Chelsea

Umir Irfan
Football tactics correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Morgan Rogers was quick to mention one of his closest friends, Cole Palmer, when he signed for Chelsea from Aston Villa.

"We've been speaking about this for a while - that we would always love to play together," said the £117m attacking midfielder.

"He has been non-stop ringing my phone and texting me, I can't wait. That's probably the most special thing, playing with one of your best friends and being around him every day."

Both men might be keen to play together... but can new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso find a system to accommodate two such similar profiles?

Irrespective of whether the Spaniard sets Chelsea up in a back four or a back five, his team will move in the same shape in attacking possession, namely 3-2-2-3 or 3-2-5.

Many of Rogers' best moments at Aston Villa were in the inside-left channel, and Alonso is likely to try to position him there when Chelsea have the ball.

This means width on the left would have to come from another player - either a wing-back if Chelsea defend with a back five, or a winger if it is a back four. In the latter formation, Rogers would be positioned more centrally from the start.

One of the reasons Alonso will have championed Rogers' signing is his ability to play across the attack - most recently demonstrated as a right winger for England against Argentina.

Palmer similarly thrives in-field, but on the right half of the pitch.

In possession, both players could be positioned alongside each other in the middle of the pitch in a 3-2-2-3, behind a striker such as Joao Pedro.

Rogers can take advantage of big spaces but his combination play, central passing and ball-striking from the edge of the box also mean that when he is surrounded by players on a similar wavelength - such as Palmer - it is a potent strategy for playing through structured defences.

A key part of Alonso's game model is prioritising short passes to ensure his players are well placed to counter-press if the ball is lost.

Rogers' combination play, plus his physicality, makes him a good fit for this plan and his ability to repeatedly make runs in behind is something Palmer will seek to exploit.

In Alonso's preferred 3-2-2-3, when in possession, Rogers in the left number 10 position and Palmer in the right number 10 position is likely to work best.

Read the full article here

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We asked for your views on Chelsea agreeing a deal for Crystal Palace and France defender Maxence Lacroix.

Here are some of your comments:

Tom: I just feel it's another rush signing, more money spent. I would have preferred John Stones at the back on a free! Especially given his experience. Love the fact it's a young team but we need some experience to pull us through. Bring Thiago Silva back in!

Stu: I am over the moon by this signing, not only is he Premier League experienced and has won trophies but he is 26 which, for Chelsea, really breaks the mould in terms of our usual player model. A centre-back pairing of Lacroix and a fit Levi Colwill with potentially Stones and Wesley Fofana as back up would be miles ahead of what we have had recently. Now to sell some of the centre-back dross.

Sam: Solid signing. Proven Premier League quality defender. Would have paid at least £80m for him.

Fardin: I am a Chelsea fan, I think that this signing is amazing as I think we really needed a centre back, especially someone who's got great potential and is tall. He was very accessible on the market for the Blues than most other defenders and can't wait to see him play in Chelsea blue.

Tim: Potentially great signing in an already poor defence and very weak goalkeeper in Robert Sanchez. We need four top signings to be challenging again. Goalkeeper, centre back, central midfielder and striker. We also lack a captain/leader figure.

Liam: You can see Xabi Alonso's vision in the signings being made. Still young and hungry, but with Premier League experience. If we can offload seven or eight squad players, it looks like good business financially. For the first time I'm feeling optimistic as a Chelsea fan since Roman Abramovich left.

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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Chelsea forward Emmanuel Emegha suffered a hamstring injury during the behind-closed-doors pre-season friendly against Bromley.

The summer arrival, who joined from sister club Strasbourg, found the net as Chelsea secured a 3-0 victory, taking his tally to two goals in as many appearances.

However, sources have indicated that the 23-year-old Netherlands international sustained the muscle injury during the match, casting doubt over his involvement in the opening stages of the club's pre-season tour of Australia.

