The very latest on Chelsea's transfer plans with the centre-back department set to be one of the most active in negotiations between now and the end of the window
Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso wants four or five central defenders at Chelsea(Image: Peksi Cahyo)
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Usually when you ask a manager something about their club's transfer plans, they either refuse to answer, or they reluctantly offer not much to the media.
Less than a fortnight ago, all the way in Sydney, Australia, Xabi Alonso took a room full of reporters by surprise. When asked by football.london what would be the ideal number of centre backs to have available by the time the summer transfer window ends, a frank Alonso instantly responded: "Four or five."
"Is that accurate enough?" a laughing Alonso followed up with. It was refreshingly accurate. Yet it raised the question: how will Chelsea offload all of those players in such a short space of time?
Almost a fortnight later and Chelsea have a total of 10 central defenders on their books with less than three weeks remaining of the summer transfer window: Josh Acheampong, Levi Colwill, Mamadou Sarr, Wesley Fofana, Maxence Lacroix, Tosin Adarabioyo, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, Aaron Anselmino and Jorrel Hato.
With this being said, football.london takes a detailed look at what to expect in terms of outgoings between now and September 1.
The untouchables
It has been known for quite some time now that Colwill and Acheampong are deemed untouchable at Stamford Bridge.
Colwill spent the majority of last season on the sidelines due to a serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury but reminded everyone of his imperiousness in the last few games of the campaign. There is a feeling of, 'what could have been?', if Colwill was fit for even 50% of last term. Chelsea wouldn't have been crowned Premier League champions - not by any stretch - but they would have been so much better off.
As for Acheampong, the Blues consider him an immense talent and were quick to slap the 'untouchable' label on the 20-year-old when multiple Premier League sides approached the club earlier in the year regarding the Cobham graduate. Chelsea see Acheampong as a huge part of the club's long-term project.
Josh Acheampong
Chelsea think Josh Acheampong has a big future at Stamford Bridge(Image: Brendon Thorne)
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Fofana is far from untouchable but there is a feeling he is the 'best of the rest' at Stamford Bridge. The Frenchman, despite a disappointing 2025/26 season, looks increasingly likely to be part of Alonso's plans in his debut campaign.
As is Lacroix, signed for £52million from Crystal Palace earlier this summer, who Chelsea supporters are excited to see play for the first time. That might come on Saturday afternoon when the Blues host Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge in their final pre-season friendly, with the France international joining training at Cobham this week.
The loan-ables
With Colwill and Acheampong staying where they are, it is essentially a six-man decision for Alonso and the sporting directors. We will start with the ones who could leave on loan.
Sarr and Anselmino could leave Chelsea on loan before the September 1 deadline. The Blues are keen for both young defenders to go out and get some senior experience in the upcoming season after disrupted spells last term.
Chelsea recalled Sarr from his loan at Strasbourg midway through the season to provide cover in the centre of defence but the Senegal international barely featured for the west Londoners. Anselmino, meanwhile, spent the first half of the season at Borussia Dortmund but was troubled with injuries, before he was then sent to Strasbourg to fill the Sarr-shaped void in February.
The sell-ables
Tosin could leave Stamford Bridge in the next few weeks. Sources close to the situation have told football.london that the 28-year-old defender has interest from Benfica and also multiple clubs in the Premier League. Benfica boss Marco Silva, who coached Tosin at Fulham, is understood to be an admirer of the experienced defender.
Tosin Adarabioyo in action for Chelsea
Tosin Adarabioyo could be sold before the end of the summer transfer window(Image: Steve Christo - Corbis)
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Meanwhile, Disasi has plenty of admirers from England and overseas after his impressive loan spell with West Ham United last season. Badiashile is also in demand at the time of writing, mostly in Italy, with Napoli the favourites to sign the out-of-favour French defender.
Disasi and Badiashile are not training with the first-team group at the time of writing and were both left out of Chelsea's pre-season tour squad.
The versatile-s
This category is reserved for two in particular. Hato, firstly, has been used as more of a left back during his time at Stamford Bridge thus far. Where Alonso plans on using the Netherlands international remains to be seen but given Chelsea's lack of options on the left side, albeit it has now been boosted following the arrival of Pep Chavarria, Hato could be used more in the role Marc Cucurella has vacated.
Jorrel Hato
Jorrel Hato is set for a big role at Chelsea in the upcoming season(Image: Brendon Thorne)
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Acheampong, also, is another option at full back. While the Cobham graduate can play on the left-hand side of defence, we have mostly seen him on the right. In the long run, Chelsea view Acheampong as a central defender but he is also an option at full back.
Chelsea's options
Colwill, Lacroix, Acheampong, Fofana and Hato could well be Chelsea's five main centre back options going into the 26/27 season. Of course, transfers don't always work out the way clubs envisage, so there is no guarantee the Blues are able to offload every single player they want to.