With the transfer window now done and dusted, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the business conducted by Chelsea this summer.

Another transfer window has passed with Chelsea spending money and signing players like there’s no tomorrow. As we discussed last year, the Blues have been masters of finding and exploiting loopholes in the transfer market, and while the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules have finally bothered the West London club, they have again found ways to circumvent possible issues to secure agreement for multiple signings.

The RC Strasbourg workaround was the final talking point around Chelsea in the summer transfer window, as Ishe Samuels-Smith returned to Stamford Bridge despite joining the Ligue 1 outfit a month before the West London club re-signed him. Additionally, Ben Chilwell ended his spell with Chelsea by signing a two-year contract with RC Strasbourg.

It was another summer transfer window that saw Chelsea’s decision in the market baffling many, as they continued to overhaul the squad by creating new-look units in different departments. However, the 2024/25 UEFA Europa Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup winners have finally started showing some restraint.

Many may argue that Enzo Maresca deserved the backing after guiding Chelsea to two trophies in his first year with the West London club. However, the Premier League outfit’s outlook of flipping players for money every few years has left a sour taste in the mouths of football fans worldwide.

Nevertheless, it was another busy summer at Chelsea, as ten players arrived at Stamford Bridge, while nearly two dozen footballers left the West London outfit. However, with the summer transfer window still open in several countries, we may see a few outcasts leaving Chelsea, with Raheem Sterling, Axel Disasi, and David Datro Fofana remaining at the club despite not being in Enzo Maresca’s plans.

Ins and outs

Like recent summer transfer windows, a day rarely passed without speculation surrounding Chelsea, more so regarding outgoing business. As iterated earlier, nearly two dozen players left the West London club, with Nicolas Jackson and Ben Chilwell the last players out the exit door.

Most of the departures left for permanent moves, with the Blues finally parting ways with Armando Broja, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Joao Felix after they plummeted in the pecking order. Other exits were surprising, as Nicolas Jackson became a bit-part player despite his impressive performances in his first two seasons at Stamford Bridge.

Meanwhile, Noni Madueke pushed for a move to Arsenal despite featuring week in week out under Enzo Maresca. Some other departures were not surprising, as Christopher Nkunku, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Lesley Ugochukwu, and Renato Veiga had no chance of securing regular game time at Chelsea in the 2025/26 season.

Unsurprisingly, a few who have barely played for Chelsea departed from Stamford Bridge, as Marcus Bettinelli, Mathis Amougou, and Lucas Bergstrom completed permanent moves. Invariably, there were a few loan exits, with the RC Strasbourg workaround helping Chelsea send Mike Penders, Mamadou Sarr, and Kendry Paez to the Ligue 1 club.

Outs: Djordje Petrovic, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Marcus Bettinelli, Renato Veiga, Bashir Humphreys, Alfie Gilchrist, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Lesley Ugochukwu, Carney Chukwuemeka, Mathis Amougou, Joao Felix, Noni Madueke, Christopher Nkunku, Armando Broja

Free Transfers Out: Lucas Bergstrom, Ben Chilwell

Loaned Out: Mike Penders, Aaron Anselmino, Mamadou Sarr, Kendry Paez, Nicolas Jackson, Marc Guiu (he returned later)

Like last summer, Chelsea’s incoming business paled in comparison to the departures, as they desperately needed to trim a stacked squad. But that does not mean the Blues were inactive in the market for new signings. As iterated earlier, the West London giants have pursued players as if there’s no tomorrow again.

The 2024/25 UEFA Europa Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup winners began their summer transfer business by signing Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, and Jamie Gittens, who also featured in the Club World Cup. Meanwhile, Dario Essugo, Estevao Willian, and Kendry Paez completed moves the Premier League outfit had secured several months ago.

While Paez has completed a loan move to RC Strasbourg, he potentially fits Chelsea’s long-term vision alongside Estevao Willian and two-year talisman Cole Palmer. Like previous transfer windows, the Blues were active in the market from the day it opened till the deadline day.

Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Buonanotte were the last players to join Enzo Maresca’s squad; as iterated earlier, the eyebrow-raising Ishe Samuels-Smith deal was the final move of the window. Jorrel Hato and Mamadou Sarr also moved to Stamford Bridge, with the latter quickly returning to RC Strasbourg on loan.