Chelsea are due to fly to Sydney on Friday. They will face Western Sydney Wanderers and Tottenham before continuing their preparations with further high-profile fixtures in Asia.

It is a blow for Emegha as he looks to make an impression on new head coach Xabi Alonso.

Emegha agreed a pre-contract move to Stamford Bridge in September 2025 before completing his switch this summer.

Another summer signing in Geovany Quenda from Sporting is also out of the squad due to an unspecified minor issue.

The full squad is as follows: Sanchez, Jorgensen, Sharman-Lowe, Curd, Palestra, Acheampong, Fofana, Sarr, Tosin, Subuloye, Anselmino, Colwill, Hato, Emenalo, Lavia, Essugo, Walsh, Kellyman, Watson, Palmer, Gittens, Estevao, Kavuma-McQueen, Satpaev, Nicoll-Jazuli, Joao Pedro, Delap.

Mohamed Moallim
BBC Sport journalist

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Chelsea have targeted Maxence Lacroix after two impressive seasons in English football.

During the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, he was the only player to record at least 50 tackles (60), 200 duels won (204) and 250 clearances (252).

At 6ft 4in, Lacroix combines aerial strength with exceptional recovery pace. Since arriving from Wolfsburg in 2024, he has ranked among the five fastest centre-backs in the Premier League, recording a top speed of 35.81km/h (22.3mph).

That athleticism is reflected in his defensive numbers. Across the past two Premier League seasons, Lacroix recorded the best success rate in one-on-one defensive situations among players to face at least 50 such duels, winning possession 50.5% of the time.

Lacroix is also tactically versatile. Comfortable in both a back four and a back three, he spent two seasons playing in Oliver Glasner's three-man defence at Crystal Palace but has also shown he can operate effectively in a more conventional back four.

That adaptability offers Chelsea additional options, with head coach Xabi Alonso having used both systems during his coaching career.

What do you make of Lacroix's expected signing? Is he what Chelsea need and will he fit in under Xabi Alonso?

Get in touch with your views here

Umir Irfan
Football tactics correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

It is difficult to clearly define Morgan Rogers by a fixed position.

As with all players, getting the best from them means appreciating the wider role they are capable of. A player's ideal role can also change depending on team-mates around them and the opposition's set-up.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery gave Rogers a major role in the side's recent successes, something that contributed to his hefty transfer fee.

Emery's system is built upon defensive solidity, often in a 4-4-2 shape off the ball. Villa often spent long periods without the ball before attacking into large areas of space at pace.

This is a style of play that suits Rogers, who combines impressive ball-striking with standout athleticism.

Last season, he generally played on the left of a 4-2-3-1, narrowing in from the wing and leaving the left-back to provide the width.

From here, he often opted to curl the ball into the far post with his stronger right foot - but he could just as easily drag his shot inside the near post at the last moment.

Out of possession, Rogers usually defended as a left midfielder in Emery's 4-4-2 - but he is capable of pressing in a front two alongside a traditional number nine.

His positional versatility allows him to play as a narrow winger, on both the left and right, before making runs akin to a centre-forward.

He consistently injects pace into his team's attack with his direct nature, both with and without the ball.

Read the full article here

Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca remains keen on signing midfielder Enzo Fernandez and full-back Malo Gusto from former club Chelsea. (Caughtoffside), external

Meanwhile, Chelsea are favourites to sign Bosnia-Herzegovina attacking midfielder Kerim Alajbegovic, 18, from Bayer Leverkusen, while Xabi Alonso's side are also in talks to sell centre-back Axel Disasi to Crystal Palace. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Finally, the Blues have agreed a deal to sign 15-year-old American winger Benji Flowers from Major League Soccer side FC Dallas when he turns 18. (Athletic - subscription required), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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We set you a challenge earlier on Thursday - if you were restricted to only one more player in and one more player out this summer, what would you do?

Here are some of your ideas:

Rob: Bring John Stones in on a free, and any fee for Axel Disasi would be welcome.

