Chelsea

Chelsea have set a Friday deadline for offers of £120m or more from clubs interested in midfielder Enzo Fernandez.

The Argentina international, 25, has faced uncertainty over his future at Stamford Bridge since March, when he first raised the possibility of a move to Real Madrid.

Around that time, his agent Javier Pastore publicly stated his client was underpaid and wanted to leave following a difficult season in which Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League and ended the campaign without a trophy after losing the FA Cup final to Manchester City.

Real Madrid have since said they have "no intention" of signing Fernandez, leaving the only known potential suitors as Manchester City, whose new boss Enzo Maresca left Chelsea midway through last season.

It remains unclear whether City would be willing to meet the player's valuation, with the Etihad outfit also known to be targeting Lille's Moroccan midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi.

Chelsea have set a deadline of 17:00 BST on Friday for any offers and are expected to stand firm on their £120m price tag, even though they signed him for £107m from Benfica in 2023.

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Arsenal are open to selling Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi for at least £77m, with Chelsea a strong contender to sign the 27-year-old. (Teamtalk), external

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It is common practice these days for transfer fees to have performance-based add-ons. The theory is the selling club gains more if the player goes on to be extremely successful, while the buying club is to some extent protected financially if the transfer doesn't work out.

In some cases, the total value of add-ons is significant - Real Madrid could end up paying an extra £30m to Borussia Dortmund for Jude Bellingham depending on how successful he is over the course of his career in the Spanish capital, for example.

In others, like the potential £1.7m worth of add-ons Brighton's £29.78m signing of Greece Under-21 forward Charalampos Kostoulas, are less significant.

Clubs sometimes say add-ons are 'easily achievable' or 'difficult'.

Easier-to-achieve add-ons can include things like making a basic number of appearances, or scoring a certain amount of goals. Add-ons can also be attached to a team's success rather than the individual player's - a club may agree to an add-on requiring an extra payment if they qualify for Europe, for example.

Others can be more ambitious - tied to extreme levels of individual or collective success, like winning the Champions League or the Ballon d'Or.

An example of the difficulty add-ons can present when discussing valuations would be the claims made in the Portuguese media in 2022 that the first additional payment in Darwin Nunez's £64m-plus-add-ons move from Benfica to Liverpool was triggered by the Uruguayan making just 10 appearances.

Then Liverpool boss Arne Slot rejected speculation he had not started Nunez in some games because it would trigger an additional payment.

Whether Liverpool paid more for Nunez, or club captain Virgil van Dijk - for whom they paid a flat fee of £75m to Southampton in 2017 - cannot be determined without knowing exactly what add-ons were included in the Nunez deal, then figuring out which conditions he has and has not met.

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Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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Chelsea have received interest from Benfica and at least one other Premier League club in centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo.

The 28-year-old defender has less than two years remaining on his contract and is increasingly likely to leave Stamford Bridge on a permanent basis this summer.

Chelsea have nine senior central defenders and new manager Xabi Alonso has publicly stated he wants to reduce that number to "four or five", with the club not involved in European competition next season.

Tosin was keen to remain in west London but he is open to exploring opportunities elsewhere - and the chance to reunite with his former Fulham boss Marco Silva is understood to be appealing.

However, several options are still being assessed, including the possibility of remaining in English football.

Chelsea regard academy graduates Levi Colwill and Josh Acheampong as untouchable. Maxence Lacroix is expected to play a major role after joining from Crystal Palace for £52m this summer, while Wesley Fofana is also expected to stay.

Other centre-back options, including Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile, are not training with the first-team squad and are available for transfer, while Mamadou Sarr and Aaron Anselmino could leave on loan.

Nizaar Kinsella and Elizabeth Conway
Chelsea reporter and Spanish football reporter

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Pep Chavarria's path to Stamford Bridge has been anything but conventional.

Unlike many players who reach elite clubs through prestigious academies or early top-flight breakthroughs, Chavarria had to take the longer route.

He did not make his La Liga debut until the age of 24 - an age when many players have already established themselves at the highest level.

Born in Figueres, a city in Catalonia in north-eastern Spain, Chavarria played for his hometown club before moving to Olot, where he built his reputation in Spain's lower tiers.

A move to Real Zaragoza in 2020 gave him his first taste of professional football at a bigger club, and - after two seasons in Spain's second division - he earned the opportunity to step into La Liga with Rayo Vallecano in 2022.

That timing was significant.

