Chelsea must make sure they finish this season strongly because there’s plenty to play for, but we’re already excited about what could lie in store during the 2025/26 campaign.
In terms of this season, Chelsea face a huge final few months to try secure Champions League qualification and win the Conference League.
The young Blues squad will be better off after the experience of this first year. There will be some more reinforcements to strengthen the group, too.
Chelsea could go big on summer transfers to add a new goalkeeper, centre-back and striker. If they do that, we’d expect Enzo Maresca’s side to certainly bridge the gap to the top.
One area where the Blues look like they’ll be exceptionally strong moving forward is in the midfield. They usually play with two deeper central midfielders behind a No 10. On paper, Chelsea will have some superb depth for all three roles, perhaps even the best in the entire Premier League division.
Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Predicting Chelsea’s midfield for the 2025/26 season
We’ve made a list of the midfielders that Chelsea could select from next season. Incidentally, we’ve left out Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, 26, because we’re struggling to see where he would fit in due to the amount of options.
In terms of depth, we think this lot below could be even stronger than the midfields at rivals such as Liverpool and Newcastle United.
Moises Caicedo
Without a doubt, Moises Caicedo is the first name on the team sheet in Chelsea’s midfield. We definitely don’t see that changing moving into the 2025/26 season, too.
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The 23-year-old star, who can operate at the base of midfield or in a box-to-box role, is really coming into his own in West London.
Dario Essugo
Dario Essugo, 20, is set to be a new face added to Chelsea’s midfield ranks next season.
It’s already been confirmed that the youngster will be joining from Sporting Lisbon this summer. During his loan spell in the Spanish La Liga with Las Palmas this year, he’s proved he’s a combative defensive midfielder with real energy.
It’s been reported that Essugo will join Chelsea’s first team immediately at the start of the 2025/26 season.
Romeo Lavia
If everyone is fit and available at Chelsea next season, Romeo Lavia may have a strong case for being a nailed-on starter.
The 21-year-old’s first two seasons at Stamford Bridge have been wrecked by injury, so hopefully he can enjoy a third year where he actually stays on the pitch for long spells.
Season Chelsea appearances
2024/25 13
2023/24 1
Romeo Lavia in the last two seasons
Reece James
While we would prefer to see Reece James, 25, playing at right-back the majority of the time, we’ve seen in recent weeks him getting plenty of minutes in the centre of the park.
The fact that Maresca admits he views James as a midfielder means Chelsea supporters may need to get used to seeing much more of it.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Enzo Fernandez
This current season has been a really positive one so far from Enzo Fernandez, so we’re only tipping him to grow in stature next year. At the age of 24, there’s still so much to come from the Argentina international.
The best thing about him right now is he’s started to become a much bigger attacking thraet.
Appearances Goals Assists
35 5 9
Enzo Fernandez for Chelsea in the 2024/25 season
Andrey Santos
Another new addition to the Chelsea midfielder next season will be Andrey Santos, 20, which is really exciting for the Premier League.
Based off the Brazilian’s performances on loan at Strasbourg this year, he’s got the potential to push for a starting position. He’s a complete central midfielder who can do a bit of everything, both defensively and offensively.
Cole Palmer
Now we move into the No 10 spot, where it feels like Cole Palmer could have this position sewn up for as long as he wants.
As the 22-year-old playmaker has found out this term, the spotlight is firmly on him, both from the media and the opposition sides. He’s still someone that will be instrumental next season regardless.
Kendry Paez
Finally, Kendry Paez, who’s still only aged 17, could inject his technical quality and potential to the Blues ranks. We’d love to see the Ecuadorian learning from Palmer and covering as his understudy for the No 10 position.
Paez is already training at Chelsea working towards next season, even though his transfer doesn’t complete until the summer.