Chelsea

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter in Sydney

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso is "very happy" to be welcoming Mykhailo Mudryk back into his squad after the resolution of his doping case with the Football Association (FA), but believes it is "too early" to understand what he can do.

After falling to a 2-1 defeat by 10-man Tottenham, which also saw the Blues fall short of winning the Sydney Super Cup, Alonso revealed that Mudryk will be joining his squad at their next pre-season destination.

"He is coming to Hong Kong but I haven't spoken to him yet," he said. "It is too early to tell how he is in terms of fitness because you need to be involved again.

"But we are especially happy for him. We are probably not going to be able to understand what he has been through during this time and how he feels at the moment with the things he's had to cope with."

The 25-year-old winger has not played a match since November 2024, after being provisionally suspended for returning an "adverse finding" for the banned substance meldonium.

"We expect that it will take time," Alonso added. "We want him to feel part of the team. Once he is with us, we will see how things develop."

Alonso also acknowledged that Mudryk's return came as a surprise, with Chelsea having built a squad full of alternative options on the wing.

They have Pedro Neto, Estevao Willian, Jamie Gittens and Geovany Quenda, while both Cole Palmer and new £117m signing Morgan Rogers can play on the flanks.

Estevao was the only Chelsea player to get on the scoresheet at Accor Stadium, scoring a 21st-minute equaliser by heading in Gittens' cross at the far post.

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Sources close to Mykhailo Mudryk say he is confident of returning to his best form, citing the work he has put in to maintain his fitness during 20 months on the sidelines.

They also point to the support Chelsea have provided throughout the process, while adhering to the restrictions imposed by his suspension and respecting the legal proceedings.

The Ukrainian received backing from the club from afar, while also being given the space to navigate what those close to him describe as an extremely difficult period.

Under the terms of the suspension, Mudryk was unable to access Chelsea's training ground or work with club staff. His only known public interaction with members of the first-team squad came at the Conference League final celebrations in May 2025.

To maintain his fitness, Mudryk paid for private coaching and hired goalkeepers for individual sessions while using a pitch at non-league club Uxbridge FC in London. He also organised a training camp in Austria, with videos from those sessions showing him scoring goals and taking part in attacking drills.

However, those close to Mudryk acknowledge there is no substitute for training and competing alongside elite players on a daily basis. Mudryk is understood to be realistic about the challenge ahead, but believes he can overcome it.

Chelsea are prepared to provide a pathway back into professional football. Whether that involves reintegration into the first team, a loan move - potentially involving sister club Strasbourg - or a permanent transfer remains to be seen.

Whatever the outcome, the resolution of the case represents a significant moment for Mudryk. He now has the opportunity to resume his career and determine what the next chapter looks like.

Having joined Chelsea in one of the most closely watched transfer sagas of 2023, his story at Stamford Bridge is not over yet.

Read the full article on Mudryk's return to football here

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government in March 2022 over alleged links to Russian president Vladimir Putin - something he has denied.

He was granted a special licence to sell Chelsea following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, providing he could prove he would not benefit from the sale.

The 59-year-old said funds from the sale would be donated via a foundation "for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine", which would include those in Russia.

The £2.5bn in proceeds have been frozen in a UK bank account since the sale. Abramovich does not have access to the money, but it still legally belongs to him.

In 2023, the BBC reported that leaked documents revealed a money trail linking Abramovich to two men dubbed "wallets" of Putin.

BBC Newsnight, BBC Verify and Panorama partnered with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism to uncover the revelations as part of Cyprus Confidential - a global investigation led by reporters at the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and Paper Trail Media.

The reports alleged the leaked documents from Cyprus revealed new evidence linking the former Chelsea owner to a secret £26m deal in 2010.

Abramovich has previously denied any financial relationship with the Russian leader.

In June, the Government threatened to sue Abramovich to make sure the money from the Chelsea sale went to Ukrainian humanitarian aid - rather than "all victims of the war in Ukraine" as Abramovich had said.

Two months before selling Chelsea in May 2022, Abramovich was said to have suffered from suspected poisoning at peace talks on the Ukraine-Belarus border.

The Russian billionaire, who made his fortune in oil and gas, was reported to have a role as a broker in talks between Ukraine and Russia.

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Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has taken to Instagram to post a message after it was confirmed he is available to return to playing immediately following the resolution of his doping case with the Football Association.

