𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋: Leo Castledine has left Chelsea and completed a permanent transfer to Middlesbrough. 🤝

Castledine has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with the Championship side. ✍️

Joining Chelsea’s Academy in March 2020 as an Under-15 from AFC Wimbledon, Castledine was developed and featured the following season for the Under-18s while a schoolboy and captained the side regularly during the 2021/22 campaign.

He stepped up to play Under-21s football during the 2022/23 season and showcased his impressive versatility, playing in defence, midfield and in the frontline as they reached the Premier League 2 play-offs.

After a good start to the campaign that followed, Castledine was named on the first-team substitutes bench on several occasions. His debut came in a League Cup semi-final second leg victory over Middlesbrough, as he was introduced late on in a 6-1 victory for the Blues.

In August 2024, he joined Shrewsbury Town on a season-long loan that was unfortunately cut short by injury the following January. He returned to League One at the start of this season with Huddersfield Town and produced several impressive performances for the Terriers, with 12 goals scored in 27 appearances.

All the best, leo castledine! 💪

[chelseafc & theboroofficial]

#CFC

🗣️ Sonia Bompastor on Enzo Maresca’s departure: “Sad to see Enzo leave the club, but again it happens in football. I just want to say congrats to him because he did a wonderful job in his time in Chelsea - he won important titles.”

—Chelsea FC

What a second-half performance!

A Leo Cardoso opener and a Shumaira Mheuka hat-trick secured all three #PL2 points against Palace! 💙

Your Chelsea side tonight! 👊

#CFC | #EmiratesFACup

Come on Chelsea!

🔴 0-0 🔵 [1] #CFC | #EmiratesFACup

🚨🏥 Medical emergency in the crowd behind the dugout so the match has stopped at Charlton-Chelsea.

WHAT A HIT!

🔴 0-1 🔵 [45+4] #CFC | #EmiratesFACup

5 more to go 😏

We lead at HT. 👊

#CFC | #EmiratesFACup

Tosin heads home to make it two!

🔴 0-2 🔵 [50] #CFC | #EmiratesFACup

Goal. Charlton. Leaburn.

1-2.

GUIU! 💪

🔴 1-3 🔵 [62] #CFC | #EmiratesFACup

Estevao is on for Gittens.

🔴 1-3 🔵 [65] #CFC | #EmiratesFACup

The last time a full back scored a goal for Chelsea after a new coach arrived in January, we won the champions league

Enzo and Delap are on for Buonanotte and Guiu.

🔴 1-3 🔵 [69] #CFC | #EmiratesFACup

FT: Charlton Athletic 1-5 Chelsea

Chelsea XI: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Tosin, Badiashile, Hato, Caicedo (C), A.Santos, Gittens (Estêvão 66’), Buonanotte (Fernandez 69’), Garnacho, Guiu (Delap 69’)

Bench: Sanchez, Fofana, Chaobah, Essugo, Fernandez, Neto, Estevao, J.Pedro, Delap

Unused substitutes: Sanchez, Chaobah, Essugo, J.Pedro

🟨 Yellow card: Badiashile (5’)

Charlton XI: Mannion, Gough, Jones, Bell, Bree, Coventry, Docherty, Carey, Campbell, Leaburn, Kelman

Bench: Maynard-Brewer, Gillesphey, Anderson, Rankin-Costello, Berry, Knibbs, Apter, Fullah, Olaofe

🔵 G/A for Chelsea from:

Jorrel Hato ⚽️ [45+4’]
Tosin Adarabioyo ⚽️ [50’]
Facundo Buonanotte 🅰️
Marc Guiu ⚽️ [62’]
Pedro Neto ⚽️ [90+1’]
Enzo Fernandez 🅰️
Fernandez [penalty, 90+4’] ⚽️
Estêvão [won penalty] 🅰️

🔴⚪️ Goal for Charlton from:

Miles Leaburn ⚽️ [57’]

Thoughts on the game? ⬇️

#CFC

🗣️ Liam Rosenior on Chelsea’s 5-1 win over Charlton Athletic [A] in the FA Cup third round:

🤝 “I was very happy with the attitude of the team, even in the first-half. This is not an easy place to come, third round of the FA Cup.

“I felt our press was very intense and really good. I felt we controlled the game, created a couple of chances from outside the box. The goal came at a really good time. It was a fantastic finish from [Jorrel] Hato.

“The game opens up second-half…we know we have outstanding players. I was able to bring on some outstanding players from the bench. But I have to say I was delighted with the starting XI too.

“I believe in this group. I believe in all of them. And if we want to have a really strong season, we need to use them (all).

“I need to put faith into them, and they repaid my faith today. And they’ve given me real cause for optimism for the future.”

🤞𝐎𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐫, 𝐑𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐨 𝐆𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐝:

“Malo, Cole and Reece were precautionary today. I don’t want to take any risks at this stage of the season. They had minor knocks from the Fulham game.

“I feel like I’ve got such a good squad here, I don’t need to risk their health at the moment. We have a huge game on Wednesday. We have a huge game on Saturday. And I’ll check the medical reports tonight and tomorrow morning and see how they are then.”

(Via Chelsea FC & Bobby Vincent - Football London)

#CFC

🚩 HT: Chelsea 4-0 West Ham

⚽️ Own-Goal (1’)
⚽️ Lauren James (28’)
⚽️ Alyssa Thompson (40’)
⚽️ Sandy Baltimore (44’)

#CFCW || #BarclaysWSL

🚩 FT: Chelsea 5-0 West Ham

⚽️ Own-Goal (1’)
⚽️ Lauren James (28’)
⚽️ Alyssa Thompson (40’)
⚽️ Sandy Baltimore (44’ 70’)

#CFCW || #BarclaysWSL

𝑶𝑭𝑭𝑰𝑪𝑰𝑨𝑳: Chelsea will face Hull City [a] in the FA Cup 4th Round!

The tie will be played around the weekend of Saturday 14 February 2026 - Exact date TBC.

Thoughts on the draw?

#CFC #Chelsea #ChelseaFC