Rayo were not expected to compete with Spain's established giants but, under a strong collective structure, they became one of the division's most difficult opponents.

The club's ability to compete against wealthier clubs has repeatedly relied on identifying undervalued players and maximising their strengths - and Chavarria became another example of that model, having joined for less than £2m.

There he developed into a dependable top-flight full-back, combining defensive aggression with the physicality required to succeed in the role.

He made 125 appearances for Rayo and became a regular presence on the left side of defence.

Alongside new right-back Marco Palestra, who joined Chelsea for £47m from Atalanta in July, Chavarria's arrival gives Xabi Alonso the chance to replicate his wing-back system that helped Bayer Leverkusen win the Bundesliga title in 2024.

His signing also adds depth to the left-back position, after Marc Cucurella joined Real Madrid in June for £51.8m.

Read the full article here

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea winger Pedro Neto has attracted interest from four Premier League clubs, with one believed to be Manchester City.

The 26-year-old Portugal international is not regarded as one of the 'untouchable' players at Stamford Bridge and could therefore move before the transfer deadline.

However, Chelsea insist they would demand a significant fee for the attacker, who joined from Wolves for £54m in 2024.

The club believe the market for wide forwards has been inflated by a lack of options for leading clubs, highlighted by the £117m fee paid for Morgan Rogers and Paris St-Germain's £145m valuation of Bradley Barcola.

Those figures have influenced Chelsea's valuation of Neto, who is known to be of interest to Manchester City where he would be reunited with former Blues boss Enzo Maresca.

Maresca and Neto are understood to have a strong relationship, and the winger is among those reported to have been frustrated by the Italian's departure midway through last season.

New manager Xabi Alonso has not commented on Neto's future, but he has played the winger in pre-season friendlies, including the 3-0 win over AC Milan on Saturday.

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"Today is one of the best days of my life," says Chelsea's newest signing Pep Chavarria.

The 28-year-old left-back has left La Liga side Rayo Vallecano and penned a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge in a deal worth £16.3m, with a further £1.7m possible in add-ons.

Chavarria made 44 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring one goal and contributing three assists, as Rayo Vallecano finished eighth in La Liga and reached the Conference League final.

"It is a pleasure to be here," Chavarria told Chelsea FC, external. "This is a dream for me because this is one of the best clubs in the world. Today is one of the best days of my life.

"As a person, I'm very friendly. As a player, I love to attack, to defend and go box-to-box. I have a lot of intensity and energy on the pitch. These are my main abilities.

"I've played in Spain all my life but the Premier League is the best league in the world right now. There is a lot of quality and intensity, so I think it is the best league for me.

"I've already spoken with Xabi Alonso, I'm here thanks to him. He is one of the best coaches out there right now and he was also one of the best footballers. It is an honour to be here playing under him."

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Shim Mheuka's remarkable rise at Chelsea is set to be recognised with a new long-term contract until 2033.

The 18-year-old is finalising those talks and is then expected to take the next step in his development away from Stamford Bridge this summer.

The Premier League 2 Player of the Season has attracted interest from more than a dozen clubs across Europe and the Championship.

There remains a question over how any move is structured, reflecting both the competition for places at Chelsea and the high regard in which the club hold him.

It follows a remarkable campaign in which he scored 17 goals in 17 Under-21 matches, while also gaining valuable experience around the first team.

Mheuka's performances suggested he had outgrown academy football, but there appears little prospect of regular senior football at Chelsea this season.

Joao Pedro, Danny Welbeck, Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson, Emmanuel Emegha and Marc Guiu are all on the books as senior striking options, while highly rated 18-year-old Dastan Satpayev is another player viewed as part of the club's future.

Chelsea are expected to offload at least three of those forwards, but opportunities are still likely to be limited.

It is why a temporary move is seen as the best option for Mheuka, who is understood to favour a switch to mainland Europe over a move within England as he looks to continue his rapid progress.

Chelseaare prepared to sanction a loan move for 25-year-old Ukraine winger Mykhailo Mudryk, with Coventry Cityone of three Premier League clubs interested.(Football London), external

Chelseaand Manchester Unitedhave been offered the chance to sign England midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly as Arsenalcould be tempted into selling the 19-year-old after the arrival of Brazil international Bruno Guimaraes, 28, from Newcastle.(Football London, external)

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Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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Chelsea's club-record £117m signing Morgan Rogers has trained at Cobham for the first time since his move from Aston Villa.

