FOOTBALL
By Eishna Rawat
Posted on June 25, 2026 6:00 pm | Updated on June 25, 2026 5:00 pm Turkey’s early World Cup exit has accelerated transfer speculation linking Arda Guler to Stamford Bridge.
Real Madrid
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Turkey’s shock group-stage exit from the 2026 World Cup has put Arda Guler back in the spotlight. The latest transfer news suggests Chelsea are paying close attention. The 21-year-old Real Madrid playmaker carried huge expectations into this tournament, and his early return to Europe could now push a move to Stamford Bridge forward.
Arda Guler’s painful World Cup chapter
Turkey had not been to the World Cup since 2002, when they finished third. This time around, they were billed as a golden generation. Instead, they managed two defeats and no goals before heading home. As reported by Football London, the early exit means Arda Guler will likely be back at the Bernabeu for pre-season around July 13. That is earlier than most of his teammates who are going deeper into the competition. It gives any interested club a valuable head start.
The tournament was a personal disappointment for the Turkish star. He apologised publicly after the defeat to Paraguay and held himself accountable. He acknowledged that players representing some of Europe’s biggest clubs had simply no excuse.
As reported by Sky Sports, Turkey lost 1-0 to Paraguay in their second group game. The result stung even more given the circumstances. Turkey dominated possession and played against ten men for most of the second half. Yet they still could not find the net across either of their two fixtures.
The Xabi Alonso factor behind Arda Guler interest
Xabi Alonso spent eight months at the Santiago Bernabeu. During that time, he built a close bond with the Turkish footballstar. Under Carlo Ancelotti, the player had started just 15 matches across all season, as reported by FootballTransfers. Alonso changed that immediately. He handed the player a prominent role and rebuilt his confidence from scratch.
Arda Guler for Real Madrid in 2025/26, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Matches Starts Goals Assists
La Liga 33 25 4 9
Copa del Rey 2 2 0 1
Super Cup 2 0 0 0
UCL 14 13 2 4
Their relationship did not end when Alonso left for West London. Arda Guler has confirmed the two are still in regular contact. As reported by Football London, he told TRT Spor:“The truth is that we had a brilliant relationship. I felt as though he’d handed me the keys. Now he’s signed for Chelsea. Of course, we’re still messaging each other.”
That kind of warmth is not common between a manager and player after a departure. The Turkish star even posted on Instagram after Alonso’s exit from Real Madrid, publicly thanking him for believing in him. It was a gesture that said more than any transfer rumour could.
Can Chelsea actually make this happen?
The Blues are not the only Premier League club in the picture. As reported by TEAMtalk, Arsenal and Liverpool are also monitoring the situation. All three clubs are waiting to see whether Real Madrid are open to negotiations.
Madrid’s position remains firm for now. Los Blancos are understood to be demanding around €100 million just to open talks, as reported by FootballTransfers. That is a hefty figure. However, it is considered manageable at Stamford Bridge. There is also a potential swap element in play. Enzo Fernandez reportedly wants to move to the Bernabeu this summer. A deal involving him could bring the overall cost down to something more realistic.
Nico Paz is also expected to return from Como this summer. That could squeeze Guler’s game time at Real Madrid even further. Combined with the Alonso connection and his early return from North America, the case for a summer move is building. As reported by FootballTransfers, the west London club views him as a generational talent. At this point, it is hard to argue with that assessment.
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Eishna Rawat
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