Aaron: I would sell Robert Sanchez then buy Alessandro Bastoni. Chelsea already have Mike Penders and they need defensive reinforcements, so getting a world-class centre-back would help us win the FA Cup, and finish third in the Premier League.

Gordon: I would have brought in Robert Lewandowski for his experience and let David Fofana go due to his lack of prowess in a forward position.

Morris: One out? I would get rid of a minimum of eight senior squad players! We also need to buy a top goalkeeper and a top striker alongside Estevao Willian, Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer. I would put the following players up for sale: Liam Delap, Axel Disasi, Malo Gusto, Benoit Badiashile, Jamie Gittens, Mykhailo Mudryk, Pedro Neto, Marc Guiu and Nicolas Jackson.

Harley: Maxence Lacroix in for roughly £60m, then Badiashile out for £15m.

Neil: Stones in and Badiashile out. I would also keep Trevoh Chalobah and sell Wesley Fofana.

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Just hours after Chelsea made Morgan Rogers the most expensive British footballer in history by spending £117m to sign him from Aston Villa, they are in talks to loan Alejandro Garnacho to the Villans.

But how do Chelsea have space for Rogers? And is the club risking a potentially overcrowded dressing room next season?

Here are two of the key questions answered...

Q:Surely failing to qualify for Europe means Chelsea have to reduce their squad even more?

A: It is worth analysing the teams that achieved success without European football in recent seasons.

Starting with surprise title winners Leicester City in 2015-16, only 14 players made more than 15 appearances in all competitions under Claudio Ranieri. For much of the campaign, Leicester relied on a settled starting XI in the Premier League, with only a handful of squad players making significant contributions.

The following season, Chelsea won the Premier League under Antonio Conte without the burden of European football. Just 13 players recorded more than 1,500 minutes across all competitions. Similarly, Newcastle had only 14 players surpass the 1,500-minute mark when they qualified for the Champions League in 2024-25.

More recently, Manchester United finished third last season without European commitments. They had 13 players record more than 1,500 minutes in all competitions, although they were knocked out of both domestic cup competitions at an early stage.

So the figures suggest that carrying significantly more than 20 senior players may be unnecessary for clubs not competing in Europe.

Q: Is Chelsea's dressing room overcrowded?

A: Not currently. In fact, several academy players are involved in Xabi Alonso's training sessions to boost the numbers.

That has been helped by the fact that goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina is currently on trial at sister club Strasbourg, while Mykhailo Mudryk remains under a provisional suspension as he awaits a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in his doping case.

Young defender Caleb Wiley is injured, while Alejandro Garnacho and Axel Disasi have not been present at the training ground. Marc Guiu, who is expected to be available for either a loan or a permanent transfer, has not been pictured with the squad either.

Chelsea have generally reduced the size of their squad to around 25 players before the season begins, with the exception of the chaotic first campaign under the current ownership where the players famously couldn't fit in the training ground dressing room after the January window.

However, that process makes Chelsea one of the busiest clubs in Europe every summer, in terms of arrivals and departures, which normally takes the entire window to complete.

The use of so-called "bomb squads", a practice employed by a number of clubs including Chelsea in recent years, has now effectively been outlawed by Fifa following an agreement with Fifpro.

If clubs fail to comply with the regulations, players could be given greater scope to challenge their situations and potentially seek exits from their contracts. As a result, clubs will need to tread carefully.

Read more on how Chelsea trying to balance their books here

It's all go on the transfer front at Chelsea - with multiple players linked with being signed, sold or loaned out.

So, we're setting you a challenge as a bit of fun.

Trying your hardest not to pick someone the club has already been linked with this summer - if you could only bring one more player in and move one more player on, who would you pick?

Get in touch with your selections here

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea have signed 18-year-old midfielder Harrison Bettoni from Wigan Athletic.

Bettoni joins on a four year contract, with the League One club due training compensation.