The forward was part of a group of players returning from the World Cup to begin pre-season training following a holiday.

Rogers joined fellow new signings Jordan Henderson, Maxence Lacroix and Valentin Barco.

Meanwhile, Enzo Fernandez, who has been linked with a move to Manchester City, was also among the group, along with Reece James and Malo Gusto.

Striker Emmanuel Emegha was also pictured as he nears a return from the hamstring injury he sustained while scoring in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Bromley before the club's tour of Australia and Asia.

It leaves manager Xabi Alonso with a full squad for Saturday's friendly against Real Sociedad before Chelsea begin their Premier League campaign away at Fulham on 24 August.

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea are exploring potential loan moves for Mykhailo Mudryk as he looks to build up his fitness after 20 months out of football.

The Ukraine international, 25, has not played a competitive match since November 2024.

He was suspended for four years after returning an adverse finding for the banned substance meldonium.

However, an agreement was reached to resolve the doping case, and the winger has returned with substitute appearances in pre-season friendlies against Juventus, AC Milan and Johor Darul Ta'zim during Chelsea's tour of Asia.

In meetings at the end of the tour, Mudryk agreed to leave on loan before the transfer deadline on 1 September.

A move to Strasbourg, who share the same BlueCo ownership as Chelsea, has been proposed, but Mudryk would prefer a move to another English top-flight club.

Several other clubs have also emerged as potential destinations, including a number of leading sides in Italy.

Mudryk remains under contract until 2031, having joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk for an initial £61m in 2023.

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Enzo Fernandez is due back in Chelsea training on Tuesday after flying in from his holiday in Ibiza.

There are again rumours that Manchester City could make a move for him.

Chelsea's stance has remained consistent. Their asking price remains £120m should any club want to sign him, acknowledging that the Argentina international is open to a move.

However, Chelsea will not budge on that valuation and both Xabi Alonso and the club as a whole would be happy to reintegrate him into the squad this season.

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Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen has joined Ligue 1 side Strasbourg on a season-long loan.

The 24-year-old, who joined the Blues on a seven-year deal in July 2024, has racked up 36 appearances in all competitions over the past two seasons.

Jorgensen kept two clean sheets in 12 appearances last season, playing a vital role as Chelsea reached the FA Cup and Carabao Cup semi-finals.

The Denmark international also started all but one game as Enzo Maresca's side lifted the 2024-25 Conference League trophy, while also becoming a Club World Cup winner later that summer.

A club statement read: "We look forward to supporting him throughout his time in France. Good luck, Filip!"

Napolihave reopened talks with Chelseain a bid to finalise a deal to sign French centre-back Benoit Badiashile, 25. (Sky Sport - in Italian, external)

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The Premier League season is yet to get underway, but the second-round Carabao Cup draw has already been made.

As many as 11 Premier League teams are in the draw, with the format regionalised into northern and southern sections before round three.

Here is who the Premier League clubs have drawn:

Stoke v Hull

Newcastle v West Bromwich Albion

Nottingham Forest v Leeds

Preston v Everton

Ipswich v Leicester

Birmingham v Brentford

Fulham v AFC Wimbledon

Chelsea v Luton

Tottenham v Charlton

Plymouth v Coventry

All ties are to be played week commencing 24 August.

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Wigan Athletic are closing in on a season-long loan move for Chelsea midfielder Reggie Walsh.

The 17-year-old is also expected to sign a new contract on improved terms before heading out on his first loan spell in League One.

Walsh has just returned from Chelsea's pre-season tour of Australia and Asia under new manager Xabi Alonso. He still has to finalise personal terms and complete a medical in the North West.

However, the youngster was keen to play men's football this season after becoming Chelsea's youngest player to appear in the Champions League. He has also made three further senior appearances for the club.

Chelsea signed Harrison Bettoni from Wigan earlier in the transfer window. The midfielder, who plays in a similar position to Walsh, joined to strengthen the club's academy ranks.

Chelsea are also planning a similar move for academy winger Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, who is nearing a loan move to Championship side Portsmouth after travelling on the first-team's pre-season tour.

Striker Shim Mheuka is also expected to sign a new contract this week after broadly agreeing terms to remain at the club.

Mheuka, who was named Premier League 2 Player of the Season after scoring 17 goals in 17 appearances for the Under-21s last season, is then expected to join a club on loan.

