Chelsea

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We asked for your views on Clearlake Capital taking full ownership of Chelsea and whether Thursday's statement brought you any more clarity.

Here are some of your comments:

Nick: Anyone taking sole control will be good for direction and purpose. The fact that it's Clearlake is good for the redevelopment of the stadium. It was reported to want redevelopment of the existing site and that will help keep our identity more than a move to Earl's Court would have.

John: We will have to wait see if there's change in any plans as it's too early to know.

Phil: It is a good thing. Todd Boehly wanted to be seen as the main man and tried to follow what he thought was a good business modelm, but his decisions plus poor recruitment backfired on him. Priority has to be the ground and at least we won't have opposing views any more.

Dan: The new ownership is certainly an interesting move forwards. As long as it brings a new stadium (at the Stamford Bridge site) and some trophies then I am not overly fussed.

Keith: The owners are talking the talk, let's see if they walk the walk. I very much doubt it by what's gone on so far during their ownership.

Nick: Boehly entered the arena to disrupt football. He succeeded only in disrupting Chelsea. One down, one to go.

Clifford: Very sad that Boehly has departed. He was a good man, with all good intentions, and anyone who thinks differently is blind. Unfortunately, in the past he was guided wrongly by Winstanley and his team of sporting directors - thank goodness Xabi Alonso has put his foot down. Todd came into this club blind and was relying on certain people to guide him in the right direction. He invested his money where his mouth was.

Malcolm: It's unbelievable what a club with the success we had at Chelsea has become since Boehly took control. All the goodwill we had was just thrown away by their negligence. Look at the number of average players we bought on extended contracts and the numbers we still have. It can only improve...

Tasnim Chowdhury
BBC Sport journalist

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso has been speaking to the media before Friday's Premier League game against Brentford at Gtech Community Stadium (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On the ownership news announced on Wednesday, Alonso said: "I think it is an important day for the club. Thanks to the former owners for what they have done. I was not here but I know that they played an important role. I have a very good relationship with Behdad [Eghbali]; he was the one who came to Madrid to explain the project to convince me and we are working well together."

• On his confidence in Chelsea to compete for trophies: "That is why we are here. To work to get into that position, knowing that the competition that we have but for sure the ambition of the club, the potential of the club, the dimensions of the players, of where we are. We know where we want to be. We know everything takes time but the ambition for that is very clear."

• On team news: "In terms of injuries, we are having the last training session tomorrow so no one is ruled out for us for Friday so I prefer to be cautious and we will be waiting until tomorrow to make the final decision on every player."

• When asked about Brazil forward Joao Pedro, Alonso did not confirm an injury, but said it could be a "possibility" that he plays for Chelsea on Friday but not the international team.

• Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo is "getting closer" to fitness. The club will see captain Reece James' development before deciding if either player will be involved in Friday's game.

• Alonso said he does not know if Caicedo is in the Ecuador squad and he is focused on when the midfielder plays for Chelsea: "It is international duties, sometimes you can't control them so we will see what happens."

• He said when you are in the Premier League "you realise how tough it is each game, how tough it is to win" and added: "You need to give your best level because you get punished when you are not. We have experienced that."

• On Brentford: "They do [set pieces, long throws and fast transitions] very well but not just that. They do other things, not just the transition, not just the set-pieces. I think it is a team, a club that has developed the project and the game very well. They are very complete in many aspects, with or without the ball. And playing there, you see the numbers, they have great strength playing at home so it is going to be a big challenge. I saw the game from last year, you learn everything and it is going to be a big test for us."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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The Chelsea ownership has released a statement, external looking to the future after the news that chairman Todd Boehly and director Mark Walter have sold their stakes in the club to majority owner Clearlake Capital broke on Wednesday.

It means Clearlake - led by co-founders Behdad Eghbali and Jose E. Feliciano - have now acquired full control of the club.

Boehly, Walter and Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss each had a 12.8% stake, with Clearlake previously owning 61.5% of the Blues.

The statement in full:

"Yesterday marked an important milestone and the beginning of the next chapter for Chelsea.