It is expected that Bettoni, whose contract at Wigan expired in June, will spend a season in Chelsea's academy teams and on the fringes of Xabi Alonso's first-team squad.

The Stockport-born forward made 27 appearances for Wigan at senior level in a breakthrough 2025-26 campaign, scoring four goals, including his side's goal of the season for his debut goal against AFC Wimbledon.

He also featured against Arsenal in an FA Cup fourth-round tie.

Bettoni has been at Wigan since under-13s level having joined from Bury in 2019.

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Alejandro Garnacho's only season at Chelsea did not go to plan, a fact perhaps best illustrated by his solitary Premier League goal.

In his defence, he started only nine matches following Liam Rosenior's appointment - a 29-game period that also included Calum McFarlane's second spell as interim manager at the end of the campaign.

In total, Garnacho scored a more respectable eight goals and provided four assists in 43 appearances last season.

However, aside from two goals against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup, his other strikes came against lesser opposition, including Qarabag, Wrexham, Port Vale and Cardiff City.

It became apparent that Garnacho was beginning to lose the support of some supporters because of a perceived lack of work-rate.

There were also occasions when he was criticised for failing to track his runner, such as during the Blues' home defeat by West Ham, when he was substituted at half-time after being involved in the build-up to two opposition goals.

Sources have told BBC Sport that Garnacho remained professional and worked hard behind the scenes, which bodes well for his future.

In a late-season interview with Premier League Productions, the former Manchester United winger admitted he had done some "bad things" at Old Trafford because he was not playing enough.

Others familiar with Chelsea's dressing room dynamics said Garnacho struggled to integrate fully into the group and often cut a distant figure.

However, there is no significant controversy surrounding his departure from Stamford Bridge. The Blues simply viewed him as a player they were willing to move on as part of their efforts to improve the squad.

Read more: Garnacho, Rogers and two clubs trying to balance books

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea not only lost to Manchester City in the 2020 FA Youth Cup final, they also had a glimpse of their own future within the opposition ranks.

So much so that Chelsea's first-team squad in the 2026-27 season could contain twice as many players who have graduated from City's academy as have come through their own system.

The latest addition is club-record £117m signing Morgan Rogers, who scored against the Blues' under-18s that night six years ago.

Fellow City academy graduate Cole Palmer was also on target in City's 3-2 victory at St George's Park, while Liam Delap led the line.

In addition, Xabi Alonso's squad features Romeo Lavia, Jamie Gittens and Tosin Adarabioyo - all of whom also came through City's youth system.

Together with Rogers, Palmer and Delap, the six players account for almost £300m in transfer fees paid by Chelsea since 2023.

By contrast, Alonso is likely to only have three permanent senior squad players that came through Chelsea's Cobham academy: Levi Colwill, Reece James and Josh Acheampong.

Trevoh Chalobah also remains a Chelsea player, but he is in advanced talks over a move to Serie A side Como.

There are several reasons for Chelsea's interest in players developed from Manchester City, but one is the success of Palmer. Having moved between the clubs in 2023 for £40m plus £2.5m in add-ons, he has become one of the Premier League's standout performers.

One former insider told BBC Sport that anyone who comes from City "knows what good looks like".

Another factor is Joe Shields, who worked in City's academy recruitment department and is now involved in both youth and senior recruitment at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea also employ a number of former City staff members, including first-team coach Calum McFarlane and recently promoted academy director Glenn van der Kraan.

There was also a brief spell for former City executive Tom Glick as Chelsea's president of business, while former Blues head coach Enzo Maresca and several members of his coaching staff previously worked at the Etihad.

Chelsea also held an interest in former City academy player Michael Olise before his move to Bayern Munich and previously explored a deal for defender Nico O'Reilly.

Read the full article here

Roma have asked about the availability of centre-back Axel Disasi - and Chelsea have set an asking price of about £17m for the centre-back. (Footmercato - in French), external

Meanwhile, England Under-21 midfielder Alex Scott, 22, is keen on a move to Bournemouth after Bournemouth rejected a £64m bid. (Standard), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Just hours after Chelsea made Morgan Rogers the most expensive British footballer in history by spending £117m to sign him from Aston Villa, they are in talks to loan Alejandro Garnacho to the Villains.