The 25-year-old Ukraine international has not played a competitive match since November 2024, having been provisionally suspended after returning an "adverse finding" for banned substance meldonium.

His statement read:

"After a long battle, the four-year ban that was imposed on me has been rescinded and I am free to resume my career with immediate effect.

"I am grateful that this process has reached a conclusion, that I have been cleared to return to football and that I can now look ahead to my future.

"This has been the most difficult period of my career.

"As I have always maintained from the outset of this case, I have never knowingly or intentionally taken any banned substance. My commitment to competing fairly and representing my club and country with professionalism and integrity has always been important to me.

"I would like to thank my family and friends for their support and belief throughout this period.

"I also want to express my deep gratitude to everyone at Chelsea FC, my teammates and the Chelsea supporters who have been with me throughout.

"I would also like to thank my legal team and others who assisted for their tireless work on my case.

"My focus now is on returning to football, working hard every day, and making a positive contribution on the pitch.

"Thank you to everyone who continued to believe in me. I look forward to the next chapter of my career."

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea have been fined £10m and given a suspended ban from registering new players for two transfer windows for breaching rules relating to payments to agents between 2009 and 2022.

But the club have had a six-point deduction, which was suspended until 30 June 2027, "set aside" on appeal.

Owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital self-reported 74 breaches of FA rules when they purchased the club in 2022.

Chelsea admitted making £47m in secret payments to unregistered agents and third parties over transfers between 2011 and 2018.

The £10m the Blues have been fined will be invested into grassroots football.

The club have released the statement below in response:

"Chelsea Football Club is pleased to confirm that a final decision has been reached by the FA's judicial bodies in relation to historical regulatory matters that were self-reported by the club.

"In 2022, the club self-reported potential historical rule breaches to all applicable regulators. Following that report, it has worked openly and transparently with all regulators, including voluntarily and proactively disclosing many thousands of documents.

"As previously announced, settlement agreements have been entered into with Uefa and the Premier League concerning the same self-reported regulatory matters and topics that have been addressed before.

"The club is pleased to confirm that, now the FA process has concluded, this brings all regulatory proceedings against the club to a close.

"We are grateful to Uefa, the Premier League and the FA for their engagement with the club throughout these processes."

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Cole Palmer is excited to play with his best friend Morgan Rogers after his £117m move from Aston Villa.

He says they are "two different players" and played well together in Manchester City's academy together and that he was one of the privileged few to know about Chelsea's move to sign him from under the noses of Arsenal.

"I was just speaking to Morgan. He told me straight away when he knew he was coming. Obviously it didn't get leaked or anything.

"No-one knew. It was just me and him, and probably the people higher up at the club. So it was a difficult secret to keep, but I kept it."

Palmer also joked that Rogers can expect "the bailiffs at his door" should he do his trademarked ice-cold celebration this season...

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter in Sydney

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea forward Cole Palmer says being told he was "essentially not good enough" to make England's World Cup squad will serve as extra motivation this season.

The 24-year-old was controversially left out of Thomas Tuchel's squad, with England finishing third.

Palmer competed at the Club World Cup, the European Championship and the European Under-21 Championship before enjoying his first summer holiday as a professional footballer this time around.

He said he went to Marbella with his family but found the experience "strange" at first, admitting he "got bored after six weeks" and was eager to return.

"I never thought I'd think that," he added. "I was checking when I was back in."

Asked whether missing the World Cup would provide extra motivation, Palmer said: "Yes, naturally it's going to. It's like anything. If someone tells you you're essentially not good enough to get in the squad, then you're going to think, 'All right then, I'm going to try to go that extra bit harder'."

The playmaker also revealed it was "nice" when new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso sent him a message soon after learning he had missed out on England selection.

He also spoke about his groin injury last season, which impacted his form, saying he played on it when he "probably shouldn't have done".

Palmer, who admitted he sought specialist advice over whether surgery was needed to address the recurring problem, added: "I feel good now. The seven weeks obviously helped. I'm ready to go again."

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter in Sydney

Image source, Getty Images

Manager Xabi Alonso says Chelsea are looking to reduce their central defensive options from 10 to "four or five".

The Blues signed Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace for £52m on Thursday, but Alonso also has Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo, Josh Acheampong and Aaron Anselmino in his squad on the club's pre-season tour of Australia.

