Chelsea’s Squad Restructuring Ahead of 2026 Season

In January 2026, Chelsea will embark on a new chapter with a fresh managerial appointment, aiming to reshape their squad accordingly. However, significant transfers are not anticipated in the immediate future. The club has reduced its interest in Antoine Semenyo, who ultimately signed with Manchester City, as they modify their strategies for the upcoming campaign.

Recently, the Blues terminated the loan of Facundo Buonanotte, who has since transitioned to Leeds United. Among the players potentially departing in January are Raheem Sterling, who is reportedly sought after by West Ham and Fulham, and Axel Disasi, despite his return to training.

Chelsea demonstrated proactive engagement during the summer 2025 transfer window, acquiring several promising talents to strengthen their roster. They confirmed the signing of Portuguese midfielder Dario Essugo from Sporting CP for approximately £18.5 million, aiming to enhance their midfield depth and provide competition alongside Moisés Caicedo.

Additionally, Chelsea secured winger Geovany Quenda from Sporting CP, with a fee that could escalate to £44 million, though he will remain on loan in Portugal for this season. In attack, Chelsea activated a £30 million release clause to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, enhancing their forward options.

Looking forward, Chelsea also finalized agreements for two highly-rated young players: Estevao Willian from Palmeiras and Kendry Paez from Independiente del Valle, both officially joining in July 2025, adding considerable potential to the squad.

Moreover, the club took advantage of the brief transfer window before the Club World Cup to bring in Mamadou Sarr on an eight-year contract from Strasbourg. They also confirmed the £60 million acquisition of striker Joao Pedro from Brighton, whose arrival is expected to add both creativity and scoring ability to Chelsea’s attacking lineup.

Chelsea later announced the £55 million signing of Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, with the player spotted celebrating on the pitch after the Club World Cup quarter-final victory over Palmeiras.

The summer 2025 transfer window resulted in a substantial restructuring of Chelsea’s squad, marked by several notable departures. Jadon Sancho returned to Manchester United after Chelsea opted not to finalize his loan deal, resulting in a £5 million penalty due to failed negotiations over contract terms.

The side also saw third-choice goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli join Manchester City for a nominal fee. Kepa Arrizabalaga, who had previously been on loan at Bournemouth, made a permanent move to Arsenal. Other significant departures included Noni Madueke joining Arsenal, Joao Felix moving to Al Nassr, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall transferring to Everton after a single season at Stamford Bridge.

Armando Broja’s £20 million move to Burnley and Renato Veiga’s £26 million transfer to Villarreal were also noteworthy, alongside Carney Chukwuemeka’s signing with Borussia Dortmund. Ben Chilwell joined Strasbourg, while Christopher Nkunku transferred to AC Milan for a substantial fee. Marc Guiu left for Sunderland on loan, and Nicolas Jackson moved to Bayern Munich on a short-term deal.