But how can Chelsea afford to sign Rogers?

Here are the key questions answered...

Who could Chelsea move on?

After signing Rogers, Chelsea are not finished in the transfer market.

Before any further arrivals, and with Dastan Satpaev due to join from FC Kairat in August, Chelsea have 38 senior players on their books.

The solution is likely to be further sales. Sources indicate Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi, Trevoh Chalobah and Marc Guiu are among the players available for transfer, while Mamadou Sarr is expected to leave on loan elsewhere in the Premier League.

Most of the remaining squad could also be available at the right price, though a small group of players are considered untouchable. That includes Moises Caicedo, Estevao Willian, Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Levi Colwill, as well as some of the club's most highly rated young prospects, including Josh Acheampong.

Chelsea have also failed to qualify for European competition.

Analysis of successful seasons without Europe - including Leicester City's title-winning campaign in 2015-16, Chelsea's Premier League triumph under Antonio Conte a year later, and more recent Champions League qualification campaigns by Newcastle United in 2024-25 and Manchester United last season - shows only 13 or 14 players typically exceed 1,500 minutes across all competitions.

It underlines the scale of the task facing Chelsea, with Fifa having also moved to outlaw so-called "bomb squads" this summer.

Read more on Chelsea's attempts to balance the books here

Nina Hristova
Fan contributor

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Not often in recent transfer windows have Chelsea fans said, "this is a great signing."

There have been exceptions, but the club's transfer strategy has largely been scattered and disappointing: spending lots of money on young, high-potential players who need time to develop before they're ready to make a real impact.

Morgan Rogers feels different. Yes, £117m is a huge fee, but that's the market now, and compared to some of the money the club have spent on raw 'potential', this is somewhat easier to justify because Rogers has already proven himself in the Premier League. The 23-year-old isn't just another signing for the future. He improves Chelsea's starting XI immediately without the familiar "he needs time" caveat.

Rogers can thrive as a No. 10, on the left, and even on the right, as we saw for England against Argentina at the World Cup when he produced a superb assist. His versatility across the front line is a major strength.

Of course, the price tag is steep, but it's attached to a player with far fewer question marks than so many recent signings, and the club isn't currently the most attractive destination for high-profile players having finished 10th in the league and missing out on European football.

Rogers has produced good goal contributions over the last two seasons for Aston Villa and played a key role in their Europa League triumph.

Under Xabi Alonso, there are plenty of exciting possibilities. Rogers and best mate Cole Palmer as attacking midfielders behind Joao Pedro in a back-three system is one. Or in a different shape, he could start on the left, with Estevao out on the right, while Palmer plays behind Pedro.

Chelsea have lacked output from wingers. They've had the pace, skill and crosses, but very few have taken shots from distance and showcased great ball-striking ability. Rogers brings that, along with proven Premier League quality and Alonso could unlock another level to his game. Oh, and he's got a pretty cool celebration too!

Find more from Nina Hristova at Nina's Chelsea Corner, external

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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It's not just about keeping players happy - Chelsea must also sell players to keep the books balanced.

The £117m fee represents a substantial outlay on top of the £47m spent to sign full-back Marco Palestra from Atalanta, as well as the potential arrivals of defenders Pep Chavarria from Rayo Vallecano and Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace.

In addition, midfielder Valentin Barco is expected to join from Strasbourg, though Chelsea have yet to confirm the deal.

It took a league-record £300m in player sales last season for Chelsea to comply with the Premier League's financial rules, which are due to move from a Financial Fair Play-based system to a Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) model this summer.

Uefa, however, represents the biggest obstacle to Chelsea's continued spending after fining the club £26.7m for breaching its rules last summer, while Aston Villa were also fined and are under the same scrutiny, which led to Morgan Rogers' sale.

