The summer transfer window is now open and it is set to be a really busy period for Chelsea with new manager Xabi Alonso hoping to build a competitive squad in the coming months
11:58, 15 Jun 2026Updated 12:01, 15 Jun 2026
Xabi Alonso
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Xabi Alonso is set to be front and centre of a busy summer transfer window for Chelsea(Image: Alvaro Medranda/Quality Sport Images)
It feels as if we say something along these lines every summer, but this transfer window could be BlueCo's most crucial one to date.
Chelsea 's ownership group are preparing to back Xabi Alonso like they have not done with any of his predecessors. The Blues have given Alonso the title of manager, unlike the head coaches that preceded the Spaniard, essentially handing him the keys.
Alonso will work collaboratively with the club's sporting leadership team - consisting of Paul Winstanley, Laurence Stewart, Dave Fallows, Sam Jewell and Joe Shields - this summer to try and build a competitive squad for the incoming manager's debut season at Stamford Bridge.
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Chelsea insiders say Alonso and the five sporting directors are aligned with their vision when it comes to their plans this summer. The Blues want to add a starting-level centre-back to their ranks - someone to partner Levi Colwill, who remains front and centre of the club's long-term plans.
Multiple names have been discussed internally, though sources close to the club are keeping their cards close to their chest - a clear change from recent windows. Chelsea also want to add a central midfielder between now and the end of the transfer window; Adam Wharton is a long-term target but the Crystal Palace midfielder is set to cost around the £100million-mark.
Adam Wharton
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Adam Wharton has long-term admirers in Chelsea(Image: Harry Langer/DeFodi Images)
Alex Scott's name was mentioned online towards the back end of last season but sources close to the club dismissed the links with the highly-rated Bournemouth midfielder.
Chelsea are also hoping to add a left-sided attacker in the coming months. Morgan Rogers is someone highly rated by senior figures within the club but the Aston Villa and England star looks more likely to move to Arsenal at the time of writing. Like with the centre-back search, sources close to the club are being secretive when it comes to handing out specific names of targets with the transfer window now officially open.
One thing we do know for certain, though: Chelsea have tweaked their transfer strategy from recent windows. The Blues are looking to add more experienced - and as sources describe it, 'ready-made' - players to their ranks this summer. There is a feeling that the Chelsea squad last season lacked mental fortitude; something clearly reflected by the eight Premier League red cards they picked up over the course of the campaign.
Alonso agrees with this, with insiders saying from day one of his appointment that the Spaniard is aligned with the club's plans to add players with top-level experience to the squad.
As for outgoings, the situation is a bit clearer. Chelsea are hoping to offload a whole host of first-team players, while Alonso will also take a closer look at a fair few before making the final decision on their futures.
Marc Cucurella has been sold to Real Madrid. The Blues reached an agreement on Sunday afternoon with Los Blancos over a £51.7million package (£47.4m fixed plus £4.3m in add-ons) for the Spain international to move to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Marc Cucurella
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Marc Cucurella has left Chelsea to join Real Madrid (Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Cucurella told the club he wished to leave in the summer transfer window with interest from Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. Chelsea were not actively looking to sell the left-back but equally would not stand in his way if the price was right. Jorrel Hato is highly rated internally at the club and that made the decision to sell Cucurella that little bit easier.
Filip Jorgensen has informed Chelsea of his desire to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, football.london understands. The Danish goalkeeper held face-to-face talks with the Blues' head of global goalkeeping Ben Roberts towards the end of last month to discuss his future and came to the conclusion that his best bet for regular senior football would be to depart the west London club - two years on since signing from Villarreal.
Chelsea are planning to give Mike Penders, returning to the club after an impressive loan spell with sister side Strasbourg, the opportunity to compete for the No.1 goalkeeper spot with Robert Sanchez next season. Penders is set to fly out for the club's pre-season tour this summer and be handed some minutes to try and make an impression on new manager Alonso.
Gabriel Slonina could be sold this window, with the 22-year-old American goalkeeper looking for some much-needed minutes. Slonina has not made a single first-team appearance since signing from Chicago Fire four years ago.
The futures of Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoit Badiashile are up in the air this summer. Both centre-backs found regular minutes hard to come by last season and are set for an even greater task next term with reinforcements expected to arrive at Stamford Bridge.
Aaron Anselmino could be set for another loan spell away from Chelsea after an injury-disrupted 2025/26 campaign with Borussia Dortmund and then Strasbourg. The Argentine defender's progress has been largely halted due to consistent muscular injuries in recent seasons but he remains highly rated internally.
