A behind-the-scenes look at the official Chelsea first-team squad photo that took place at Cobham training ground.
This season's Chelsea squad photo at Cobham.
This season's Chelsea squad photo at Cobham.(Image: Chelsea FC)
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This week, the Chelsea squad posed for an annual first-team squad photo at Cobham training ground. The Blues put preparations for Friday night's clash against Brentford on pause for a few moments as they came together to formally mark the start of the Xabi Alonso era.
Unlike last year, Chelsea didn't have any silverware on show, having finished 10th in the Premier League, crashed out of the Carabao Cup in the semi-finals, and lost in the FA Cup final. The Blues had a long-overdue clearout in the summer, forking out £342.4m on signings and generating £409.7m from sales, so there were a lot of new faces on display.
When Alonso put pen to paper on a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge in the summer, he was formally announced as Chelsea manager, becoming the first to take up that position since Jose Mourinho in 2013.
Unlike Enzo Maresca, who needed Willy Caballero to hold his hand, metaphorically speaking, of course, the Blues boss stamped his authority on the squad, putting himself at the heart of the photo while his coaching staff flanked the squad like a shell.
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This year, the photographer also used the players' heights to form an arch in the second and third rows, making the squad look more compact. It also helped that Alonso had managed to reduce the size of the squad in the transfer window!
So, with that being said, football.london has spotted five things you may have missed from the Chelsea squad photoshoot.
Alonso promotes Caicedo
Seated beside Alonso, Moises Caicedo appears to have been appointed as vice-captain. The 24-year-old midfielder hasn't yet had the opportunity to lead Chelsea out this season after suffering a knock, so Levi Colwill, positioned to his left, has donned the armband in Reece James' absence.
Three Chelsea stars return
Caicedo, Joao Pedro, and Reece James missed the opening quarter of an hour or so of training at Cobham on Tuesday morning, but they were all present for the team picture. Although neither of them was expected to miss the photoshoot, they didn't appear to be carrying any significant injuries or issues.
Chelsea axe £15m signing
Aaron Anselmino was bizarrely left out of the Chelsea squad photo. The 21-year-old defender, whom the Blues signed from Boca Junior for £15m during the summer of 2024, left the field in tears when he suffered a hamstring injury during the penultimate friendly of pre-season against Johor Darul Ta'zim last month.
He has since returned to action at Cobham, having recently been spotted in training. Strangely, though, unlike Emmanuel Emegha, who is also recovering from a knock, Anselmino was not in the squad photo.
Henderson shows off surgery scar
Jordan Henderson's arm, which he fractured following England's win over Mexico at the World Cup and later required surgery, was not sporting a cast for the squad photo, revealing what looked to be a rather large scar. Alonso will be expected to provide an update on the 36-year-old midfielder when he faces the press at Cobham on Thursday afternoon.
Alonso bolsters Chelsea coaching staff
Willie Isa finally featured in the Chelsea squad photo. Last season, the 37-year-old, who Chelsea appointed as player support and development officer in February 2025, was left out by Maresca, but Alonso welcomed him with open arms, putting him alongside Valentin Barco.
Isa has previously been described as a 'cultural architect' and a 'mentality monster' by his former rugby league colleagues, so it comes as no surprise that the Blues manager, who outlined his mission to 'build the right culture' when he arrived in the summer, has brought him into his circle.