Chelsea
Chelsea looked into a move for Fulham’s Sander Berge before the summer window shut, as per the latest transfer news. The Blues wanted central midfield depth as Fernandez neared his move to Manchester City.
Chelsea’s late search for a midfield replacement
As reported by BBC, Chelsea began searching for a new midfielder late in the window, once Fernandez’s £125million exit to Manchester City became certain. Chelsea had planned to bring in a central midfielder before the deadline, but their options narrowed as time ran short. Their aim was to strengthen the middle of the park while preparing for life without their World Cup-winning Argentine.
Berge featured on Chelsea’s shortlist as the window entered its final hours. The 28-year-old Norway international has made 78 appearances for Fulham since joining from Burnley in 2023, and his size and engine made him an obvious fit for what Chelsea needed. He could have walked straight into the squad and started immediately.
Talks never developed into anything concrete, and the club eventually turned their focus elsewhere. Chelsea’s midfield now looks noticeably thinner following Fernandez’s departure to the Etihad. The Blues will need to address that gap before facing a demanding fixture schedule in the Premier League and other competitions this season.
Berge’s 2025/26 numbers at Fulham, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Matches Chances created Defensive contributions Duels won%
Premier League 35 21 281 54.4%
EFL Cup 2 0 11 72.7%
Fulham refused to sell their key midfielder
Despite Chelsea’s interest, no formal offer was submitted for Berge before the deadline passed. Fulham made their position clear throughout the process and considered the midfielder simply not for sale. The west London club values his experience and steady consistency in the Premier League highly.
Berge grew into one of Fulham’s most trusted performers under former head coach Marco Silva, and has continued to impress since Alvaro Arbeloa’s arrival this summer. Losing a player of his profile midway through preparations would have disrupted the squad balance significantly. Fulham’s stance reportedly remained firm even as Chelsea weighed up their limited options in the closing days.
Chelsea’s inability to land a replacement left them short of options after selling Fernandez for such a considerable fee. It is understood discussions over Sander Berge never progressed beyond the exploratory stage before the deadline. The Blues will likely revisit their midfield search when the transfer market reopens in January.
Sander Berge Has Thrived Since Arriving From Burnley
Berge joined Fulham from Burnley in 2023 and has since established himself as a regular starter. He arrived with Premier League experience already banked from his time at Sheffield United, giving him a smooth transition into English football. That grounding has made him one of Fulham’s most dependable midfield options over the past two seasons.
Berge plays for Norway’s senior team. He stands well over six feet tall and has a passing range that lets him dictate play from deep. Arbeloa took over from Marco Silva as Fulham boss this summer. He has kept using Berge in the middle of the park. This is exactly the type of strong, ball-carrying midfielder Chelsea have missed since Fernandez left.
Fulham’s plan all through the transfer window was clear, they see Berge as a big part of their long-term squad. For Chelsea, missing out on a player like him leaves their midfield search still open. The Blues face a busy run of Premier League and cup games before they can look at this again.
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