Aaron Anselmino
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Aaron Anselmino remains highly rated by some within Chelsea(Image: Emilian Baldow/Icon Sport)
Likewise, Mamadou Sarr could be loaned out once again. The Senegal international, who is representing the Africans at the ongoing World Cup, was recalled from his loan with Strasbourg in January to provide cover at centre-back but barely played in the following months.
Axel Disasi, who impressed at West Ham United on loan during the second half of last season, has numerous suitors from the Premier League and overseas. Chelsea are looking to sell the Frenchman in the summer transfer window.
Disasi's compatriot Malo Gusto is supposedly a target for Enzo Maresca once his appointment at Manchester City is confirmed. Sources were tight-lipped when football.london asked about the legitimacy of the Gusto to City links, but it would make sense given Maresca's trust in the France international during their days working together in west London.
One man who is extremely unlikely to be going anywhere is Josh Acheampong. There have been murmurs in reports elsewhere that the 20-year-old defender, a product of Cobham, wants more minutes and has considered departing this summer but sources close to Chelsea have described the versatile defender as 'untouchable'.
Enzo Fernandez wants to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, with Real Madrid interested in the Argentine midfielder. Sources told football.london last month that the 25-year-old informed the Blues of his intentions this summer and the club will not stand in his way should they receive an offer of £120m.
Enzo Fernandez celebrates
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Enzo Fernandez wants to leave Chelsea this summer(Image: Chris Lee - Chelsea FC)
Los Blancos are interested in Fernandez but whether they act on their fondness remains to be seen - especially given the extortionate price tag put on him by Chelsea.
Dario Essugo might be hoping for a loan move this summer given his lack of first-team minutes last season. Essugo's debut campaign at Stamford Bridge was heavily impacted by injuries but even when he got himself fit, the 21-year-old midfielder made just three Premier League appearances and accumulated a total of 26 minutes. Multiple Spanish clubs looked at the possibility of signing Essugo on loan during the January transfer window, football.london understands.
Alejandro Garnacho could leave Chelsea before the end of the window as well. The Argentine winger failed to impress during his debut season at Stamford Bridge following his £40m move from Manchester United last summer.
Sources say Chelsea are looking to sell Tyrique George this summer. Everton are interested in the Cobham graduate, football.london understands, though the Toffees supposedly have some reservations over the £25m option to buy inserted in his loan contract. George is open to leaving the Blues for good this summer.
Omari Kellyman impressed while on loan at Cardiff City last season and is set for another loan spell next term. The 20-year-old has big interest from the Championship and in Europe, sources close to the player say, though there is a suggestion he might remain in the UK next term.
Chelsea's striker situation is an intriguing one and a dilemma Alonso is set to address as and when this summer. Joao Pedro is likely to remain the go-to No.9 option for the Blues after a mightily impressive debut season at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea consider Joao Pedro not for sale this summer
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Joao Pedro is not for sale this summer(Image: George Wood)
Barcelona were interested in the Brazil international earlier in the summer but club insiders were quick to inform football.london that the 24-year-old forward is going nowhere in this transfer window. Chelsea view Joao Pedro as untouchable.
Who will be competing with the Brazilian? That's the million-dollar question.
Liam Delap struggled in his debut season with the Blues - scoring just two goals in all competitions throughout the course of the campaign. That has unsurprisingly left some question marks over his future but there are suggestions from the striker's camp that he wants to stay, fight for his place and prove himself in west London.
Nicolas Jackson will be welcomed back at Chelsea this summer, with Alonso set to get a closer look at the Senegalese striker. Sources say Jackson will have the opportunity to prove himself to the new manager during the club's pre-season tour next month before Alonso makes the final call on his future.
Nicolas Jackson
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Nicolas Jackson's future at Chelsea is still undecided(Image: S. Mellar/FC Bayern)
Emmanuel Emegha has been signed from Strasbourg but it remains unclear at this point whether the Dutchman will be playing his football at Stamford Bridge next season.
Jackson is open to returning to Chelsea after spending last term on loan at Bayern Munich. The striker's main reason for departing last summer was his relationship with Maresca after the two fell out, sources say. While Jackson is open to giving it another go at Chelsea, sources close to the striker say he is not 100% certain on what his next move will be either.
Marc Guiu could be loaned out after a disappointing 2025/26 season for the Spaniard. Guiu was set to be a regular at Sunderland but his loan at the Stadium of Light was terminated after just 27 days due to Jackson suddenly leaving. Elsewhere, David Datro Fofana is expected to depart on a permanent deal.
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