The silky playmaker leaves a large void at Stamford Bridge, where he scored 110 goals and laid on 92 assists in 352 appearances.
Chelsea are currently banned from signing players for the next two transfer windows after a FIFA investigation allegedly found breaches of rules regarding youth footballers.
The club have maintained their innocence and appealed the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
In the meantime, the ban remains, meaning Chelsea cannot dip into the market and seek a direct replacement for the Belgian international.
Even if they could, Blues hero Drogba believes they would be left wanting.
During an Instagram live on his account on Saturday, the Ivorian was asked about the 28-year-old.
"No one can replace Hazard, he is special," Drogba said. “But someone else will come, [and] step up.
Chelsea news: Didier Drogba believes Eden Hazard cannot be replaced (Image: Getty/Instagram: didierdrogba)
Chelsea hero Didier Drogba fielded questions about Eden Hazard and Frank Lampard on Instagram (Image: Instagram/didierdrogba)
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"Eden Hazard is a legend at Chelsea. That's life, that's football."
Chelsea signed winger Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund for £58m in January, but he only officially joined this summer.
Alongside that fresh option in Hazard’s wake, academy graduate Callum Hudson-Odoi emerged as a future star last campaign.
Chelsea legends Didier Drogba and Eden Hazard won the 2014/15 Premier League together (Image: Getty)
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Frank Lampard should be Chelsea manager says Didier Drogba
Chelsea have rejected a £35m bid from Barcelona for Willian, who they chased last summer, despite the Brazilian having one year left on his contract, like peer Pedro.
The Englishman showed an aptitude for working with young players last season at Derby and Express Sport understands he has told his squad he will leave if Chelsea come calling.