The first pre-season friendly of the Xabi Alonso regime has been and gone, but more importantly, the off-pitch situation has jumped significantly. Despite featuring in pre-season, there are some names being pushed further out the door while others have come in with swift transfers. With the Premier League bearing down on us all, it is time to recheck the Projected Chelsea squad for 2026/27 after some transfer movement.
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Current Projected Chelsea Squad for 2026/27 Premier League Campaign
Goalkeepers
After a quiet, glacial summer in the goalkeeping corps, we have finally got some movement and a potential outgoing. Teddy Sharman-Lower and Rob Sanchez were the two who played against Western Sydney Wanderers while Filip Jorgensen was mysteriously absent from the squad.
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The Danish shot-stopper wasn’t available as he was back in Europe, finalising a loan move to Strasbourg, according to reports. With Mike Penders joining up with the squad later after his World Cup endeavours, that leaves the current three to register as:
Goalkeepers: Rob Sanchez, Mike Penders, Teddy Sharman-Lower
Defenders
Maxence Lacoix has joined officially as rumours continue to swirl around Trevoh Chalobah’s future. The rest of the back line is settled, with any other deals seemingly gone cold. The names who started towards the end of last season in Jorrel Hato, Malo Gusto, Reece James, Levi Colwill, Josh Acheampong, Wes Fofana, and new signing Marco Palestra should be enough to keep the back line rotated through the season. Pre-season starter Tosin Adarabioyo could be kept on after getting the nod to lead the second unit againast Western Sydney Wanderers
As of now, the defensive options in our projected Chelsea squad are:
Defenders: Maxence Lacroix, Jorrel Hato, Malo Gusto, Tosin Adarabioyo, Reece James, Levi Colwill, Josh Acheampong, Wes Fofana, Marco Palestra
Midfielders
The middle of the park is where there are still some pretty major questions as the usual starters aren’t back from their international football breaks while there was an interesting signing made to add to the depth.
Romeo Lavia missed the squad in the pre-season friendly due to yet another injury as his reliability remains a huge question mark around his status in the squad. Dario Essugo started in the pivot and looked good, potentially earning himself a place as the defensive specialist.
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As reported by Fabrizio Romano, the club are signing veteran Jordan Henderson who featured for Brighton & Hove Albion last term. The midfielder made his name at Liverpool, operating at a high level and brings some seniority and leadership to a key position.
As has been the case previously, Valentin Barco remains unofficially signed with a Here We Go issues some time ago. The Argentine could add a sixth option in the middle of the park to help deal with Lavia’s fitness woes.
Midfielders: Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo, Jordan Henderson, Valentin Barco
Attackers
Reported alongside Henderson, Danny Welbeck is also reportedly on the way in to add a veteran, physical striker presence to the team. His addition could see a departure from the striker grouping as new talks have emerged that more than one Premier League team is interested in Liam Delap.
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The rest of the grouping will presumably be trimmed down during pre-season as Nicolas Jackson is yet to join up. Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Geovany Quenda, Estevao, Jamie Gittens, Joao Pedro, and Emmanuel Emegha are the other attacking options currently.
Attackers: Danny Welbeck, Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Joao Pedro, Geovany Quenda, Estevao, Jamie Gittens, Nicolas Jackson, Emmanuel Emegha
Current Projected Chelsea Squad
Rob Sanchez
Mike Penders
Teddy Sharman-Lowe
Maxence Lacroix
Malo Gusto
Jorrel Hato
Levi Colwill
Wes Fofana
Josh Acheampong
Tosin Adarabioyo
Reece James
Marco Palestra
Moises Caicedo
Enzo Fernandez
Romeo Lavia
Dario Essugo
Jordan Henderson
Valentin Barco
Danny Welbeck
Morgan Rogers
Cole Palmer
Pedro Neto
Joao Pedro
Geovany Quenda
Estevao
Jamie Gittens
Nicolas Jackson
Emmanuel Emegha
As of now, there are too many potential players to register; although homegrown rules could sneak some in, the Blues are back at a point where departures would be needed to make a manageable squad.
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IMAGO / Sports Press Photo