The Blues could pass the £1bn mark for sales since 2020 if the final fortnight of the transfer window plays out as planned
There is never a quiet summer at Chelsea, and this one is certainly no exception.
A new cavalry has arrived up front in Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Estevao, with both squad balance and the balance sheet addressed by moving Noni Madueke, Joao Felix and Armando Broja on.
Holes have been plugged elsewhere as well, but after the opening-weekend draw against Crystal Palace brought the world champions back down to earth, there is work still to do before the transfer window closes – particularly if they want to be considered, or consider themselves, title contenders.
The Blues still want new forwards – a recurring theme – but that will only happen if they sell two players bought a mere two years ago, transfers which sum up the speed of Chelsea’s revolving door.
Since 2020, no Premier League club has welcomed more arrivals than Chelsea’s 165, per Transfermarkt, with Nottingham Forest closest at 163 and Brighton third with 148.
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 27: Mykhaylo Mudryk of Chelsea celebrates with Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku of Chelsea after scoring their team's first goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on December 27, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Once upon a time at Chelsea…. just two seasons ago (Photo: Getty)
In terms of outgoings, only Forest (159) are above Chelsea (154), and when it comes to spending no club come near them – a staggering £1.76bn spent with Manchester United second, right on the £1bn mark, and Manchester City not far behind on £994m.
Chelsea sales in that time total £900m, and should surpass £1bn provided the next fortnight goes to plan.
Staying
There is little to suggest Chelsea are in the market for a new goalkeeper this summer given Gianluigi Donnarumma’s availability has not prompted them into action.
The i Paper reported last week that Chelsea are long-term admirers of the PSG goalkeeper, who has been dropped by the Champions League winners and has one year left on his contract.
But it is Manchester City who Donnarumma favours, with Manchester United also linked, meaning Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca looks set to stick with his current options.
That may come as a surprise given Robert Sanchez’s level is regularly questioned, but the Spaniard has clearly been backed by Maresca, keeping clean sheets in three Club World Cup games and again against Palace on Sunday.
Going
Beyond Tyrique George, the 19-year-old winger who made Sunday’s matchday squad but could yet move on this summer for the right price, Chelsea’s website makes clear which players they have no intention of using at all this season.
Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are not listed among Chelsea’s first-team squad, having not been given a number for the 2025-26 season.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 05: Raheem Sterling of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Arsenal FC at Goodison Park on April 05, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Raheem Sterling was loaned out to Arsenal last season (Photo: Getty)
The duo are part of the “bomb squad” Chelsea are hoping to offload, with Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga, Carney Chukwuemeka and David Datro Fofana no longer wanted either.
All six were loaned out last season – for all or part of the campaign – and it has now become about searching for suitors with Chelsea eager to raise fees with permanent moves away.
Sterling’s is perhaps the toughest transfer to navigate. The winger has two years remaining on his reported £325,000-a-week contract and is said to want to stay in London given his son Thiago, eight, joined Arsenal’s academy in May.
That limits his options, with Fulham making the most sense, although the west London club are yet to make an offer.
Meanwhile, whispers of Wolves’ interest in Disasi have not led to anything concrete, while Dortmund’s interest in Chukwuemeka remains. The midfielder was on loan there last season, but negotiations are ongoing with the clubs reportedly £20m apart in their valuation – Chelsea want £40m.
Chelsea could be more willing to sanction loans or drop their asking price if they can raise funds from two players who actually do have squad numbers instead…
Uncertain
Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku are spared the ignominy of being blanked by Chelsea’s website but nevertheless their futures lie elsewhere.
Both players joined in 2023, Jackson for £32m from Villarreal and Nkunku for £52m from RB Leipzig, and it appears Chelsea would like to make more than that £84m back.
That, though, is why the pair slot into the uncertain column. Chelsea’s desire for more than double what they paid for Jackson is wishful thinking.
Manchester United, Newcastle United and Aston Villa have all been sounded out as possible destinations but no bid has been forthcoming. Quite why Chelsea extended his contract 12 months ago is unclear, with his current deal expiring in… 2033.
Chelsea may have to take a hit on Nkunku, and recently rejected a loan offer from Bayern Munich with a view to selling the Frenchman permanently.
For either move to happen Chelsea will therefore surely have to lower expectations.
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Targets
Chelsea are targeting Alejandro Garnacho and Xavi Simons but will only push to sign the pair if two forwards leave, hence the desire to sell Jackson and Nkunku.
A possible Garnacho-Jackson swap was reported by The i Paper in July, but nothing on that has materialised with Chelsea put off by United’s £60m valuation, although £10m lower and a compromise could be reached.
Simons would likely cost more than Garnacho, explaining Chelsea’s wish to sell first.
Meanwhile, Antonio Silva of Benfica has been linked as Maresca considers his options at the back after Levi Colwill was ruled out for most of the season with an ACL injury. Trevoh Chalobah and 19-year-old Josh Acheampong started at centre-back against Palace.