"We thank our departing partners and are grateful for their contributions to the club. We move forward with a shared sense of purpose, clear direction and confidence in what comes next.

"Our ambition is clear: to compete at the highest level, to win major trophies, and to build sustained success.

"Chelsea FC supporters are the heart of this club and have been its true custodians for over 120 years. While we have the responsibility of ownership, this will always be your club. We are committed to listening, and building a Chelsea you can be proud of, on and off the pitch.

"Success on the pitch will always be our first priority. That means competing to win the Premier League and other major trophies and strengthening the club commercially so that we can invest consistently in the team. We will also maintain our focus on Chelsea's future infrastructure – investing thoughtfully and pursuing the right long-term solutions for generations to come.

"We are ambitious about what Chelsea can achieve, and equally conscious of the responsibility that comes with leading this great club.

"We will keep working to move Chelsea forward – together."

We want to hear from you. How are you feeling about the current ownership situation at the club? Does this news bring needed clarity? And has your perception changed at all with a more recent feeling of increased stability?

Get in touch with your views here

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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Attacking midfielder Kendry Paez has finally pulled on a Chelsea shirt, three years after agreeing a move to Stamford Bridge - albeit for the club's under-21 side.

Chelsea agreed a £17.27m deal to sign Paez from Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle in 2023 when he was 16, but his development has not progressed as quickly as many expected.

Now 19, Paez made his first appearance in Chelsea colours for Cobham Next Gen, the club's newly-renamed Under-21 side, as a 12th-minute substitute in a 4-1 win away to Arsenal on Saturday.

It comes after new manager Xabi Alonso said the midfielder was "not in my plans" and Chelsea listed him as an academy player on the club website.

There was one reminder of Paez's quality in the dying moments of Cobham Next Gen's (Chelsea Under-21s) defeat at Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday.

It was an outswinging cross from a short corner routine, which Harrison Bettoni tapped in during added time. He then put in another cross that caused havoc as Chelsea chased an equaliser in front of just 778 fans.

It was a much-needed boost for Spanish-speaking Paez, who appeared to stand alone from the other academy players before kick-off.

He did join in their warm-ups but mostly kept to himself before coming on in the 62nd minute.

Ultimately Chelsea lost, while Paez was a peripheral figure playing as a right-sided number 10, like Cole Palmer, in a system that mirrored Alonso's back-three shape.

That was until his flurry of activity late on.

Although he is not Chelsea's youngest player, Paez has already made 70 appearances for Ecuadorian side Independiente and more than 100 senior matches in total.

It is something he can fall back on in a more than salvageable situation.

Chelsea have been encouraged by his attitude, having him back in the building at Cobham where he has trained in a stable and elite environment.

There is stability around him as family attended his recent match at Wycombe.

The Blues are also now able to monitor his development more closely, while academy matches are regularly attended by scouts from across the English Football League and beyond.

There is optimism from those close to Paez that he can impress and gain a first loan move in England in January, or one of the six international loan spots will become available for him to go overseas again.

It is more than possible he can rediscover the form that attracted Chelsea in the first place and fulfil the immense potential that made him one of South America's most coveted young talents.

• Read more

Liverpool are considering a January move for 22-year-old Monaco and Senegal midfielder Lamine Camara, who missed out on a deadline-day move to Chelsea. (Football Insider, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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The draw for the Carabao Cup fourth round has been made. Here is a list of all the ties in the order they were drawn.

• Fleetwood Town v Arsenal

• Manchester City/Norwich v Brighton

• Everton v Newcastle

• Sunderland v Brentford

• Liverpool v Chelsea

• Bradford v Peterborough

• Fulham v Crystal Palace

• Bournemouth v Aston Villa

The matches will be played in the week commencing 26 October.

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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Academy prospects Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, Reggie Watson and Tayo Subuloye have been training with Chelsea's first team this week before Friday's Premier League meeting with Brentford.