Ins: Jorrel Hato, Mamadou Sarr, Dario Essugo, Kendry Paez, Estevao Willian, Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens, Joao Pedro, and Liam Delap

Loaned In: Facundo Buonanotte

Marquee Signing

Joao Pedro

Like last summer, no summer signing, in particular, stands out at Chelsea, even though the Blues have forked out eye-watering sums in the summer transfer window. Estevao Willian, Jorrel Hato, and Liam Delap were eye-catching signings, considering their performances for their previous clubs. However, Joao Pedro takes the cake in this section, considering his early impact.

The Brazilian international has already amassed five goals and two assists in only six appearances thus far for Chelsea. The former Brighton & Hove Albion attacker was excellent in the FIFA Club World Cup, and he has been hot off the blocks in the 2025/26 Premier League season.

The 23-year-old striker’s versatility and age profile make him a long-term asset for Chelsea, and he has already reprised multiple roles for the West London club. With Joao Pedro showing that he fits Enzo Maresca’s system like a glove, he should not only be Chelsea’s “marquee signing” but also fit in the next section in the long run.

Value for Money Signing

Alejandro Garnacho

Like the previous section, no summer signing stands out as a value-for-money arrival at Chelsea, even though Estevao Willian and Liam Delap have not cost a bomb. Additionally, Kendry Paez’s transfer fee may look like peanuts if he fulfils his potential at the West London club. However, we have picked Alejandro Garnacho as the “value for money signing” for Chelsea.

Manchester United should have recouped much more from Garnacho’s departure, and an outlay of £40 million is daylight robbery, considering everything he brings to the table. The Argentine international already has a vast Premier League experience while being reasonably productive in the final third.

While Garnacho has not been as prolific in front of the goal as he would have liked for Manchester United, he should produce a much better output playing for a stable team. With Chelsea revamping Enzo Maresca’s left-wing options, Garnacho has a decent chance of quickly establishing himself as a first-choice starter on the left flank for Chelsea.

Inevitable Departure

Christopher Nkunku

Many players fit into this section, considering Enzo Maresca banished several players to the infamous “bomb squad” for a second successive year. Additionally, with Chelsea parting ways with nearly two dozen players, several of those fit in this section. However, we have picked Christopher Nkunku.

The French international was not a happy camper during his spell with Chelsea, with fitness issues first blighting his progress before he fell in the pecking order in his second season at the West London club. While Nkunku showcased his ability in the final third, regular game time in the Premier League eluded him.

With the World Cup coming up next year, Nkunku needed a departure, and AC Milan rescued him in the final weeks of the summer transfer window. The slower pace of Serie A should help Nkunku, and it will not be surprising if he rediscovers his peak form at the Serie A club. Expect the Frenchman to get back to his best.

The Big Miss

Raheem Sterling

It is preposterous that Chelsea could not solve a long-standing issue in the first-team squad despite signing nearly a dozen players in the summer transfer window. So, instead of mentioning a player they missed, we will discuss a player who should have left the West London club in the summer transfer window. While Axel Disasi fits that description, we have picked Raheem Sterling as “The Big Miss” for this summer.

The English international has been in Chelsea’s “bomb squad” since last summer, and he would have hoped for a career-saving move this year. However, after a dreadful loan stint with Arsenal, Sterling was always going to struggle to attract suitors in the summer transfer window.

Additionally, the veteran attacker’s reported desire to remain in London beyond the summer transfer window reduced his options. So, when Fulham ruled out a deadline-day deal, it was clear that Sterling would stay at Chelsea in the first half of the 2025/26 season. While the summer transfer window remains open in other countries, the Englishman will unlikely depart from Stamford Bridge.

Verdict – 7/10

Unlike last year, Chelsea’s performance in the summer transfer window was much better. The Blues have taken some weight off a bloated squad and removed fringe players like Kepa Arrizabalaga, Joao Felix, and Ben Chilwell, among others. While a few remain in West London, that was down to the stiffness of their demands instead of a lack of effort from Chelsea.

More importantly, Chelsea did not fall into the trap of going after big names that may not have fit Enzo Maresca’s system. Instead, the 2024/25 UEFA Europa Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup winners have added players who will be serviceable across the pitch, with Jorrel Hato and Estevao Willian the most highly sought-after prodigies to arrive at Stamford Bridge.

However, it has not been all hunky-dory, and some issues remain in Chelsea’s squad, as they needed more productivity in the final third. So, signing players like Jamie Gittens may not have addressed that. Nevertheless, the Blues are a step closer to challenging for the Premier League title, and the summer business has ensured that.