Blues blow Milan away in 3-0 pre-season winpublished at 16:24 BST 8 August
16:24 BST 8 August
Image source, Getty Images
Chelsea produced a fine performance to comfortably beat AC Milan 3-0 in a pre-season friendly in Jakarta, Indonesia on Saturday.
Xabi Alonso's side dominated throughout the game against a Milan team managed by former Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, but did not take the lead until first-half stoppage time through Joao Pedro.
The Brazil forward had missed two presentable chances earlier in the half, but headed home an in-swinging corner from six yards.
Pedro then doubled his and Chelsea's tally just seconds after the break by converting from a floated, in-swinging Pedro Neto cross at the far post.
The Blues scored their third four minutes later through Moises Caicedo's fine, volleyed outside-of-the-foot finish after a corner was floated to him on the edge of the box.
'I want to be the next top one' - Palestrapublished at 17:07 BST 7 August
17:07 BST 7 August
Nizaar Kinsella Chelsea reporter from Sydney
Image source, Chelsea FC
Chelsea's new £47m full-back Marco Palestra has been one of the strongest performers in pre-season.
The 21-year-old Italy international is preparing to face AC Milan on Saturday after playing in each of Chelsea's three pre-season matches.
He joined the Blues despite an offer from Inter Milan, and Palestra acknowledges he is the latest Italian, following the likes of Gianfranco Zola, Gianluca Vialli and Jorginho, to come through Stamford Bridge.
"I know Zola played at Cagliari and at Chelsea," Palestra said, speaking in English at the team's hotel in Sydney.
"He's a legend and maybe I can do what he did at Chelsea. I spoke with Davide Zappacosta, who I played with, and he always told me good things. A lot of Italian players played here. I want to be the next top one."
Palestra - signed from Atalanta - spent last season on loan at Cagliari, a move he says "changed my life".
The campaign saw him win Serie A Defender of the Year, record the highest sprint distance and the most dribbles of any defender in the division over the season.
New manager Xabi Alonso spoke to Palestra as Chelsea won the race to sign him, opening up the possibility of using him as both a full-back and wing-back.
"He told me what he wanted from me, his ideas and other things," Palestra continued.
"It was not only football. He said he likes me because he has watched a lot of my games. He likes my flexibility because I can play on the right, on the left, deeper or higher up the pitch.
"It was a good conversation about everything, so I was very happy with it. There were some clubs that wanted me, but when Chelsea wanted me, I agreed because they are one of the biggest clubs in the world."
Although captain Reece James has yet to join the squad in pre-season, he wrote Palestra a "beautiful message" and offered him support and advice should he need it.
Palestra comes across as humble, describing himself as a fan of Serie A and Cristiano Ronaldo, and concludes he is living his "dream" by joining a club like Chelsea.
Financial necessity - why Chelsea stockpile talentpublished at 13:25 BST 7 August
13:25 BST 7 August
Nizaar Kinsella Chelsea reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Chelsea have been stockpiling players for more than a decade, dating back to former owner Roman Abramovich's reign.
Under Abramovich, they had as many as 42 players out on loan before Fifa introduced limits designed to curb the practice.
However, since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took charge in 2022 Chelsea have acquired Strasbourg, adding to the growing number of multi-club ownership models across Europe.
They also embarked on a strategy of signing younger players on lower wages, who can be moved in and out as required.
Among those signings was midfielder Andrey Santos, who arrived for £12m after a season in Brazil's second division before being sold to Manchester United for £50m.
Chelsea have spent £1.8bn on acquiring talent since BlueCo took over the club four years ago, comfortably more than any other club in Europe.
However, they have also raised nearly £1bn through player sales, including a Premier League record £300m, again the highest figure in Europe during that period.
Chelsea are expected to make a similar number of sales this summer, with Trevoh Chalobah's move to Como taking their total beyond £150m and Alejandro Garnacho's loan move to Aston Villa including an obligation to buy set to be worth about £40m next summer.
They have the lowest revenues among the traditional 'big six' clubs.