Watson, 16, made his debut in last week's 6-3 Carabao Cup win over Leeds. However, Nicoll-Jazuli, also 16, and 18-year-old Subuloye are yet to make their senior competitive debuts, despite featuring in pre-season friendlies under Xabi Alonso.

The trio were notably absent from Chelsea under-21s' EFL Trophy defeat by Wycombe Wanderers in midweek, having instead trained with the senior squad.

It remains to be seen whether Alonso will include any of them in his plans for the Blues' final match before the international break.

The 2-1 defeat at Adams Park also provided evidence of the club's growing tactical alignment between academy and first-team football.

Under-21 manager Harry Hudson used Alonso's preferred 3-4-2-1 formation, and it is understood the system is increasingly being adopted across Chelsea's academy age groups to better prepare players for a potential step up to the first team.

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

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Arsenal defender Gabriel did not commit a red card offence when he kicked Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in the head earlier this month, the Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel has said.

Several players were on the floor near the goalline when the Brazil defender attempted to kick a loose ball, but made contact with Martinez's face.

Referee Chris Kavanagh could not see the incident, while video assistant referee Darren England did not initiate a review.

Both decisions in the fifth minute of Arsenal's 2-1 win have been unanimously supported by the KMI Panel.

The panel said: "Multiple players were on the ground competing and challenging for the loose ball, and the action of Gabriel was not deemed to be an act of violent conduct or serious foul play."

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Former Chelsea captain John Terry has advised the Blues' young squad to "do the basics really well" to avoid a repeat of Saturday's 2-2 draw with Hull City.

Xabi Alonso's side have won two of their four league games this season and impressed in a 6-3 Carabao Cup victory over Leeds United.

Chelsea, who have shown promise under Alonso, are looking to avoid going three league games without a win.

"The only advice I can give in these moments, and when you go through these moments as a player, [is] do the basics really well," Terry said in a review of the Hull match on his YouTube channel.

"When you have got time to play on the ball, you have got to be really comfortable because that is the game now, but when you get opportunities, especially against teams like that [Hull] that are going to throw bodies in the box, long crosses, long throws, direct balls from the goalkeeper, you have to win those battles.

"So again, [it is] the real basics of blocks, tackles, headers from corners, from long throw-ins, all of these bits - just get the ball as far away as possible, and get people in front of you working as hard as possible. For me, that's the real basics, [and] you don't see enough of it now.

"The amount of times I used to make tackles or a big header, and the supporters would love it - they are the bits as a defender that have to get your blood going, and it is those little moments that we need to get better at."

The draw against Hull has allowed leaders Arsenal and Manchester City to open up a five-point lead on the Blues, with their next game against Brentford on Friday.

"I think, firstly, we need to get settled," Terry added. "Let's not panic, but it just feels like it is an opportunity missed.

"But Friday night becomes massive now before international break, it is a game we now have to go and win."

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

The question as to why Aston Villa sold goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez so "cheaply" to Chelsea this summer has been the subject of several questions sent in via our Ask Me Anything form for the West Midlands club.

On the face of it a deal worth £7.5m to sell a World Cup winner and Villa's best goalkeeper in the Premier League era does look a steal.

But Martinez had been looking to go for the past two summers, Villa had a replacement already in the building in Zion Suzuki and the transfer sagas were getting tiring.

Last summer, it was potentially Manchester United and this time it was Juventus - until Chelsea made their move to take him to Stamford Bridge.

A parting of the ways was best for both parties and, don't forget, Villa were also looking to reduce the wage bill and the average age of the squad.

With Martinez being one of the higher earners and older players it made sense to find a solution for him.

Juve could not agree a fee, having tabled fairly low offers, and it looked like Martinez was staying, especially when head of football operations Damian Vidagany said in the summer his future was at Villa Park.

Yet Chelsea - and you can find their Ask Me Anything form here - needed another goalkeeper and made their move.

The final fee may look low initially but when everything is taken into consideration it was the right deal for everyone.

Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions.

We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do.

Find out more here

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Chelsea and Hull City.

