Chelsea head into the final days of October in good spirits after securing a 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday courtesy of Pedro Neto’s brace. Xabi Alonso’s men have been clinical in attack in recent months, recording a dominant 5-1 victory over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge in the last month.
However, it is difficult to ignore the bloated look of the squad, especially after another summer of spending. The Blues brought in Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix, Marco Palestra, and Valentin Barco, among others, on sizable transfers, pushing a number of players down the depth chart.
For fans who have watched their star young talents stagnate on the sidelines for too long, January presents an opportunity, a chance to get players regular playing time and shake up the roster. Here are five players that should depart Chelsea this January, either on loan or permanently:
5) Jamie Gittens
It is easy to feel sympathy for Jamie Gittens, who joined Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund in July 2025 for a reported £48.5 million. The 22-year-old winger had just 55 minutes of action to his name this season before the international break, all of it in the Carabao Cup. He has yet to feature in the Premier League.
Gittens’ prospects did not improve as he suffered an ankle injury while on England U21 duty against Kazakhstan. Alonso has stated that the attacker is set to be out for a few weeks. Gittens also had fewer than 500 minutes of league action to his name last season, which is a frighteningly low amount for a player of his calibre and age.
It is unsurprising that AS Roma are interested in him, and the Blues would be wise to allow him to move on a loan deal with an option to buy.
4) Kendry Páez
Kendry Páez has been one of the most surprising stories at Cobham this season after returning to Chelsea from River Plate. The 19-year-old Ecuadorian playmaker scored just one goal and provided one assist in 14 matches before his loan move was terminated.
Alonso has indicated that Páez is not in his first-team plans, with the attacking midfielder instead being registered with the U21 squad. Páez can now expect to be utilised in developmental competitions.
The attacker has a contract with the Blues through 2033, and he also played for Ecuador at the 2026 World Cup. These are credentials of a first-team regular, and Chelsea need to send him on a loan spell in January for first-team minutes.
3) Aaron Anselmino
Aaron Anselmino is another young player who is due a move after a frustrating campaign at Stamford Bridge. The Argentine centre-back arrived from Boca Juniors in January 2025 for around €16.5 million, and he has struggled since his arrival.
Anselmino’s loan to Strasbourg last season was a disaster, with the defender managing just 15 minutes of action across three matches. He also missed 20 games due to a dead leg and twin thigh injuries.
The 21-year-old has not featured for the Blues this season, and he was not even included in the squad photo. Anselmino should be sent out on loan again in January with a view to making him a first-team regular next season.
With Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Josh Acheampong, and Lacroix ahead of him at centre-back, he deserves a shot at regular first-team action.
2) Geovany Quenda
Geovany Quenda has been another casualty of Chelsea’s busy transfer policy this summer. The 19-year-old Portuguese winger joined from Sporting CP after a €52 million deal was agreed upon in March 2025. The attacking wide man has struggled for opportunity under Alonso so far, only managing two substitute appearances, with 27 minutes of Premier League action to his name as of the October international break.
Quenda has accepted that the selection decisions are not in his control, believing that the manager has his own vision. However, it is easy to understand his frustration. Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, Pedro Neto, and Estêvão are all ahead of him on the depth chart, and it is highly unlikely that he will see regular action at Stamford Bridge.
A loan move to another EPL club would be ideal for the attacker, allowing him to gain first-team experience while protecting his value.
1) Teddy Sharman-Lowe
Teddy Sharman-Lowe has spent the last three seasons waiting for his opportunity at Stamford Bridge. The 23-year-old goalkeeper was ever-present as Doncaster Rovers won the League Two title in 2024-25, keeping 13 league clean sheets in the process.
He then made 22 league appearances on loan at Bolton Wanderers before Chelsea recalled him in January this year. Sharman-Lowe has yet to make a competitive first-team appearance for the Blues, and he will be disappointed to learn that Emiliano Martínez is set to return to first-team action before January.
The England U21 international has earned plaudits for his displays in the lower leagues, and a permanent move elsewhere would be ideal for his development.
Why These Moves Would Help Chelsea
Moving these five players on would offer Chelsea several clear benefits heading into the second half of the season. A smaller squad would make it easier for Alonso to manage morale and keep fringe players motivated. Loans would also protect the market value of young assets like Quenda and Gittens, who risk losing value without minutes. Permanent sales, meanwhile, would ease the wage bill and give the club more room under financial regulations.
It would also send a clear message to the rest of the dressing room that minutes are earned through performances. For a manager still building his identity at Stamford Bridge, that sort of clarity could prove invaluable in the months ahead.
None of the above-mentioned players is without quality, and most of them have the potential to go on and have successful careers at other clubs or even at Stamford Bridge. However, it is difficult to deny that the players need regular first-team action in order to progress, and they should depart on loan or permanent deals this January.
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