Chelsea: Why David Datro Fofana and Axel Disasi exits collapsed in double blow to bomb squad

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Evening Standard

·2 September 2025

Chelsea: Why David Datro Fofana and Axel Disasi exits collapsed in double blow to bomb squad

Forgotten men came close to exits but there were key stumbling blocks

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David Datro Fofana’s proposed Deadline Day move to Charlton collapsed at the eleventh hour, as he was left stranded with Raheem Sterling and Alex Disasi in the Chelsea ‘bomb squad’.

The Ivorian’s representatives worked hard on Monday to find a solution that would allow Fofana to leave Chelsea but ran out of time.

Interest from Preston North End was followed by talks with Celtic, who had until 11pm to complete a deal because the Scottish window closed at that time, rather than the deadline of 7pm in England.

But Fofana snubbed Celtic's loan offer and chose to pursue a move to Charlton, only for the newly-promoted Championship outfit to fail to complete the relevant paperwork on a deal sheet in time.

The 22-year-old forward may now push for a move to Saudi Arabia or Turkey. The window in Saudi Arabia closes on September 23, while the Turkish transfer deadline is September 12.

The former Burnley man spent last season on loan in Turkey with Goztepe, scoring twice in nine appearances. He has made just four first-team appearances for Chelsea.

Fofana is now expected to continue training at Cobham away from the first team, with the so-called ‘bomb squad’ of exiled players that also includes Sterling and Disasi, neither of whom left Chelsea on Deadline Day either.

Disasi had talks with West Ham and tentative interest from Crystal Palace and Sunderland on Deadline Day, but no move appealed to him and he remains at Chelsea for now.

Earlier in the window, he was close to joining Bournemouth, where ex-Chelsea team-mate Djordje Petrovic moved for £25million earlier this summer. Disasi’s move to Bournemouth broke down.