Chelsea 'send brutal transfer message' as nine first-team stars left off new squad list

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Evening Standard

·4 de agosto de 2025

Chelsea 'send brutal transfer message' as nine first-team stars left off new squad list

The Blues reconvened at Cobham for pre-season training today, but some out-of-favour squad members were conspicuously absent

On the chopping block: Raheem Sterling

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Chelsea have sent a brutal message to nine transfer-listed first-team players as a new squad list was published ahead of pre-season.

The Blues reported to Cobham for a truncated training camp on Monday as they brace for friendly meetings with Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan.

As ever, Chelsea have been busy in the transfer window this summer, already adding eight new players to the first team, and have now turned their attention to sales as they look to balance the books.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Lesley Ugochukwu are both nearing moves away from Stamford Bridge after Djorde Petrovic, Noni Madueke, and Joao Felix were offloaded in recent weeks, with several other first-team players also set to depart.

A new squad list published on the club website features each of Chelsea’s new summer signings but omits nine players who spent last season on loan and are expected to be sold or loaned again this summer.

Ugochukwu is among those left out, as are Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell, who spent last season with Arsenal and Crystal Palace, respectively.

Defenders Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga, and Alfie Gilchrist are also absent. After impressing on loan at Sheffield United last season, Gilchrist is reportedly set to return to the Championship, likely on a permanent deal, while Veiga has drawn interest from Bayern Munich and sides in the Saudi Pro League.

Carney Chukwuemeka is left out amid reports linking him to a return to Borussia Dortmund, with the same true of Armando Broja, who is set to complete a move to Burnley.

Striker David Datro Fofana is the last first-teamer missing from the squad. His loan to Turkish Super Lig side Goztepe was cut short last season after he suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Dewsbury-Hall is listed with the squad despite being close to joining Everton, but was not pictured in training on Monday.

Chelsea are under pressure to close out this window with a positive transfer balance after they were sanctioned by UEFA for breaching financial rules earlier this summer. The world champions have already spent well over £200m this summer, and are continuing to press on in negotiations for Xavi Simons. They also hold an interest in Alejandro Garnacho.