That is largely because of the size of Stamford Bridge, commercial underperformance, a kit deal with Adidas that has not kept pace with rivals, the absence of a front-of-shirt sponsor and missing out on Champions League football in three of the past four seasons.
It is player trading that makes up much of that shortfall, in much the same way as it does for Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth, albeit with loftier ambitions of winning trophies and qualifying for the Champions League.
Who is in and who is out at Chelsea?published at 10:59 BST 7 August
10:59 BST 7 August
Nizaar Kinsella Chelsea reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Chelsea are out of European football next season after finishing 10th in a campaign where Enzo Maresca left the club and Liam Rosenior was dismissed.
Xabi Alonso has some difficult decisions ahead.
His goalkeeping options appear set, with Robert Sanchez joined by exciting Belgian prospect Mike Penders, 21, following his impressive loan spell at French club Strasbourg, with with Teddy Sharman-Lowe likely to serve as the third-choice understudy.
At full-back, club captain Reece James, also capable of playing in midfield, is joined on the right by Malo Gusto and Marco Palestra.
Chelsea have put a £75m price tag on Gusto after Manchester City emerged as potential suitors.
On the left, the Blues have Jorrel Hato and are close to completing the £16.3m signing of Pep Chavarria.
At centre-back, Chelsea have nine players and Alonso has said the group needs reducing to "four or five".
Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile are available for sale, while Mamadou Sarr is expected to depart on loan. That would leave new signing Maxence Lacroix competing with Levi Colwill, Josh Acheampong, Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo.
It remains unclear what will happen with Argentina Under-20 international Aaron Anselmino, although another loan move appears likely having spent last term with Borussia Dortmund and Strasbourg.
He is joined by fellow key central midfielder Moises Caicedo, fit-again Romeo Lavia, new signing Valentin Barco, who can play a number of positions in that area, Jordan Henderson and Dario Essugo.
Essugo, 21, was previously told he would be staying but is open to a loan move because of his need for regular football after an injury-hit campaign.
The club insist all options remain open and are assessing his fitness following his return after 20 months out, because of a suspension relating to a positive test for the banned substance meldonium.
Jamie Gittens is another option on the left wing, while Pedro Neto and new arrival Geovany Quenda are primarily right-sided players. Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers are the two number 10s.
Chelsea would also like to have three strikers going into next season. Alongside Joao Pedro and summer signing Danny Welbeck, one further forward is likely to remain in the squad.
That looks likely to be Emegha, although there remains uncertainty given Chelsea also have Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap on their books.
There is some overlap but, from information gathered by BBC Sport to date, this is the best projection of what Chelsea's squad could look like.
Available for loan: Guiu, Wiley, Kellyman, Mheuka, Walsh, Kavuma-McQueen, Kendry Paez.
Available for sale/uncertain futures, with desired fees for some players in brackets: Badiashile (£30m), Disasi (£25m), Guiu (£25m), Datro Fofana, Delap, Jackson (£65m), Slonina, Gusto (£75m), Fernandez (£120m), Emegha, Neto, Essugo.
Mudryk trained like a 'freak' - Tosinpublished at 17:03 BST 6 August
17:03 BST 6 August
Nizaar Kinsella Chelsea reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Mudryk has not played a competitive match since November 2024
Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo says Mykhailo Mudryk trained like a "freak" to survive his 20-month ban for testing positive for the banned substance meldonium.
The Ukraine international, 25, returned to make a 12-minute cameo appearance in the 1-0 defeat to Juventus at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong on Wednesday.
"Misha is a freak," Tosin said. "His work rate is unbelievable. There is no doubt he has been working hard throughout this whole time."
Mudryk had only been cleared to return to football by the Football Association and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Friday. He travelled over the weekend and had just two first-team training sessions, having used a private coach and worked alone for well over a year.
Tosin added: "I know he has been doing sessions away. I have seen him. I know the guys he has been working with, so it's good.
"Misha is my guy. I have kept in contact with him throughout and it is really nice to have him back. I am really happy for him.
