Chelsea are continuing their efforts to try and sign Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace but negotiations with their London rivals have so far proved frustrating
07:00, 21 Jul 2026
We are just awaiting official confirmation from Chelsea over the biggest - in terms of money spent - transfer of the summer window so far.
Morgan Rogers is set to arrive from Aston Villa for a whopping £117million after an agreement was struck between the Blues and their Premier League rivals over the weekend. Rogers had his medical in London on Monday before finalising the big-money switch to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are not done there either. The Blues are pursuing at least two more deals before the summer transfer window slams shut on September 1.
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So with Chelsea looking to make more signings this summer, it is worth having a detailed look at the Premier League rules and exactly who can and cannot be registered at the end of the transfer window.
The league's registration rules state that a club must name a squad with a maximum of 25 senior players containing at most 17 non-homegrown players and the rest homegrown.
Premier League rules say a homegrown player is someone who has "irrespective of nationality or age, been registered with any club affiliated to The Football Association or the Football Association of Wales for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons, or 36 months, before his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21)".
So, for instance, Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, despite being Spanish, is considered a homegrown player per Premier League rules. Sanchez moved to England at the age of 15 to join Brighton's academy and spent more than three years down on the south coast before he turned 21. Joao Pedro, too, is considered homegrown after joining Watford at the age of 18 and staying in England ever since.
Premier League clubs are helped by the fact that players born on or after January 1, 2005, regardless of where they come from, do not have to be registered in the main 25-man squad and instead go on an under-21s list. Chelsea, in that regard, are quite stacked - with nine players on their under-21s list.
As per the squad list on Transfermarkt at the time of writing, there are 30 first-team players at Stamford Bridge. That, of course, does not include the incoming Rogers. Fortunately for the Blues, only 12 of those players are considered non-homegrown, so they actually have some wiggle room to bring in more if they choose.
Chelsea can only register a 25-man squad to the Premier League, meaning there will be some disappointed players (homegrown or non-homegrown). Unless, of course, as expected, a few are sold/loaned between now and the beginning of the 26/27 campaign.
Chelsea's squad list: Mike Penders, Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Mamadou Sarr, Tosin Adarabioyo, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, Aaron Anselmino, Jorrel Hato, Reece James, Marco Palestra, Malo Gusto, Josh Acheampong, Moises Caicedo, Dario Essugo, Romeo Lavia, Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer, Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho, Estevao Willian, Pedro Neto, Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Emmanuel Emegha, Marc Guiu, Geovany Quenda (30)
Chelsea's homegrown contingent*: Robert Sanchez, Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, Reece James, Josh Acheampong, Romeo Lavia, Cole Palmer, Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho, Joao Pedro, Liam Delap (12)
*Rogers will make it 13
Chelsea's non-homegrown contingent: Filip Jorgensen, Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, Malo Gusto, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Pedro Neto, Emmanuel Emegha (9)
Chelsea's under-21s list: Mike Penders, Mamadou Sarr, Aaron Anselmino, Jorrel Hato, Marco Palestra, Dario Essugo, Estevao Willian, Geovany Quenda, Marc Guiu (9)
Chelsea's sporting directors would have been given an even larger headache if the club qualified for any sort of European football this season. UEFA do not allow an under-21s list with just any player under the age of 21 on it; instead they must have been playing for the club for at least two years.
A fair chunk of those players have doubts over their futures beyond the summer transfer window. Filip Jorgensen wants to leave, as reported towards the back end of May, with the Danish goalkeeper looking to play more frequent first-team football next season and Chelsea have told him they will not be able to guarantee that.
Mike Penders is set to take Jorgensen's place as No.2 goalkeeper behind Sanchez, with the Belgium international being handed an opportunity to fight to become Xabi Alonso 's go-to in between the posts.
Trevoh Chalobah, someone who fits the homegrown quota, looks likely to depart Stamford Bridge this summer. The 27-year-old defender was the subject of two unsuccessful offers from Como in recent weeks but talks with the Serie A club are continuing as Chelsea seek a fee in the region of £30m-35m.
Wesley Fofana has been linked with a move away but there is nothing concrete in relation to the French defender's future - and the same can be said about his countryman Benoit Badiashile. Tosin Adarabioyo is in a similar position with Chelsea's defence the most uncertain area of Alonso's new squad.
The Blues' efforts to sign Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace continue. If the France international is brought in, that will be another non-homegrown player to contend with. Equally, if Pep Chavarria is signed on top of that, that will add to the problem as well.
Axel Disasi will be allowed to leave and the 28-year-old versatile defender has interest from England and abroad. Mamadou Sarr and Aaron Anselmino could be loaned out with no clear pathway into Alonso's first team at the moment.
Malo Gusto is of interest to former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, who is now in charge of Manchester City. However, City's interest has gone quiet in recent weeks after the west Londoners quoted their Premier League rivals £75m for Gusto.
Josh Acheampong, a homegrown player, is expected to stay at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea considering the 20-year-old English defender untouchable after numerous approaches from fellow Premier League clubs.
There is speculation over Romeo Lavia's future but again, nothing concrete at the time of writing to suggest he will be departing SW6 in the coming weeks. Dario Essugo could be loaned out with Valentin Barco expected to come in from Strasbourg.
Noise over Enzo Fernandez's future has somewhat quietened down after Real Madrid released a statement saying they will not be pursuing a move for the Argentine. However, if any club were to come in with an offer of £120m, then Chelsea would allow the 25-year-old midfielder to leave.
Cole Palmer is considered untouchable and will soon be boosted by his close friend Rogers joining the squad.
There is nothing to suggest - at this moment in time - that Jamie Gittens will be on his way out this summer after an underwhelming debut season, but the same cannot be said about Alejandro Garnacho, who is considered a homegrown player after joining Manchester United's academy system at the age of 16 and training there for more than three years.
After a disappointing first season at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea are open to selling Garnacho this summer if an offer in the region of £42.5m comes their way. AS Roma are one of numerous clubs with a keen interest in the Argentine winger but the Italian club's preference is said to be a loan move, while Chelsea continue to insist on a permanent solution.
Geovany Quenda and Emmanuel Emegha have both joined this summer after Chelsea struck pre-agreed deals with Sporting CP and Strasbourg respectively. Emegha counts as a non-homegrown player but not Quenda, who is under the age of 21 and born after January 1, 2005.
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Elsewhere, the future of Liam Delap is up in the air. The Englishman, a homegrown player, is said to be keen on fighting for his place at Stamford Bridge but Chelsea need to cut down the quantity in the striker department with Emegha arriving and Nicolas Jackson being given the opportunity to impress in pre-season.
Chelsea are working on incomings and outgoings as we speak. At least they have a bit of wiggle room in terms of the former.