Xabi Alonso press conference after Chelsea vs Luton
Chelsea Football Newsletter
David Datro Fofana and Caleb Wiley have become the latest players to leave Chelsea before the transfer deadline.
The Blues have been focused on trimming their large first-team squad before the summer window closes for business at 11pm BST on Tuesday night (September 1).
Standard Sport understands that striker Fofana has now sealed a move to Swiss side Servette FC, while left-back Wiley has joined Preston.
Fofana’s is a permanent transfer worth an initial €2.5million (£2.1m) plus a further €1m (£856,000) in add-ons, while Wiley heads back to the Championship on a season-long loan.
Ivorian forward Fofana first joined Chelsea from Norwegian club Molde in a £10m deal in January 2023, but made only four senior appearances in total for the club and failed to score.
He has not featured for the Blues since May 2023 and instead been dispatched for five successive loan spells at Union Berlin, Burnley, Goztepe, Fatih Karagumruk and Chelsea’s BlueCo sister club Strasbourg.
American Wiley, meanwhile, moved to west London from Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise Atlanta United for £8.5m in the summer of 2024, but has yet to make a competitive first-team appearance for Chelsea.
He has also spent time on loan at Strasbourg and now returns to English football’s second tier after a previous stint at Watford that was terminated early in January due to injury.
It has been a busy week of exits for Chelsea, who sold striker Liam Delap to Nottingham Forest for a package worth £50m and agreed the £65m sale of Nicolas Jackson to Aston Villa.
Defenders Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile and Mamadou Sarr were loaned to Crystal Palace, Napoli and Real Sociedad respectively, while attacking midfielder Omari Kellyman joined Strasbourg on a permanent deal.
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Uncertainty continues over the future of Enzo Fernandez, who was left out of Xabi Alonso’s squad entirely for Thursday night’s 2-0 Carabao Cup second-round win over Luton as Manchester City prepare a big-money late swoop for his services.
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 15: David Datro Fofana of Chelsea arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on January 15, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
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Standard Sport understands that Chelsea have identified Monaco’s Lamine Camara as a potential replacement for Fernandez as they ponder an opening bid, while they remain interested in a deal for Bournemouth’s Alex Scott.
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was undergoing a medical on Friday ahead of moving to Stamford Bridge from Aston Villa for £7.5m, while Chelsea will also pay £40m to sign Atalanta’s teenage defender Honest Ahanor, who may be immediately sent out on loan.
Dario Essugo, Tosin Adarabioyo and Marc Guiu are among the other players who could depart Chelsea before the window shuts, while Mykhailo Mudryk is expected to leave on loan.