"You can see he is just really happy to be around and back in the environment. It is obviously going to take him some time, but we are all here to support him."
Tosin, now 28, had consistently been Chelsea's oldest player since joining on a free transfer from Fulham in 2024.
With Danny Welbeck, 35, and Jordan Henderson, 36, having now arrived from Brighton and Brentford respectively, he is no longer the oldest player at Stamford Bridge.
"No, thank God. We have Welbeck now," he joked.
"They are still uncles too. They are still young in life, so it's fine. It was pretty funny being the oldest in the squad when I was 26, 27 and 28.
"I have known Danny for a long time, just from growing up in Manchester. We have all seen that he scores goals. Him and Jordan will add experience."
Kavuma-McQueen and Walsh consider loan movespublished at 08:57 BST 6 August
08:57 BST 6 August
Nizaar Kinsella Chelsea reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Chelsea academy duo Ryan Kavuma-McQueen and Reggie Walsh are weighing up their loan options away from Stamford Bridge.
The pair are among the star players emerging from Chelsea's Cobham-based training centre and have been part of new manager Xabi Alonso's pre-season tour of Asia and Australia.
However, Portsmouth are plotting to take Kavuma-McQueen, 17, on a season-long loan deal into the Championship after Chelsea's tour and believe they are in pole position.
Furthermore, Walsh, also 17, is exploring his options due to a high-level of competition in Alonso's midfield.
Shim Mheuka, Ishe Samuels-Smith and Omari Kellyman are also available for loan and are likely to move to the Championship, although Kellyman is also considering options overseas.
It follows Genesis Antwi moving to sister club Strasbourg as a host of academy players get impressive loans, notably Jesse Derry joining Portuguese giants Sporting and Harrison Murray-Campbell moving to Belgian top flight side Kortrijk.
There are already seven academy stars on loan away from Stamford Bridge this summer.
The 2026-27 Premier League season has not yet kicked off, but it has already made history.
Nine clubs are set to begin the campaign with a new permanent manager - the highest number ever for the top flight's opening weekend.
The scale of turnover has dramatically reshaped the Premier League's managerial landscape.
The upheaval did not begin this summer. The 2025-26 Premier League season featured 11 managerial changes, with Forest among the clubs to make multiple appointments during the campaign.
The average tenure of a top-flight boss now stands at about 20 months, illustrating just how fleeting life in one of football's most demanding jobs can now be.
Recent history also suggests changing manager offers no guarantees. During the 2025-26 season, several clubs that switched coaches continued to struggle. Forest employed three managers during the campaign, Tottenham changed head coach twice, while Chelsea also altered direction before the season ended.
Others, however, did enjoy an immediate uplift. Michael Carrick averaged 2.6 points per game across his first five matches as Manchester United boss, while Liam Rosenior collected the same return after taking charge of Chelsea. Rosenior's tenure ultimately proved short-lived, though, with the Blues winning just one of his final eight Premier League matches before he was dismissed.
Research discussed in the Financial Times,, external external, drawing on findings from Soccernomics by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski, argues that player quality and spending remain stronger predictors of results than managerial changes alone.
Sports consultancy Twenty First Group says coaches often succeed or fail according to the environment they inherit as much as their own abilities.
Since the Premier League began in 1992, only six managers have won the title in their first season in charge of their club.
Mourinho became the first to achieve the feat with Chelsea in 2004-05, before Carlo Ancelotti repeated it with the same club in 2009-10.
Manuel Pellegrini guided Manchester City to the title in his debut campaign in 2013-14, Claudio Ranieri masterminded Leicester City's remarkable triumph in 2015-16, Conte won the league in his first season at Chelsea in 2016-17, and most recently Slot led Liverpool to the championship in his maiden campaign in 2025-26.
With almost half the division beginning the campaign under new leadership, the Premier League enters one of its most unpredictable seasons in recent memory.