Mamadou Sarr is also at the club but is expected to leave on loan, while Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi are available for sale having been valued at £35m, £30m and £25m respectively. Chalobah is not yet back after England World Cup duty and the other two are training away from the first-team group.

Alonso revealed his preferred number of centre-backs, saying: "Four or five. Is that accurate enough?"

Speaking about Lacroix, he added: "He has a strong personality. He's mature, he wants to win and he has a winner's mentality. As well, he loves to defend and that's something I like too."

Alonso said the 6ft 4in France international will bring "power" to his defence.

Chelsea's success in securing targets early for Alonso, including £117m attacker Morgan Rogers and £47m full-back Marco Palestra, has not removed the need to trim the squad.

The club are also closing in on moves for Brighton striker Danny Welbeck, 35, and 36-year-old midfielder Jordan Henderson, who has cancelled his contract at Brentford. However, failure to qualify for Europe limits opportunities for fringe players following last season's 10th-place Premier League finish.

Nicolas Jackson and Moises Caicedo have joined Chelsea's squad in Sydney before Saturday's friendly against Tottenham, while Romeo Lavia is fit again after being held back from Tuesday's high-scoring win over Western Sydney Wanderers.

Everton, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest are monitoring forward Liam Delap, who Chelsea value at up to £40m. (The i), external

Meanwhile, Manchester City are in advanced talks with Lille for 18-year-old Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who has also attracted interest from Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Bayern Munich. (Talksport), external

Finally, Blues defender Genesis Antwi is set to join sister club Strasbourg on loan. (Football Insider), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Maxence Lacroix has said "the ambition is to lift trophies", after his £52m move to Chelsea from Crystal Palace was confirmed

The 26-year-old defender has agreed a contract at Stamford Bridge until 2032 following two successful years with the Eagles in which he made 98 appearances and won the Conference League, FA Cup and Community Shield.

His performances earned him a place in France's World Cup squad, where he made three appearances as Les Blues finished fourth.

"I am really happy to be part of this beautiful club," Lacroix told club media.

"Everyone knows the legend of Chelsea, its tradition of winning, and to be a part of that is a proud moment."

Lacroix becomes Chelsea's third signing of the summer transfer window, joining Morgan Rogers and Marco Palestra in moving to west London, as the club prepares for its first season under Xabi Alonso.

It was a chat with Alonso that helped the former Wolfsburg man with his decision to move.

"When I spoke with the manager, I saw that we have the same direction and desire for this club," he added.

"We want to win. When you see the quality of the players here, everything we have around the club, it's something that we can achieve.

"The ambition is to lift trophies, and I can't wait to contribute."

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Mexence Lacroix had been on a shortlist of centre-back options since it became clear Chelsea's defence was underperforming and that they needed more physicality and leadership in their back line.

Although former Manchester City defender John Stones and Como 1907's Jacobo Ramon were also known to be under consideration, it always felt as though the 6ft 4in defender was Chelsea's preferred target.

Protracted negotiations over both personal terms and the transfer fee with Crystal Palace added uncertainty to the deal.

However, Lacroix gave the move the green light last week after France's World Cup campaign ended with a fourth-place finish following defeat by England in the bronze-medal match.

The signing also offers a glimpse into Chelsea's future direction after a season in which they finished 10th in the Premier League and ended the campaign without a trophy, prompting frustration among supporters.

Owner Behdad Eghbali said Chelsea would "tweak" their model and add experience to what he still believes is a strong core of young players, including Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo and Levi Colwill.

Lacroix the oldest player signed under the current ownership since Eghbali and his sporting directors took control, but he will be eclipsed if and when the expected deals for Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck are completed.

These are all deals that are highly unusual for the club's recruitment strategy.

The Blues also attempted to sign Granit Xhaka, 34, from Sunderland earlier in the summer so are sending a clear message that the club's approach is changing.

Along with £117m signing from Aston Villa, Rogers, who turned 24 on Saturday, Lacroix's arrival means Chelsea have delivered on their pledge to make at least two ready-made signings.

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

A marked change in Chelsea's approach to recruitment has been amplified by prospective deals for veterans Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson.

Welbeck will become the oldest signing under the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital ownership, until Henderson's likely arrival with the west Londoners.

