Chelsea
Summary

Chelsea are entering a new chapter under Xabi Alonso, who has officially taken charge and declared himself "really excited" by the squad's potential, promising supporters that "good things will come" after a difficult season that ended with a 10th-place Premier League finish. The 44-year-old's arrival signals a clear reset, and his early decisions in the transfer market are already shaping what that looks like.

The squad overhaul is moving quickly. Portuguese winger Geovany Quenda has joined from Sporting CP on a contract until 2034, bringing one of Europe's most exciting teenage talents to Stamford Bridge. At the same time, Alejandro Garnacho is pushing for a permanent exit after missing the start of pre-season training, with Chelsea ready to listen to offers for the Argentine winger just a year after his £40m arrival from Manchester United. Andrey Santos has also been sold to Manchester United in a deal worth up to £50m, while Trevoh Chalobah is expected to leave, with Inter and Crystal Palace among his options.

The Cole Palmer question adds another layer of scrutiny to Alonso's project. Tony Cascarino told GOAL that Palmer's output has been declining and that the playmaker needs to rediscover the form that drew comparisons with Gianfranco Zola and Eden Hazard. Getting the best from Palmer will be central to Chelsea's ambitions next season. A pre-season friendly against Western Sydney Wanderers on July 28 gives Alonso his first chance to start building.

Chelsea Overview

Cole Palmer Eden Hazard Gianfranco Zola Chelsea

Next Zola or Hazard? What Palmer is missing at Chelsea

Cole Palmer’s spectacular debut season at Chelsea saw him earn comparisons with Blues legends Gianfranco Zola and Eden Hazard, but Tony Cascarino has told GOAL what the talented playmaker needs to do in order to emulate icons of the past. Palmer’s output in west London has been heading in the wrong direction, with a fading spark needing to be rekindled.

Andrey Santos GFX

Santos' £50m Man Utd move is puzzling for all parties

For some football fans, the summer is the part of the calendar that they look forward to the most - and that's not just because it's filled by a World Cup every four years! Rather, it's because the end of the season means only one thing: It's time for transfers! The 2026 window is once again proving to be busy, with some huge names making big-money moves before deadline day on September 1.

Chelsea v Burnley - Premier League

Inter put Chalobah move on hold as Chelsea prepare Lacroix bid

Inter have temporarily paused their pursuit of Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah to focus on other priorities, as the Premier League side await his departure before making a formal approach for Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix. The Italian champions are carefully plotting their next moves in the transfer market while maintaining strong diplomatic relations with Como.

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Standings

Premier League crestPremier League

PosTeamPWDLFA+/-PTSForm
4Brentford crestBrentford00000000
5Brighton & Hove Albion crestBrighton & Hove Albion00000000
6Chelsea crestChelsea00000000
7Coventry City crestCoventry City00000000
8Crystal Palace crestCrystal Palace00000000
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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.