CHELSEA have paid Brighton a whopping £257MILLION over the last few years – enough money to build THREE stadiums.The Blues have pinched 14 players and staff members – the latest being £55million striker Joao Pedro – from their Premier League rivals since Todd Boehly took over as co-owner and chairman in 2022.GettyChelsea are closing in on a £55m deal for Joao Pedro[/caption]GettyPedro will join the long list of people to join Chelsea from Brighton in recent years[/caption]Young stars Zak Sturge and Shumaira Mheuka became the first players to make the switch in the summer window, just over a month into the Boehly era.Full-back Marc Cucurella then followed in a £62m transfer.Then, Chelsea went for Brighton‘s head coach, Graham Potter.Boehly had made the decision to sack Thomas Tuchel just a few weeks into the 2022-23 season, with Potter viewed as the perfect man to lead the club forward long-term.As part of a deal with Brighton, whereby the Blues paid in excess of £21m in compensation, Potter was joined by five staff members – Billy Reid, Bjorn Hamberg, Bruno Saltor, Ben Roberts and Kyle Macauley.However, the 50-year-old was dismissed after just seven months, with everyone bar Macauley and Roberts following him.In December 2022, Paul Winstanley became another person to swap the Amex Stadium for Stamford Bridge when he was appointed sporting director.Chelsea were forced to pay out another compensation package as a result.Join SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Stamford BridgeAnd in February 2024, Sam Jewell made the switch to lead the club’s global scouting network and take charge of player negotiations.Jewell’s arrival in west London saw him become the eighth staff member to complete the move from Sussex. ReutersChelsea paid in excess of £21 to sign Graham Potter and his staff from Brighton in 2022[/caption]AlamyMoises Caicedo set the Blues back £115m[/caption]One of Chelsea’s most expensive signings also came from Brighton.The Blues forked out £115m to sign Moises Caicedo from the Seagulls in August 2023 after fighting off interest from Liverpool.That same month, they also sealed a £25m deal for goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.While Caicedo has impressed, Sanchez is now at risk of losing his No1 spot after struggling at Stamford Bridge.Now in line to join the five players who have taken the Brighton to Chelsea pathway is Joao Pedro.Enzo Maresca and Co beat Newcastle to a deal for the striker at the weekend.The 23-year-old is now expected to complete the £55m switch in the coming days.Once the deal is finalised, Chelsea would have spent roughly £257m on Brighton players and personnel over the last three years.That is almost enough money to fund the construction of THREE more Amex Stadiums.As well as Pedro, the UEFA Conference League winners are also closing in on a £55.5 deal for Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens.The 20-year-old has been pushing for a move to London since the start of the transfer window.GettyChelsea have spent roughly £257m on Brighton players and personnel – almost enough money to fund the construction of THREE more Amex Stadiums[/caption]