After interest in Sunderland's Granit Xhaka did not materialise into a deal, attention pivoted to other targets as part of new manager Xabi Alonso's drive to add experience to Chelsea's squad, which has been the youngest in the Premier League for the past two seasons.

But aside from a wealth of trophy-winning experience, Henderson also brings with him something brutally exposed as lacking from the Blues' squad - legs.

No player to feature five or more times in the Premier League for Chelsea last term covered more ground per 90 than Henderson's average of 11.86km. Despite being 36-years-old, he started 22 times and was bought on a further 10 times.

Already since his arrival, Alonso has stressed the importance of energy and intensity. Speaking on the Blues' pre-season tour, he said: "We need good energy. We need to run. We need to work hard. We need the sacrifices which are compulsory and mandatory in each Premier League game. To win each game, it's tough. We need to prepare for that."

Last season, remarkably, the first time Chelsea outran an opponent was against Liverpool in their 35th match of the campaign. It is unlikely Alonso will allow a similar pattern to develop.

The Spaniard is known for his willingness to participate and be hands-on in training sessions and told club media, before Chelsea opened their pre-season with a win over Western Sydney Wanderers, that: "I need to be close to the team, to participate with the energy, with the intensity I like."

Alonso cannot marshal the Blues' midfield himself, so a big character to be his voice on the pitch and lead by example with intensity and energy - as Xhaka did for him during his time at Bayer Leverkusen - is imperative to maintain standards.

Enter Henderson, with his impressive running stats and track record as a leader.

Eyebrows were raised by his inclusion in England's World Cup squad this summer, but Thomas Tuchel insisted Henderson is "the glue in every team that he plays for" and new Chelsea team-mate Morgan Rogers said he is the "best guy I've ever come across in football".

Speaking two years ago on former England goalkeeper Ben Foster's podcast about a game in which their Watford side was comfortably beaten by a Liverpool team captained by Henderson, Tom Cleverley said: "He was like an on-field manager with so much quality to go with it. Even players like [Mohamed] Salah and [Sadio] Mane were looking at him like, 'help us'. They completely respected Henderson and knew he was their leader. They would have followed him anywhere."

Three glaring issues in last season's Chelsea squad were inexperience, a lack of leadership, and a repeated inability to match an opponent's energy and running.

In pursuing Henderson, the Chelsea board have identified these and are looking to address all three. In this sense, it is a move that makes a lot of sense.

*Stats provided by Opta

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Dastan Satpaev is attempting to become the first Kazakh player to appear in a Premier League match.

In his homeland, he is a superstar. He has already played for his national team and attracted fans from his home country to both the open training session on Sunday and the match on Tuesday in Sydney.

Quick, sharp in the box and relatively small in stature, Satpaev is stylistically often compared to former Argentina and Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero.

Asked whether he will get a chance at Chelsea this season amid talk of a potential loan move, Xabi Alonso said: "We still have to take decisions.

"I knew Dastan from Almaty," added Alonso, who faced the player with his former club Real Madrid last season.

"He is a ball threat, he attacks the inner channel well and is good as a striker coming from the outside.

"He is really strong, really quick and I have been really impressed with him."

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Video assistant referees should only be used to change "blatantly incorrect" decisions and clear missed incidents, say European refereeing officials.

Chief refereeing officers from all 55 European national football associations met last week with Uefa refereeing officials and a representative from the International Football Association Board (Ifab) to address recent changes to the game's laws.

Attendees said "lengthy, microscoping reviews" indicate VAR has gone beyond its original scope.

When VAR was added to the laws of the game in 2018 by football's rulemakers Ifab, its "philosophy" was "minimum interference - maximum benefit", with the intention of reducing "unfairness caused by clear and obvious errors or serious missed incidents" relating to goals, penalties, direct red cards and mistaken identity.

Uefa said that at its recent meeting that refereeing bosses agreed a return to those original aims is needed.

"It was reiterated that, in accordance with protocol, VAR must only intervene in situations of 'clear and obvious' error, ie. when a referee decision is blatantly incorrect or when the referee has missed a clear incident," Uefa said in a statement.

"VAR is not meant to re-referee the game, it is an essential support to the referees, who must remain at the centre of all decision-making.

"Lengthy, microscoping reviews are often a symptom revealing that the decision on the field was not clearly and obviously incorrect, and should therefore be limited."