Chelsea could be set for another huge summer overhaul as Enzo Maresca wields the axe on his players, with as many as nine stars potentially denied the chance to pull on a blue shirt again. While there is no lingering threat of a PSR punishment from the Premier League, the big-spending Blues are under pressure to secure Champions League qualification next season and could sell to balance the books. That is far from guaranteed, however, and a summer exodus is expected either way as Maresca looks to trim his bloated squad. Express Sport looks at the long list of names who may have already played their final game.
Raheem Sterling
If his time at Chelsea can be deemed a failure, his loan spell with Arsenal may have signalled the end of Sterling's career at the top level - and most likely in the Premier League. The 30-year-old has failed to score in any of his 18 appearances in the Premier League and Champions League, registering three assists. It's fair to argue his recent game time has only come about because Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are injured, and even then he has been outshone by 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri and a makeshift No.9 in Mikel Merino. Given that only a handful of clubs can afford his astronomical £325,000-a-week wages, a permanent switch to the Saudi Pro League surely beckons for the winger.
Ben Chilwell
It took Maresca only a week to consign Chilwell to the bench after the Italian took over on King's Road and, given that the 45-year-old rarely changes his mind, Chilwell will be looking for a new home. The left-back has managed to avoid injury after joining Crystal Palace and the 28-year-old will be hoping to impress Oliver Glasner after being frozen out by Chelsea. Sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart would love to get the England international's £10m-a-year salary off their wage bill.
Carney Chukwuemeka
Chelsea reportedly inserted a £50million option to buy clause when shipping him off to Borussia Dortmund for a reason: the Blues regard his six-month stint in Germany as little more than as a parade in the shop window. The 22-year-old was afforded just five brief appearances under Maresca and was largely ignored when fit for selection, perhaps due to the burgeoning attacking talent that the Italian had at his disposal. With first-team opportunities likely to be limited at Stamford Bridge again when Kendry Paez and Estevao Willian join in 2025, Chukwuemeka may have already played his final game.
Armando Broja
The Albania international's torrid time with injuries has robbed him of crucial opportunities for Chelsea and he joined Everton on loan after being told he had no future at Stamford Bridge. The 23-year-old is a lucrative asset for the west London outfit as he graduated from their Cobham academy and qualifies as 'pure profit' on their accounts if he is sold. With that in mind, there is only a slim chance he remains at Stamford Bridge beyond the summer - and that depends firmly how much his parent club demand to let him leave permanently.
Renato Veiga
One of the few players to fall out with Maresca, the Portuguese demanded an exit just seven months into his time in west London and his wish was granted with a loan exit, joining Juventus early in January. Veiga has thrived while on loan to the Serie A giants and having played regularly under Thiago Motta, it would be a surprise to see him return to the bench at Chelsea. The versatile defender was identified for his potential to earn his employers a sizeable profit after paying £12m to sign him from FC Basel - and his performances for the Bianconeri should ensure the club receive a generous profit when he is sold.
Bashir Humphreys
Humphrey's brief foray into the first-team picture under Graham Potter always appeared to be short-lived and he hasn't featured since. The 22-year-old signed for Burnley in August in a loan deal which included an obligation to buy for £12m plus £2.7m in add-ons, providing the Clarets gain promotion to the top flight. Scott Parker's side are third in the Championship and are all but guaranteed of a play-off place, and that will almost certainly see Humphreys end his eight-year association with the Blues.
Alfie Gilchrist
A player who comes highly-rated by John Terry shouldn't be discarded so easily, yet it's the 'pure profit' angle which makes Gilchrist vulnerable to a sale. He recently signed a new contract that runs until June 2026 and while there is an option to extend, the 21-year-old - who made a temporary switch to Sheffield United in August - is way down the pecking order. That said, he's been a Chelsea player since the age of 10 and fans won't be happy to see one of their own forced out the door so hastily.
Deivid Washington
Chelsea tried to engineer a £20m move to their feeder club RC Strasbourg but the deal fell apart at the eleventh hour before the transfer deadline. With the youngster stranded, he featured for the Under-21s and later sealed a return to Santos on loan. He featured for the Brazilian club last week and scored in the next game against Coritiba. Another curious signing from the club's sporting directors, his future looks a lot brighter if he remains in South America.
David Datro Fofana
Another forgotten man acquired during the Potter era, Fofana hasn't made a competitive appearance for Chelsea since the 2022-23 campaign. The striker, 22, has struggled to impress while spending time on loan at Union Berlin, Burnley and Goztepe. He was recalled in January, but only so that he could recuperate at Cobham after being ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury and will be flogged to the highest bidder once he returns to fitness.