What are the new financial rules Premier League clubs must stick to?published at 06:46 BST 6 August
06:46 BST 6 August
Katharine Sharpe and Simon Casson BBC Sport senior journalists
The 2025-26 Premier League and Championship seasons included the introduction of squad-cost ratio rules on a shadow basis, testing to see how a spending cap for squad costs set at a percentage of a club's total revenues might work.
These SCR regulations have now been permanently implemented for the 2026-27 season, replacing previous profit and sustainability rules (PSR).
Uefa has a 70% SCR cap for European competitions, so Premier League clubs who qualified for Europe fall in line with this limit.
Clubs who did not qualify for Europe, and so are only taking part in domestic competitions, are capped at 85% of their total revenue.
However, clubs can spend above the 85% limit by using a multi-year rolling allowance of 30%. This allows them to invest ahead of revenue and variance or sporting underperformance.
Every club will start this coming season on 85% + 30% allowance, so effectively 115%.
If a club spends 105% on their squad in 2026-27, it means they have used 20% of their allowance, and for 2027-28 their maximum spend before potential sporting sanction is 95%.
If a club spend less than 85%, they can increase the allowance again to the maximum of 30%.
Spending above 85% but under the allowance results in a financial penalty, whereas going over both the 85% and the allowance will land the club a fixed six-point deduction which increases by one point for every £6.5m spent over the 115%.
'Anchoring' was also trialled in 2025-26, which meant any club's spending could not exceed a multiple of income earned by the bottom-placed club - however this was rejected at a vote of Premier League clubs.
SCR was approved by a vote of 14 clubs to six, and was introduced alongside sustainability and systemic resilience (SSR) regulations.
SSR involves three tests that are applied throughout the season:
Working capital test - assesses short-term cash resources
Liquidity test - assesses medium-term liquidity and resilience
Positive equity test -assesses long-term financial health
The aim of the SCR and SSR regulations is to stop the richest owners providing endless funds to their clubs to sign new players, as any money injected this way does not count as seasonal revenue.
They will also aim to prevent clubs from overspending and accruing unmanageable losses.
'No point to take risk' - Alonso updates on Palmer and Colwillpublished at 15:54 BST 5 August
15:54 BST 5 August
Nizaar Kinsella Football reporter at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong
Image source, Getty Images
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has explained Cole Palmer's absence from the 1-0 defeat by Juventus in Hong Kong.
Palmer watched from the stands at Kai Tak Stadium after also missing the open training session the previous day.
Fellow England international Levi Colwill was also absent from training and Wednesday's match.
Asked about the pair, Alonso said: "Yes, they had a few, not injuries, discomforts. Cole with a whack and Levi as well, so no point to take today's risk and hopefully they will be fine for Saturday."
Alonso was then asked whether Palmer's problem was a recurrence of the groin issue that disrupted much of his previous season.
He added: "No, it's a whack, a contact injury that he had against Spurs. So it's not that."
Palmer had earlier described it as a "slight issue" in an on-pitch interview and said he was "disappointed not to play".
Meanwhile, striker Danny Welbeck, winger Geovany Quenda and goalkeeper Mike Penders all made their first appearances for the Blues during pre-season.
On their debuts, Alonso said: "Yeah, happy with Geo [Quenda]. After he missed the last week in Australia, he wasn't there but he came a couple of days ago, and to play 45 minutes after the little injury, he's been very good."
It was also winger Mykhailo Mudryk's first appearance in more than 20 months after his ban ended following a positive test for the banned substance meldonium at the end of 2024.
Alonso revealed it had always been the plan for the 25-year-old Ukraine international to make a brief substitute appearance.
"It was emotional for everyone at the club to see him back, especially when I told him before the game that he could play for 10 to 15 minutes," he said.
"He was thrilled, for sure. After such a long period, it was a great feeling for him to be back on the pitch, and for everyone as well."
Blues lose to Juventus in Honk Kong as Mudryk returnspublished at 15:43 BST 5 August
15:43 BST 5 August
Image source, Getty Images
Mykhailo Mudryk returned to action following 20 months away from the game following his suspension for testing positive for a banned substance, while new signings Danny Welbeck and Geovany Quenda started as Chelsea were defeated 1-0 by Juventus in Honk Kong on Wednesday.
