In January, Chelsea sanctioned a second loan exit for defender Axel Disasi. The Frenchman joined West Ham and now, the Blues have been told they were “crazy” to make such a decision.
Liam Rosenior has earned plaudits for his two months as Chelsea manager, but there is one thing he has yet to be tested on, and that is his work in the transfer window. Chelsea didn’t sign anyone in January.
Instead, Chelsea waved goodbye to a handful of players and swapped about their loanees. Mamadou Sarr returned, Aaron Anselmino and David Datro Fofana joined Strasbourg, Kendry Paez moved to River Plate.
Has Disasi played his last game for Chelsea? 👋
His last Chelsea appearance came in January 2025
Outgoing players included Raheem Sterling, who was released before joining Feyenoord while Disasi left for the second time on loan since his £39m move to Chelsea. Aston Villa last season, West Ham this.
Chelsea told they are ‘crazy’ for not playing Disasi as much
Disasi played 44 times in his first season, but managed just six Premier League outings in his second before being sent to Villa on loan. He returned last summer and became part of Chelsea’s bomb squad.
Axel Disasi looks on during warm ups prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester United
Photo by James Fearn/Getty Images
Not much blame can be put on Rosenior for his lack of game time, but the decision to let him go is firmly Rosenior’s. He joined West Ham on loan, at a time when Chelsea’s defenders are failing to defend crosses.
Since going to West Ham, Disasi has finally been afforded what Rosenior refused to give him – a chance. He has since sparkled in the West Ham defence and left-back Malick Diouf has taken aim at Chelsea.
Diouf says Chelsea were crazy not to play Disasi more often, on West Ham’s website this weekend: “The guy is not a small player. He played for Chelsea, so he knows the league.
“It was crazy he stayed for such a long time and he didn’t play, but when he came here, he showed that he’s a machine. I’m really happy for him. He’s a good defender and I think he helped us a lot.”
Does Disasi have any kind of future at Chelsea this summer?
The fact that Diouf is talking about Disasi’s Chelsea stint in the past tense probably suggests that he does not want to return to Chelsea in the summer. Surely, having gone out on loan twice, he will pursue an exit.
Is there a way back for Axel Disasi at Chelsea?
Or do the Blues just need to cut their losses? 👀
Axel Disasi for Chelsea
Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images
But the fact remains that Rosenior’s current options at centre-back do struggle to defend from crosses and set-pieces. Just ask Arsenal and Burnley. Disasi would certainly help Chelsea solve that problem.
Not only that, but the Frenchman has a contract at Chelsea until the summer of 2029. It is a question of whether Disasi and Chelsea feel like the bridges have burnt severely for a return, or it’s time for a change.
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