Here are some of your comments:

Chelsea fans

Robin: Really poor defensive display again, with basic errors from Hato and Gusto, both of whom need to be dropped. Martinez was all over the place for the second goal as well. Five points dropped from winning positions and it's only gameweek four. It's going to be a long season.

Chris: We are a bizarre team - look absolutely incredible going forward but defensively we are a shambles. None of the defenders seem capable of defending, never make a tackle and are always the last to react. I feel for Martinez as he has often done his bit but gets no help from any defenders. We deserve to concede every game. Woeful.

Peter: This is the Premier League not a Saturday afternoon kickaround at the local park. Chelsea were unprofessional, lackadaisical, wasteful and lucky to draw as Hull should have scored four. As a lifelong Chelsea fan, I find it disappointing that we threw away two valuable points through undisciplined defensive naivety. We must play more cohesively and with intelligence if we are to prosper at this level.

James: This season is going to be fun! Goalscoring is not going to be an issue but keeping them out clearly is!

Hull fans

Gary: Excellent. After going behind, we didn't wilt and turned it around. Once Chelsea equalised we didn't sit in and defend and had good chances to win it. Full of belief and proving a lot of skeptics wrong.

Chris: I can recall the last time the Tigers drew 2-2 at Chelsea: March 1966 in the FA Cup sixth round. We were leading the Third Division at the time, with Chelsea fourth in the First Division. Ken Wagstaff scored twice in the last 10 minutes to make Tigers history. I was only 10, but I was there at Boothferry Park for the replay. Alas, logic returned and the Blues won 3-1. The current side are writing their own history. UTT.

Andy: I and many other City fans have to now start believing anything is possible. The team spirit is not something you can buy and we lead the way. Commentators and pundits need to get off their high horses sometimes and treat us like the other 19 teams in the Premier League. The shock factor is now in the past.

Ray: Can't understand why the match reports in all types of media always focus on how poor the opposition play, yet very little credit is given to the Tigers. They may not have the most expensive squad but what they do have is determination and a collective approach to each game - every player knows what they have to do. Then there's the coaching staff led by Sergej Jakirovic - current Premier League manager of the month. He was unknown when he arrived in Hull and he's delivered way beyond anyone's expectations. So, can we have a bit more credit for the Tigers and less about the opposition's failings?

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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It was a familiar story for the Premier League's top scorers.

Chelsea's entertaining 2-2 draw with Hull on Saturday means the Blues have now found the net 10 times this season - but they have also conceded two or more goals in each of their opening four league matches for the first time in 11 years.

Only Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town have conceded more than Chelsea's nine goals in the top flight so far this season.

The issue predates manager Xabi Alonso's arrival. Chelsea are now without a clean sheet in 20 league matches stretching back to January, their longest such run for 65 years.

Alonso still appears to be experimenting. This week alone, he changed shape in three successive matches - from the defeat at Arsenal to the 6-3 Carabao Cup win over Leeds in midweek and again against Hull.

Yet it was Hull who looked more likely to find a winner. No wonder there was a subdued mood at Stamford Bridge.

Alonso summed up the feeling afterwards, saying his side needed to be "competing better" and avoid being "soft" in duels.

There were also individual errors.

Jorrel Hato misjudged a cross before Hull scored their equaliser, while Mohamed Belloumi's second goal came after Chelsea failed to clear a corner.

Despite an early goal from Morgan Rogers and a second-half equaliser from Joao Pedro, with Cole Palmer involved in both strikes, Chelsea had to settle for a point.

With Rogers, Palmer and Pedro in fine form offensively this season, the Blues know they need to find solutions defensively.

Meanwhile, with Moises Caicedo out injured, Chelsea have looked short of quality and numbers in the middle of the park.

Monaco pulled the plug on Chelsea's £47m deal to sign midfielder Lamine Camara on deadline day, having made attempts to sign Roma's Manu Kone and Fulham's Sander Berge as alternative options.

Key defensive signing Maxence Lacroix was left out on Saturday but none of the defensive options have excelled this season, although their attack remain in blistering form.

It will be on Alonso to fix these problems on the training pitch with no more opportunities to sign players until the January transfer window.