Image source, Getty Images

Nizaar Kinsella has been answering some of your latest Chelsea transfer window questions.

Anas asked: Nizaar, do you believe Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck are the missing pieces in Chelsea's team? Would it be enough should Enzo Fernandez and Pedro Neto depart?

Nizaar said: I think, from a personality perspective, that both Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck fit that missing piece.

Chelsea and Xabi Alonso felt the squad had talent but lacked the right blend of personalities, something that has manifested itself in underwhelming seasons in recent years. They are also more likely to be happy to play a supporting role than younger players, given everything they have already achieved in the game.

As for Enzo Fernandez and Pedro Neto, I put together a projected Chelsea squad and made an estimate of a potential 26-man group based on the players we know are available for sale. I still think that is a very large squad for a club not competing in Europe, so I could see Chelsea managing if both were sold without signing direct replacements.

The club's incoming signings already provide cover, with Geovany Quenda likely to replace Neto and Valentin Barco an option to fill the gap left by Fernandez. Chelsea would be willing to consider offers for both players, but only at very high valuations that may ultimately not be met.

Get more transfer window questions and answers here

Ciaran Varley
BBC Sport Journalist

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Jose Mourinho was sacked by Roman Abramovich at both of his Chelsea spells in 2007 and 2015.

The veteran manager said that his former boss became increasingly interfering during his first spell at the club, including pushing for the signing of Andriy Shevchenko.

The Ukraine striker joined Chelsea in May 2006 for a then club record fee of approximately £30m, but scored only nine league goals in 48 games over a three-year spell in West London.

"Abramovich - incredible passion for football, but knowing nothing about the situation," Mourinho said on the new Netflix documentary series about his career.

"Shevchenko was on the table because of connections with the boss, connections with agents and I never wanted to sign him, but I never told no-one, so it's also my responsibility. You want to know the player that I wanted? [Samuel] Eto'o."

Following his dismissal by the Russian oligarch in September 2007, Mourinho had a chance for revenge when he returned to Stamford Bridge in March 2010 with Inter Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League. The Italian side beat Chelsea 1-0 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate, in a season when they went on to lift the trophy.

"Honestly, I was playing against Roman that game," Mourinho said.

"I was playing against a guy that sacked me. I go home happy and he goes home upset. Because I know how much he loved Chelsea, I know how much he loves to win.

"But I needed revenge, because football belongs to people like me. The other ones are the intruders that don't belong. Football belongs to the players, belongs to the coaches, belongs to the fans. Football will always belong to us."

Read more from Mourinho on his career so far

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Following another 10-hour private flight to Hong Kong, the Chelsea squad stayed at the Kerry Hotel, where local fans regularly gathered in the hope of securing selfies and autographs.

Although the attention remained positive, the level of excitement required heightened security, with some supporters even booking rooms in the same hotel in the hope of encountering players in lifts and public areas.

Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill were given the freedom to go shopping after picking up knocks against Spurs, but videos of their outing showed just how well-known they were.

They were chased for selfies inside a local mall to highlight how big some of these Premier League stars are in Asia, while many players were presented with hand-crafted gifts to take home from those lucky enough to get close to their heroes.

Perhaps more significant from a pre-season perspective was the arrival of new set-piece coach Austin MacPhee, who immediately assumed a prominent role within training sessions.

• Read more from inside Chelsea's tour

With a notepad in hand and junior coaches acting as blockers, the Scot - who had a successful spell at Aston Villa - barked instructions throughout sessions.

It marked a stage of the tour during which tactical work increased significantly as Alonso's attacking patterns became more visible.

Those ideas were evident despite the 1-0 defeat by Juventus at the world-class Kai Tak Stadium, although a poor pitch made life difficult for both teams in attack.

Alonso and a few of his players and staff also played a round of golf on Thursday, others were out for meals, playing a virtual reality game and some went to see the famous Tian Tan Buddha on a scheduled day off.

"We have learned a lot in these two weeks, not just on the football side but on the personal side in getting to know each other," Alonso said.

Overall, Chelsea faced less-than-ideal conditions during the tour, including extensive travel, sponsor commitments and difficult pitches.

They now have two weeks at Cobham to reset, facing Alonso's former club Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, 15 August, before visiting Fulham for their opening Premier League fixture on Monday, 24 August.

Despite the demands of the summer tour, it was a culture-building exercise for Alonso as he looks to help lift Chelsea's fortunes after their problems last season.