is 250 Premier League appearances. However, players may still be eligible if they meet one (or more) of the following criteria:
- Made at least 200 Premier League appearances for a single club
- Selected for a Premier League Team of the Decade or the 20th Anniversary Team
- Won a Premier League Golden Boot or Golden Glove
- Named Premier League Player of the Season
- Won three Premier League titles
- Scored 100 Premier League goals or recorded 100 Premier League clean sheets (goalkeepers)
These criteria determine which players are eligible to make the shortlist each year. Fans vote from the shortlist to decide who is inducted.
Chelsea Players in the Premier League Hall of Fame
By the end of 2025, 24 players had been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame, with six of them having played for Chelsea. Below are the former Blues who made such a lasting impact on the Premier League that they earned Hall of Fame recognition.
Frank Lampard
- Year Inducted: 2021
- Premier League Appearances: 609
- Chelsea Appearances (PL): 429
Frank Lampard is one of the Premier League’s greatest midfielders and a defining figure of Chelsea’s modern era. Across 13 Premier League seasons at Stamford Bridge, he became Chelsea’s all-time leading league goalscorer, an extraordinary feat from midfield. Lampard combined relentless durability with elite end product, registering 147 Premier League goals, 102 assists and three league titles. As an undisputed great, it is no wonder he was one of the first players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Didier Drogba
- Year Inducted: 2022
- Premier League Appearances: 254
- Chelsea Appearances (PL): 254
Despite not even making the list of top 30 all-time Premier League goalscorers, very few would argue against Drogba’s inclusion. Across nine Premier League seasons at Stamford Bridge, he combined power, technique, and big-game mentality to devastating effect. Drogba scored over 100 Premier League goals for Chelsea and played a crucial role in four league title wins. Along the way, he claimed two Golden Boots, one of which came during an unreal 29-goal season in 2009/10. The Ivorian was more than just his numbers, though, as his physical presence and clutch performances against top rivals made him one of the Premier League’s most feared forwards.
Petr Cech
- Year Inducted: 2023
- Premier League Appearances: 443
- Chelsea Appearances (PL): 333
Cech holds the record for the most Premier League clean sheets as well as one of the highest clean sheet percentages at 45.6%. His exceptional goalkeeping ability also saw him collect the Premier League Golden Glove on four occasions, a joint record, only matched by Joe Hart. Three of these came while at Chelsea, and the other while at Arsenal. No other keeper has won the award for more than one club. Renowned for his composure, shot-stopping, and command of the penalty area, he redefined goalkeeping standards in the Premier League.
Ashley Cole
- Year Inducted: 2024
- Premier League Appearances: 385
- Chelsea Appearances (PL): 229
Even now, Ashley Cole is still widely regarded as one of the finest and most well-rounded full-backs in Premier League history. You could put the finest right winger against him, and he would inevitably find a way to keep them quiet, time and time again. After making 156 league appearances for Arsenal, the Englishman made the move across London to play for Chelsea. He was a huge asset for both clubs and helped the pair secure league titles (two for Arsenal, one for Chelsea). As well as this, he was named in the PFA Team of the Year on four occasions.
John Terry
- Year Inducted: 2024
- Premier League Appearances: 492
- Chelsea Appearances (PL): 492
Club legend John Terry is the most influential defender of Chelsea’s Premier League era and one of the competition’s greatest centre-backs. Across 19 Premier League seasons with the club, he captained Chelsea to five league titles, the first in 2005 and the last in 2017. Terry combined aerial dominance, positional intelligence, and consistency while also contributing crucial goals. His total of 41 Premier League goals means he is the best-scoring defender in the competition’s history. Having performed at such a consistent level for so many years, it was only a matter of time before Terry made it into the Hall of Fame.
Eden Hazard
- Year Inducted: 2025
- Premier League Appearances: 245
- Chelsea Appearances (PL): 245
It is a shame that new Chelsea fans will not experience the joy of watching Eden Hazard every week. His disastrous transfer to Real Madrid, which led to his early retirement, makes it easy to forget just how unbelievable the Belgian was. During his time at Chelsea, between 2012 and 2019, Hazard led the league for chances created (595), dribbles attempted (1441), dribbles completed (909) and player of the match awards (62). To save you doing the maths, that dribble success rate works out to be 63% which is extremely high for a winger. His ability to go past players and create chances makes him one of the best attacking players the Premier League has ever seen.
Possible Future Candidates
The Premier League Hall of Fame continues to expand, but entry is reserved for the very best players who made a lasting impact on the league. Here are the former Chelsea hopefuls who have a shot of joining the club in the near future.
Cesc Fabregas
After making the Hall of Fame shortlist in both 2024 and 2025, Cesc Fabregas remains a credible future candidate. Over an illustrious career, the Spaniard won two Premier League titles for Chelsea and sits third on the list for all-time Premier League assists (111).
N’Golo Kante
N’Golo Kante will surely be shortlisted at some point due to his extraordinary impact on the division. He was voted Premier League Player of the Season in 2016/17 after playing a pivotal role in Chelsea’s title win. What could bolster Kante’s claim is that there is no player like him for voters to compare him against. The man had unbelievable stamina and would cover every blade on the pitch. Without his outstanding ability to regain possession, there is no way Leicester would have won the league in 2015/16.