The Premier League today announced their plans to open up a mini transfer window at the beginning of June due to the unprecedented nature of this summer with the revamped FIFA Club World Cup.
A statement from the Premier League said: "Premier League clubs have today agreed the dates for the summer 2025 transfer window. The window will open early, between Sunday June 1 and Tuesday June 10, due to an exceptional registration period relating to the FIFA Club World Cup. It will then reopen on Monday June 16 and close on Monday September 1."
Chelsea's first match in the Club World Cup takes place on June 16 as the Blues head to Atlanta, before back-to-back games in Philadelphia in the group stage. FIFA confirmed earlier in the week that the winner of the new-look competition will receive a $125million (£96.5million) reward, with the participation pool at a whopping $525million (£405million). A lot of money - something Chelsea will undoubtedly be eyeing when the summer comes around.
How seriously will the Blues take it? All of the signs thus far suggest very. This mini transfer window will be a perfect opportunity for the west Londoners to get some early deals done in time for the Club World Cup (CWC) to take place.
The plans for the summer have already started, with Chelsea - yet again - expected to be very active. Earlier in the month, the Blues sealed the double signing of Dario Essugo and Geovany Quenda from Sporting CP, with the former arriving before the CWC and the latter joining in the summer of 2026.
Chelsea will have 10 days to get any deals done, but it will not be as rushed as it all seems. The Blues are already working hard behind the scenes to try and gain an advantage over their rivals ahead of another busy summer period off the pitch. All of the groundwork will be done, or being completed over the next couple of months in order to arrive at the 10-day period in the best possible shape.
If Chelsea were to make one or two signings, ones that genuinely improve the squad, then they will be able to attack the Club World Cup aggressively. And judging by the comments of head coach Enzo Maresca and club captain Reece James, that is something the Blues are looking to do in June.
Asked what it would be like to become the first winners of the revamped tournament, Maresca said: "Fantastic motivation. That's what you need to see it as, as a source of motivation.
"As I've told you before, when you’re at Chelsea, your goal is to win as much as you can. And when we’re there, that will be one of our goals: to try to win it."
James echoed his head coach's words: "The goal for any competition is to win. We have an amazing squad, amazing team, amazing manager, and our goal is to win."
The captain continued: "I think any trophy of this significance is a huge honour for the club and, obviously, the first time would go down in history."