Chelsea have already announced two new signings in the summer transfer window and the Blues are not showing any immediate signs of slowing down on that front.
Liam Delap was confirmed as a Chelsea player on Wednesday evening, with the England Under-21 striker signing a six-year contract at Stamford Bridge. football.london understands Delap chose the Blues over a number of other suitors because of Enzo Maresca’s style of play, the quality within the squad and the genuine belief the team can challenge for major honours in seasons to come.
Meanwhile, Chelsea also confirmed the signing of Dario Essugo earlier in the week. It is one we have known about for a while, with the 20-year-old midfielder set to join the squad for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.
The west Londoners are looking to add quality to Maresca’s squad so the club can build on an extremely promising debut season for the Italian in the Chelsea dugout. The Blues have space in their squad to add players ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, even more space now given Jadon Sancho has departed the club, and there are likely to be big changes before the new season gets underway in August.
Here, football.london takes a look at the current squad situation, what could be done to change that and how it may look once the summer transfer window has concluded.
Current squad
Premier League clubs are permitted to name a 25-man squad in September, with an updated list of players named in February after the closure of the mid-season transfer window. Of those 25 players, at least eight them must be homegrown, so if clubs do not have enough homegrown players, the squad size is reduced accordingly.
As of February 2025, the Blues named a 20-man squad after a number of players leaving over the course of the January transfer window. Of those 20 players, nine of them were classed as homegrown. Sancho was one of the homegrown players, but he will be leaving the club at the end of his loan deal this month.
Departures
There could be numerous homegrown players on their way out of Stamford Bridge in the coming months. Trevoh Chalobah faces an uncertain future at the club despite impressing since being recalled from his loan spell at Crystal Palace back in January. football.london understands the Blues will listen to offers for Chalobah should they come their way.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, too, could be on his way out of the door. With just 13 Premier League appearances to his name over the 24/25 season, regular minutes have been difficult to come by for the former Leicester City man. With Chelsea set to strengthen in midfield even more, further down the pecking order Dewsbury-Hall will likely fall.
There are also doubts over the future of Benoit Badiashile. Sources close to Badiashile recently told football.london the defender is content at Stamford Bridge but a move this summer has not been ruled out, after making just 20 appearances in all competitions throughout the 2024/25 season. Badiashile remains content at Chelsea, however if an attractive offer was to present itself, it could tempt the former AS Monaco defender.
Meanwhile, Badiashile’s countryman Christopher Nkunku is set to leave Chelsea this summer. Strongly linked with a departure in January, the Blues opted to keep hold of Nkunku for the remainder of the campaign. However, the 27-year-old forward endured another frustrating season at Chelsea and the club are open to offers for him this summer.
Returning loan players
There are a number of players returning from their respective loan spells this summer. However, a lot of them face uncertain futures at Stamford Bridge.
Andrey Santos will take part in the upcoming Club World Cup later this month. The Brazilian midfielder recently admitted in an interview that he intends to stay at Chelsea next season, although the decision seems to be out of his hands.
The likes of Joao Felix, Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga, Lesley Ugochukwu, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, Armando Broja, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Raheem Sterling, Deivid Washington, Caleb Wiley and Alfie Gilchrist could all be loaned out again, or sold by the Blues.
There are high hopes for young goalkeeper Mike Penders, who will arrive from Genk this summer. The 19-year-old shot-stopper could leave on loan, though, with his progress and development in mind.
Estevao Willian is an exciting one for Chelsea supporters. The 18-year-old winger is one of the most talked about youngsters in world football at the moment and he could be handed some first team opportunities at Stamford Bridge next season. The future of Kendry Paez is a bit more uncertain, though, it seems.
Paez is set to arrive at Chelsea this summer after acclimatising to European football in recent months, where he has spent time with Strasbourg. The French club, owned by BlueCo, is a possible destination for the Ecuadorian to spend the next season on loan at.
New signings
Mamadou Sarr will arrive from Strasbourg, although a loan out elsewhere could be on the cards for the young central defender. A loan could be an option for Sarr next season as the club look to further his development.
As well as Essugo and Delap, who have already signed, Chelsea are looking to bring in a new left-sided winger this summer. Their main priority in that position is Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, football.london understands, with the Blues in talks with the German club over a deal to sign the 20-year-old.
Gittens is expected to cost at least £50million but Chelsea are hoping to drive that asking price down somewhat. Nico Williams is an option, though the Spain international’s wage demands are deemed too high by Chelsea at the moment, and the winger is said to be in fresh contract negotiations with Athletic Bilbao.
There is also interest in a new central defender. Dean Huijsen was a target but has moved to Real Madrid since, while Marc Guehi, Tomas Araujo, Jarrad Branthwaite, Jorrel Hato, Ousmane Diomande and Murillo have all been considered by the Blues.
Chelsea are also looking at the goalkeeper situation. Mike Maignan has just 12 months remaining on his contract and the Blues see it as a potential opportunity to lure a world-class goalkeeper away from AC Milan.
However, after making an initial approach earlier in the week, Chelsea now have reservations over paying £25million for the 29-year-old Frenchman, due to his age and contract status. Talks with the Rossoneri continue, though, with Chelsea hoping to find a resolution. If Maignan were to sign, it could spell the end of Robert Sanchez’s time at Stamford Bridge.
Youngsters
Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George both enjoyed breakthrough seasons at Chelsea and there could be more academy stars given opportunities by Maresca next season. Ishe Samuels-Smith penned a new long-term contract at Stamford Bridge in April and football.london understands the defender was told about potential first team opportunities next season.
How the squad could look
Potential squad: Mike Maignan, Filip Jorgensen, Marcus Bettinelli*, Levi Colwill*, Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Murillo, Tosin Adarabioyo*, Malo Gusto, Marc Cucurella, Reece James*, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez,, Cole Palmer*, Pedro Neto, Jamie Gittens*, Noni Madueke*, Nicolas Jackson, Liam Delap*
The likes of Romeo Lavia, Acheampong, George, Samuels-Smith, Essugo, Estevao, Paez and Santos all fit in the Under-21 category and will not take places up in the squad.
Key: * = Homegrown players, Bold = potential new signings
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