Read more on Chelsea's familiar defensive failings here

John Bennett
BBC Final Score reporter at Stamford Bridge

Sitting just a few rows behind Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, it was clear to see that he's still trying to find the answers when it comes to making this free-scoring side into a more solid team.

It was difficult not to have sympathy for Jorrel Hato, who had a nightmare first-half with some schoolboy defending to allow Hull City to equalise. It was no surprise to see him replaced at the break.

Even after that though, the Blues back-line looked nervous and the fans seemed nervy every time Hull City pushed forward. It also didn't help that Emi Martinez has not hit the ground running in a Chelsea number one shirt.

There are some excellent individual players in that Chelsea defence but - whether it's a back four or back three - Alonso needs to find solutions quickly or there is no way they'll be able to keep pace with some of the more complete teams at the top end of the Premier League.

It must be getting frustrating for their amazing attacking players who are certainly delivering so far in this campaign.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Chelsea's performance

What did you make of Hull City's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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There was a subdued atmosphere at the final whistle among Chelsea's players, staff and supporters.

They had watched the team's free-flowing attacking football come unstuck against a Hull City side who had not conceded a Premier League goal before kick-off.

Chelsea had previously beaten Fulham 3-2, won 4-3 at home to Brighton and lost 2-1 at Arsenal. They also overcame Leeds 6-3 in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

Having conceded twice here, Chelsea have now gone 20 Premier League matches without a clean sheet, a run stretching back to January. They have also conceded two or more goals in every match against Premier League opposition under new manager Xabi Alonso.

Although Chelsea are the division's top scorers with 10 goals this season, they have also conceded nine, more than all but two other Premier League sides.

The question is why, and whether the issue can be solved with the players currently at Alonso's disposal.

There is little doubt that Alonso's tactical changes have at times left Chelsea vulnerable and lacking control in possession.

Chelsea's midfield options have also come under scrutiny since Monaco withdrew from a £47m deal for Lamine Camara on deadline day. While the attack has largely thrived, several defenders have struggled for consistency.

The signing of goalkeeper Martinez from Aston Villa for £7.5m to replace Robert Sanchez has not, on its own, resolved those problems.

In recent weeks, Chelsea have often been rescued by the quality of Palmer, Joao Pedro and Rogers. This time, however, the task proved too great.

Joao Pedro still earned Chelsea a point, finishing from Palmer's low cross after earlier providing the assist for Rogers' opener.

While Chelsea's football has been entertaining, it is difficult to see how they can continue relying on this approach and consistently produce positive results.

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso told BBC Match of the Day: "We're disappointed with the result. We wanted to win. We have to be disappointed with some parts of the performance especially when we had the lead.

"We were too soft for the equaliser. We can do much better.

"[Playing well for] 15 to 20 minutes is not enough. You have to be on your top for 90 minutes. There are times we're not able to keep that momentum and intensity. We could have done more for sure because we had chances.

"We had one or two good chances to get the winner but you're still open. Not happy. We can do better. We got what we deserved.

"We need to be more solid and be more controlled. New players and new staff. This is the process. In a few months I'm sure we'll be able to control better."

Did you know?

• Chelsea have conceded 2+ goals in each of their first four matches to start a Premier League season for the first time since 2015-16 (first five games).

• The Blues' first two Premier League home games in 2026-27 have seen 11 goals (six for, five against), the most in Chelsea's opening two home league matches since 1997-98 (also 11), while they've only once before shipped five goals across their opening two home league games without losing, in 1932-33 (D2 GF6 GA6).

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest

• Bournemouth v Brentford

• Chelsea v Hull City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Crystal Palace v Ipswich Town

• Liverpool v Fulham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Tottenham v Everton (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Sunderland v Arsenal (20:00)

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

How to follow the Premier League weekend across the BBC

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Chelsea v Hull City" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Everton match", for example.

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Fans of Premier League clubs can now get real-time scores live on their phone lock screen for every game.

Simply follow your favourite football teams on the BBC Sport app for updates throughout the 2026-27 season.

Find out more here

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