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ChelseaSummary
Chelsea are deep into a significant squad overhaul under new manager Xabi Alonso, and the early decisions paint a clear picture of the direction he intends to take the club. The Blues finished tenth in the Premier League last season with 52 points, and a final-day defeat at Sunderland underlined why change was needed. Alonso has moved quickly to stamp his authority on the rebuild.
The first signing of the new era arrived when Chelsea confirmed the £47 million capture of Italian full-back Marco Palestra from Atalanta, a 21-year-old named Serie A Defender of the Year after an impressive loan spell at Cagliari. His versatility across a back three or back four makes him well-suited to Alonso's tactical preferences.
The outgoings tell an equally important story. Alejandro Garnacho, signed for £40 million from Manchester United less than a year ago, is available for sale after failing to make an impact at Stamford Bridge. Malo Gusto has agreed personal terms with Manchester City, pursuing a reunion with former boss Enzo Maresca, who Chelsea publicly condemned in a sharp club statement after his appointment at the Etihad. Trevoh Chalobah is also expected to leave, with Inter leading the race for his signature.
The Enzo Fernandez situation adds further uncertainty. His agent admitted the midfielder is exploring an exit, though Real Madrid have publicly distanced themselves from a move and his partner has insisted the family is settled in London. Chelsea also received a UEFA fine for breaching financial sustainability rules, adding an off-pitch complication to an already busy summer.
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.