After a first half of few chances, Edon Zhegrova gave the Serie A side the lead with a fine left-footed strike to beat half-time substitute Mike Penders in goal.
Mudryk - who had not played a competitive match since November 2024, having been provisionally suspended after returning an "adverse finding" for banned substance meldonium - played the final eight minutes, but Xabi Alonso's side could not level the contest despite late opportunities for Estevao Willian and Romeo Lavia.
Danny Welbeck's move to Chelsea for an undisclosed fee, means the 35-year-old joins a very small list of players to have represented Manchester United, Arsenal and the Blues.
Only Scotland's George Graham has played for the three clubs in his playing career before Welbeck.
Unlike the England international, Graham played for Chelsea first, then Arsenal, followed by a two-year stint at Old Trafford.
Welbeck started his career at the Red Devils before a £16m move to the Emirates in 2014.
Alonso set to land key target Chavarriapublished at 08:56 BST 5 August
08:56 BST 5 August
Chelsea are closing in on an agreement with Rayo Vallecano for defender Pep Chavarria.
The Blues, who have already agreed personal terms with the 28-year-old, are finalising a move worth about £16.3m plus further add-ons, with all parties increasingly confident about striking a deal.
Left-back Chavarria is a key target for new manager Xabi Alonso having faced him while he was in charge of Real Madrid last season.
Alongside new right-back Marco Palestra, who joined Chelsea for £47m from Atalanta in July, Chavarria's arrival would give Alonso the chance to replicate his wing-back system that helped Bayer Leverkusen win the Bundesliga title in 2024.
Gossip: Man City eye Netopublished at 08:54 BST 5 August
08:54 BST 5 August
If Savinho decides to join Tottenham, Manchester City will turn to Chelsea and Portugal winger Pedro Neto and have already made contact with the 26-year-old's camp over a possible move. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Chelsea are eyeing a move for 26-year-old Porto and Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who was previously linked with Manchester United and has a 60m euro (£51m) release clause. (Mirror), external
Tottenham are interested in Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson but are yet to make a formal approach for the 25-year-old Senegal international, who is valued at £65m by the Blues. (Mail), external
A youngster to watch - Dastan Satpaevpublished at 07:47 BST 5 August
07:47 BST 5 August
Nizaar Kinsella Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Kazakhstan striker Dastan Satpaev, 17, appears the most likely of Chelsea's young prospects to break through, having received praise from new manager Xabi Alonso.
Satpaev opened the scoring against Western Sydney Wanderers with a powerful near-post finish and looks quick, powerful and capable of finding the net regularly.
He already has Champions League experience and is a superstar in his homeland, winning nine caps since 2025.
There have also been impressive cameos from midfielders Landon Emenalo, who has been converted into a left-back, Reggie Walsh, Reggie Watson and Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli.
Fernandez can handle English boos - Caicedopublished at 15:31 BST 4 August
15:31 BST 4 August
Nizaar Kinsella Chelsea reporter in Hong Kong
Image source, Getty Images
Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo says Enzo Fernandez will be able to handle any negative reaction from England fans after his role in Argentina's victory over the Three Lions.
The Argentina international, 25, cupped his ears after scoring the equaliser in last month's feisty World Cup semi-final win against England.
The following day, he posted a photo on Instagram of himself and three team-mates laughing alongside Oasis song Wonderwall, after Argentina's extra-time victory.
Asked whether Fernandez could cope with not being one of the most popular players in England, Caicedo said: "100%. He is a strong player and has his own mentality.
"He is a world champion. For sure he is going to manage the pressure and continue how he finished."
Fernandez is also understood to be open to leaving Stamford Bridge this summer and, although Real Madrid have denied an interest in signing him, he has spoken about his desire to move to the Spanish capital.
Caicedo, meanwhile, is among the players who have committed their future to Chelsea with a new contract, alongside captain Reece James, while striker Joao Pedro is expected to be rewarded with improved terms and a one-year extension after his performances.
