Xabi Alonso will be hoping for a few signings in his first summer transfer window as Chelsea manager but there could be even more outgoings at Stamford Bridge in the coming months
Chelsea’s 2025/26 season is now over and thankfully for Blues supporters, they will now put the miserable campaign behind them and look forward to better times under new leadership.
Xabi Alonso will take over as Chelsea manager on July 1 with the Spaniard, who has signed a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge, aiming to transform the team’s fortunes after a dismal season. Alonso will not have to contend with European football in his debut campaign in west London due to Chelsea finishing in 10th place in the Premier League table.
That could be seen as an advantage because with less matches to play, Alonso will get more time on the training pitch with his new squad. How many of last season’s squad will stay, though? Chelsea are planning on selling multiple bodies in the upcoming summer transfer window.
In today’s article, the focus is going to be on the eight players the Blues brought to the club last summer, who cost BlueCo estimated £277million. With that being said, Bobby Vincent and Jake Stokes run the rule over the club’s latest additions:
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Jamie Gittens
Bobby: To sum up Gittens’ 12 months as a Chelsea player, nobody could argue with words like ‘disappointing’, ‘underwhelming’ and ‘poor’. Those descriptions are all valid – Gittens recorded just over 1000 minutes in his debut season.
That being said, Gittens deserves another season to show his talent. He had a poor season but another 12 months would be fair – both things can be true. Many might disagree… KEEP
Jake: Gittens was rarely given a chance to build any momentum, or confidence for that matter, when Enzo Maresca was in charge, so hopefully Alonso gives him an opportunity to impress. Chelsea need a world-class, or at least close to world-class, left-winger; although the 21-year-old doesn’t fit the bill in that regard, he’d do really well as an understudy. KEEP
Alejandro Garnacho
Bobby: Garnacho should be sold. Considering my above point regarding Gittens, many will ask, ‘well, what’s the difference?’. And my answer that would be that Garnacho has had much more of a crack than Gittens because the former Manchester United winger was able to keep himself fit. Yet he has still not produced what Chelsea are after. SELL
Jake: Although Garnacho has been unfairly scrutinised this season, Chelsea need to cash in while he remains a somewhat saleable asset. If the Blues want to get back into the Champions League, the 21-year-old winger isn’t somebody that Alonso can rely on, week in, week out. SELL
Joao Pedro
Bobby: The fact £60m is looking more and more like a bargain perhaps tells you everything you need to know about Joao Pedro and how impactful he has been at Stamford Bridge. Excited to see what Alonso can get out of the Brazilian. KEEP
Jake: Joao Pedro should be the first name on the teamsheet next season. The 24-year-old striker was superb throughout the campaign, and Chelsea need to do whatever it takes to keep him at Stamford Bridge. KEEP
Estevao Willian
Bobby: Another Brazilian who has taken to life in west London like a duck to water. Injuries impacted the second half of Estevao’s debut season and let’s hope he recovers well from the grade four hamstring issue in time for the 2026/27 campaign. KEEP
Jake: Estevao showed great promise during what was a frustrating season. The 19-year-old winger proved he’s more than ready to lock horns with the very best, but injuries denied him from building any momentum. KEEP
Liam Delap
Bobby: All the noises suggest Delap is a brilliant trainer and has been appreciated by both Maresca and Liam Rosenior. However, with Nicolas Jackson potentially coming back, plus the arrival of Emmanuel Emegha, I just don’t see where Delap fits. While he might want to stay and fight for his place, admirably, it would make sense for Chelsea to cash in on the former Manchester City striker. SELL
Jake: Although Delap’s start to life at Chelsea was hampered by injury, he still struggled to impress later in the season. In fairness, the 23-year-old was misprofiled by higher-ups at Stamford Bridge.
Last summer, he joined the Blues as a striker who thrived in transition, yet the opposition he faced was almost always in a low-block. Delap went from running in behind to occupying two centre-backs in the six-yard box. Unless the Englishman finds his feet in pre-season under Alonso, Chelsea should cash in, which is a shame because I think he has great potential. SELL
Mamadou Sarr
Bobby: Chelsea made a bit of a mistake bringing Sarr back in January. While it made sense at the time, given the Blues’ injuries in defence, it hampered Sarr’s development. If they had played the Senegal international more, then sure, it would have been a good call. I think he could do with another season on loan elsewhere. LOAN
Jake: Sarr could be a key player for Alonso, despite having been mishandled by higher-ups at Stamford Bridge this season. Rather than return to Chelsea and sit on the bench, the 20-year-old defender should have spent the remainder of the campaign on loan at Strasbourg. KEEP
Jorrel Hato
Bobby: Probably the biggest surprise of 2026 so far? Hato has been exceptional. The fact that if Marc Cucurella is sold this summer, supporters do not seem too concerned because of Hato’s emergence, well that speaks volumes about the Dutchman’s recent side. KEEP
Jake: Hato enjoyed an excellent second half of the season, which gives me hope that Gittens will eventually come out of his shell. The 20-year-old defender was hardly given a chance under Maresca; it was only when the Italian stepped down that he grew in confidence and became a key component of the backline. KEEP
Dario Essugo
Bobby: Essugo undoubtedly had a difficult first season at Stamford Bridge. Injuries had a big impact on the Portuguese midfielder’s development and he never found any sort of rhythm. With Chelsea targeting a central midfielder this summer, Essugo’s minutes could become even more limited next term. LOAN
Jake: Chelsea should keep Essugo purely because it’s impossible to judge where he stands, having spent much of the campaign in the treatment room. The 21-year-old midfielder could be an absolute superstar, but we just don’t know it yet! KEEP
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Chelsea have launched their new home kit for the 2026/27 season, said to be ‘a celebration of the club’s Italian Renaissance.
