Xabi Alonso is now in the process of making key transfer decisions at Chelsea and it appears one youngster has been heralded with the untouchable tag
21:41, 01 Jun 2026Updated 21:50, 01 Jun 2026
Xabi Alonso looks on
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Chelsea and incoming new manager Xabi Alonso are looking to build a squad to compete in his debut season at Stamford Bridge(Image: Rene Nijhuis/MB Media)
Chelsea have rejected numerous transfer approaches for Josh Acheampong - and now the academy graduate has been labelled as "untouchable".
New manager Xabi Alonso is now in the process of putting together his new team. One of his first decisions has been to cement the future of Acheampong, who was in and out of the squad under Enzo Maresca, Liam Rosenior and Calum McFarlane last season.
Perhaps sensing an exit was nigh, football.london understands multiple Premier League clubs have enquired about the versatile defender's services.
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However, these have all been rejected by the Blues, who believe Acheampong will be a key part of their defence for a long time. Last season, he only made nine Premier League starts with the rest of his 17 appearances coming from the bench.
When he was still in charge of Chelsea, Maresca viewed Acheampong as one for the future. The Italian even enthusiastically said he was "in love" with the prodigy, after he impressed in a Europa Conference League victory over Legia Warsaw in April 2025.
He only played 103 minutes of league action when Rosenior was in charge and only 91 under McFarlane. Nevertheless, the club still believed in Acheampong.
Josh Acheampong
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Defender Josh Acheampong has been linked with a move away from Chelsea in the past(Image: Chelsea FC)
In the summer of 2025, Bayern Munich expressed their interest in signing him, only to be promptly rebuffed by Chelsea. Crystal Palace also tried to loan him last January and received the same response as the Bavarian heavyweights.
There were never any plans for Acheampong to be sold this summer, despite the fact his status as an academy graduate would mean any transfer fee received would be listed as 'pure profit' in terms of compliance with profit and sustainability regulations.
Nevertheless, football.london also understands the west Londoners want to add another top central defender to their ranks. They looked to sign Jeremy Jacquet in January, but saw Liverpool pip them to the Frenchman.
Josh Acheampong
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Josh Acheampong has been labelled as an "untouchable" player by Chelsea and Xabi Alonso(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA)
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Despite the Blues' interest in another central defender, space may need to be cleared in that department. Including Acheampong, who can feature at both right-back and centre-back, Chelsea also have Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, Tosian Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana in their ranks.
There's also no guarantee Alonso will use a 3-4-3 formation in west London, despite the success he had at Bayer Leverkusen while playing the system.
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