Chelsea were again found to have breached European football's governing body's regulations this summer, but the financial picture improved significantly, resulting in a fine of just £2.6m. Most of that amount will be waived if the club continues to improve its finances.

With five new signings expected this summer, Chelsea will want to sell or loan out at least a dozen players from the 37 senior options on their books, and for as much money as possible, to keep their accounts healthy.

They have already sold Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid, Andrey Santos to Manchester United, Tyrique George to Everton and Jimmy-Jay Morgan to West Bromwich Albion for a combined fee of more than £120m.

Generating transfer income has become increasingly important for Chelsea, who lag behind their traditional big-six rivals in commercial and matchday revenue, while also falling behind in broadcast income after missing out on Champions League football in three of the past four seasons.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views after Chelsea completed a club record £117m deal to sign Morgan Rogers.

Here are some of your comments:

Stuart: Maybe not the obvious priority position given how poor our centre backs are, but Morgan Rogers represents a significant upgrade on our attacking midfield/wing options with the exception of Cole Palmer, and is a big statement of intent.

Jeremy: This is the first signing we've made in years that I'm genuinely excited about. We've signed a proven Premier League player, who is world class, under the noses of the Premier League champions. This is exactly the type of signing us fans have been screaming out for since the owners came in. I can't wait for the season to start now!

Ted: If Rogers can play for us as he played all through the World Cup, we have a great chance to be as good as we have been in the past.

Ahmed: Another big gamble and hope it'll yield positive results at the end by winning trophies and taking Chelsea to its normal position competitively.

Robert: Great bit of business. I don't know quite how we have managed to pry him away from Arsenal. They are champions and have European football, but I am not complaining. However, £117m is very expensive for any player, and considering our financial situation without Champions League football.

Daniel: He fits into Xabi Alonso's plan in that he can actually play in two positions perfectly, which is the number 10 role and left wing. It was a priority in that the positions were not adequately covered since the departure of legend Eden Hazard who played those roles brilliantly.

James: Whilst I welcome any new signing, I can't help but think this money could have been better spent on other areas of the squad that require improvement. We all know English players come at a premium and this is a reflection of the market. I hope Rogers has been signed to play with, and not instead of, Cole Palmer.

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Morgan Rogers' friendship with his new club-mate Cole Palmer goes back a long way - and actually inspired the latter's famous 'cold' goal celebration.

Palmer first performed it in December 2023, after scoring two goals in a 3-2 win at Luton, and he has since taken ownership of the celebration, registering a trademark for it with the UK Intellectual Property Office.

However, it was first meant as a tribute to Rogers, as he had performed the celebration after scoring a goal for Middlesbrough against West Brom.

It was after moving from his local club West Brom to Manchester City that Rogers first struck up a friendship with Palmer. Both were 16 years old and soon starred in attack for City's FA Youth Cup-winning under-18 side in 2020.

Palmer is not the only familiar face Rogers will encounter at Stamford Bridge though.

He already knows Levi Colwill and Reece James through the England set-up, while Tosin Adarabioyo, Jamie Gittens, Romeo Lavia and Liam Delap all came through City's academy system.

There is, however, the more important issue of football and where Rogers fits into the team, especially given Palmer is a similar type of player.

Rogers was among the players selected by England manager Thomas Tuchel ahead of Palmer for this summer's World Cup, but their versatility means they can either play together or in each other's position.

One source suggests Rogers will primarily play on the left, with Palmer operating centrally as a number 10. That would leave Estevao Willian, Pedro Neto and new signing Geovany Quenda competing for places on the right - and Jamie Gittens as his understudy.

Chelsea are likely to use a back four at times next season, but they are also exploring a back-three system, which Xabi Alonso used to devastating effect when winning the Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen in 2024.

That could allow Palmer and Rogers to play together as dual number 10s, while wingers would be asked to operate in deeper wing-back roles.

Read the full article here