Asked whether he has been encouraging Fernandez to stay, Caicedo added: "I love Enzo. He knows I have a lot of respect for him. We know the player he is and he is also a great person.
"I want him to stay. If he stays here, he is going to be massive for us. For sure he is going to think and do what is best for him."
Caicedo - speaking before Chelsea's pre-season match against Juventus in Hong Kong on Wednesday - said he did not need convincing from Chelsea's sporting leadership to stay at Stamford Bridge, saying he wanted to become a "legend" at the club despite last season's 10th-place finish.
Alonso on Mudryk's return, Jackson's future and transfer planspublished at 15:29 BST 4 August
15:29 BST 4 August
Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso has been speaking to the media before his side face Juventus in their pre-season game in Hong Kong (Wed, 12:30 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Reflecting on Mykhailo Mudryk's first training session since the news he is free to continue his football career after his suspension: "We are thrilled that Misha could be with us. We are thrilled. I think that you could see his smile, how great it was for him to be part of a team, because he's been a long time training on his own. And fitness level, we will see."
Asked whether he and new signing Danny Welbeck could feature against Juventus on Wednesday, Alonso said: "Yes. Both of them."
Has a decision been made on Mudryk's future?: "No decision made. Everything has happened so quick, so the main thing is that he was thinking about the person, to feel that he was back in the group dynamic, part of a team, and we need to assess. But for sure, he's a special player, it's a special case with him, so we need to be sensitive."
Alonso gave an update on Jordan Henderson's fitness after signing: "With Jordan, we expect that he can start training with all the rest of the players that were involved in the semis of the World Cup. We have a few of them involved, so we are looking forward to welcome them. And Jordan, we need to assess because of the injury he had, how long it would take to be fit to compete, because he can train, but we need to be aware of the situation."
And a fitness update on goalkeeper Robert Sanchez: "Rob is much better, so let's see tomorrow."
Does he see Nicolas Jackson as part of the club's future? "Yes, Nico is a great player. He's a threat to play against any defence, so we want to have players that can compete, and Nico for sure is one of them. We need to go day by day checking options, but we are happy that Nico is with us."
On the Blues' pre-season after the Spurs defeat in Australia: "We are in the middle of the pre-season. So we take every game, we analyse it, the things that we have worked, we have done right, what we can improve, and from the Spurs game, we have analysed it, and from tomorrow as well. We know that Juve is a great team, with great experienced players, with a great coach, so it's going to be a great, interesting and useful test for us."
Is there pressure on Chelsea given they've spent a lot on transfers?: "Well, each season it's a moment to invest, to get players, to sell players, but to do things with a plan that we had in mind. So, we are still three weeks to go in the transfer market, but we have an idea how we want to finish. Let's try to accomplish it the best possible way, and that makes sense with the finances as well."
Welbeck and Henderson 'might not have much time left at the top'published at 15:29 BST 4 August
15:29 BST 4 August
Pat Nevin Former Chelsea winger and presenter
Image source, Getty Images
When a business gets something wrong, the executives sometimes do the precise opposite just to show that they have learned their lesson.
There can however be a problem of overshooting the target in their eagerness to fix the problem.
Chelsea fans may think this could be happening down at Stamford Bridge, as the obvious lack of experience in the squad built according to the initial Clearlake plan was clearly flawed.
However, getting in the soon-to-be 36-year-old Danny Welbeck and chasing the currently 36-year-old Jordan Henderson is risky. Two exceptional players, both exactly the types you want in the club's current predicament, but with the obvious possible flaw: they might not have that much time left at the top. That's before you consider the possibility of injuries to players of that vintage.
Had both been a couple of years younger, it would have been far less riskier, but there just aren't that many outfield 36-year-olds in the Premier League able to do it week in, week out. There is a reason for that.
The World Cup had a whole bunch of players older than that who played exceptionally well, but an English league season is a very different thing.
I wish them the best though as both players were, and indeed are, consummate professionals.
Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.
Image source, Getty Images
