+18 | Play Responsibly | T&C's Apply | Commercial Content | Publishing Principles | What are you prepared to lose today? Set a deposit limit.
ChelseaSummary
Generated byChelsea are moving with real purpose this summer under Xabi Alonso, and the scale of their transfer activity signals serious intent ahead of the new Premier League season. The club's most significant business so far is the record-breaking £117 million signing of Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, making the 23-year-old the most expensive British player in history. Rogers himself cited Alonso's project and the chance to reunite with Cole Palmer as key factors in his decision, which points to a clear identity forming around the new head coach.
Alongside that arrival, Chelsea are close to adding defensive reinforcement. A £52 million deal for Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix is near completion, with the 26-year-old French international set to undergo a medical before signing a six-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
The outgoings are just as telling. Alejandro Garnacho, signed from Manchester United just a year ago, has joined Aston Villa on an initial season-long loan after a difficult and inconsistent spell in west London. Meanwhile, Enzo Fernandez finds himself in a complicated position following Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain, where his red card proved costly. Real Madrid have ruled out a move, Chelsea value him at £120 million, and Alonso has stated he wants to keep the midfielder, leaving Fernandez's future unresolved for now.
Chelsea sit sixth in the early Premier League standings and face Western Sydney Wanderers in a pre-season friendly on July 28 before the competitive season begins.
Standings
Premier League
Premier League| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | PTS | Form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 |  Brentford | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 5 |  Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 6 |  Chelsea | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 7 |  Coventry City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 8 |  Crystal Palace | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Chelsea were founded on March 10, 1905, following Gus Mears' acquisition of the Stamford Bridge in 1904. Several names were put up for consideration: Kensington FC, Stamford Bridge FC, and London FC. However, all these names were rejected and the name Chelsea F.C. was finally selected.
Chelsea are co-owned by an American consortium consisting of Todd Boehly, Mark Walter. Hansjorg Wyss, and Behdad Eghbali-led Clearlake Capital. Boehly, Walter, and Wyss each own a 12.8% stake in the club, while Clearlake Capital are the majority shareholder with a 61.5% stake.
Chelsea's stadium is known as the Stamford Bridge and has been the club's home venue ever since their inception in 1905. Interestingly, the Stamford Bridge was owned by a separate company after businessman Ken Bates bought the club in the 1980s, when they were on the verge of bankruptcy and stuck in the second division. In 1992, however, after a long-fought legal battle and a 'Save The Bridge' campaign from the fans, Chelsea regained ownership of the stadium.
The Stamford Bridge has a capacity of around 40,000.
Chelsea have won an impressive 32 trophies throughout their history, including two Champions League titles and six English top-flight titles.
Chelsea have won the English top flight on six occasions, with their most recent title coming at the end of the 2016-17 season.
Legendary defender Ron Harris holds the record for making the most appearances for Chelsea, featuring for the club in 795 games, ahead of Peter Bonetti and John Terry. The latter two are the only other players along with Harris to make over 700 appearances for the club.
Frank Lampard, arguably the greatest Chelsea player ever, is the club's leading goalscorer of all-time, netting the ball into the net 211 times in 648 games. The fact that he was a midfielder makes the feat all the more impressive.
Didier Drogba, John Terry, Eden Hazard, Claude Makelele, Arjen Robben, Petr Cech, Michael Ballack, and David Luiz are some of the most famous players to have represented Chelsea.
Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti, and Maurizio Sarri are among the biggest managerial names to have been a part of Chelsea's eminent history.
Chelsea are called The Blues, which is a reference to the colour of their kit since the early 20th century.