🚨 MAJOR BREAKING: Chelsea lead race to sign Jordan Henderson. (FabrizioRomano)

I’d rather Xabi Alonso dust off his boots and play for Chelsea instead of signing Henderson.

🚨 Chelsea ADVANCE on Henderson and Welbeck. Personal terms nearly done with both players. Experienced leaders coming to Chelsea soon. (FabrizioRomano)

Seems Xavi wants a bit of experience in the team.

First Xhaka- couldn’t proceed cus Sunderland doesn’t want to sell

Then ,Stones- but he’s off to inter

Now Welbeck and Henderson …

What are your thoughts?

First pre-season minutes in the tank for the Blues. ✔️

Xabi Alonso:

"It was a very useful friendly that we can learn from today."

"There were moments we were struggling for solutions, we need to correct that. Our game management, we can learn from today. They were pressing high, and we need to find solutions. It will happen often in all the games..."

"The more situations we have like this, the better it is for us to find the solutions. It's going to be useful for the future, minutes for everyone, no injuries..."

On Joao Pedro:

"He is very hungry. He is really, really determined to have a great season. He scored many goals, but I think he wants to keep scoring more and more."

On older players joining Chelsea:

"I am sure that from today until the last day that there will be a lot of links. To comment on them all will be a hard task, but we need balance, to have a complete squad and make a good team..."

On Liam Delap's future:

"Liam is doing well. It was 60 minutes, he had a battle against the centre-backs. He is doing well. He's got a good desire."

Xabi Alonso on why Romeo Lavia didn't play:

"He felt something in the hamstring. Not a big thing. We are expecting him to be fit for Saturday, hopefully."

🚨💣 BREAKING: Jordan Henderson to Chelsea, here we go! 🔵🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Former Liverpool captain has agreed a two year deal at #CFC and will sign until June 2028 this week.

Henderson left Brentford and Chelsea will now welcome him next.

Exclusive story from Monday, confirmed.

[Fabrizio Romano]

🚨🔵 Danny Welbeck to Chelsea, here we go! Deal in place with Brighton for the English striker.

Welbeck agreed terms with Chelsea until 2028, medical next; Brighton approved decision to let him go after formal request from Danny.

Jordan Henderson: coming soon. 🔜

[via Fabrizio Romano]

🚨⚫️⚪️ EXCL. Kerim Alajbegović (18/🇧🇦) is set to join Juventus. Total agreement between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Juve for a permanent deal. 🇮🇹

💰 Juve will pay an initial €33m, with add-ons up to €40m. Just final details remain to be sorted out

(Via Patrick Berger)

🚨 Gary Neville: “Putting a spine in of good senior professionals who act as guardians to behaviours and responsibilities is not magic, it’s what teams have done for decades, putting Henderson in who knows how to win a title and Welbeck, they’re job is as much off the pitch as it is on it.

“Both are still good players and can contribute but what they’re going to do is make sure is those young players turn up each day and give it their all and come back and do it again the next day. This has been a problem at Chelsea, none of their young players have had any guidance or leadership around on and off the pitch”

“Welbeck is a fantastic player, it’s a good move for Chelsea”

Maxence Lacroix is Chelsea. 📸🤩

🚨 Lacroix: “I love to have this role of leadership.”

Only two defenders have made 300+ clearances, won 300+ duels, won possession 200+ times and made 100+ tackles across the last two Premier League seasons:

◎ Marc Guehi
◉ Maxence Lacroix

Chelsea have their new centre-back. ✍️

🚨 Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi have already been put up for sale.

❗️Trevoh Chalobah is another on the way out with Como keen.

⏳Mamadou Sarr has been earmarked to join an English club on loan.

❗️ There is now a strong possibility Wesley Fofana will drop down the pecking order, along with Tosin.

[Via The Athletic]

Maxence Lacroix:

"I'm really proud, really happy, to be part of this beautiful project and I just want to start playing. I’m really excited to see the guys [and] the manager, to start the season..."

[via ChelseaFC]

Maxence Lacroix:

"It’s the best move for me because it’s the best club in the world. I spoke with Malo, Trev [and] Benoit. It's easy for people to speak well about this club because it has a lot of big history and I'm really proud to be a part of it now."

[via ChelseaFC]

Genesis Antwi is in advanced talks to join RC Strasbourg on a season-long loan.

[via SportsPeteO]

Enzo Fernandez's father, Raul:

🗣 "My son told me everything that's being said [rumours of match fixing by Argentina] is a lie. I have to believe him and I think it was just an off day for him."

Statement | FA Spokesperson

"A financial sanction of £10 million and a suspended two-window registration ban have been imposed on Chelsea FC for breaches of The Football Association [The FA] Football Agent Regulations, Regulations on Working with Intermediaries and Third Party Investment in Players Regulations.  

"The FA charged Chelsea FC with 74 breaches of FA Rule E1.2 after its current ownership self-reported misconduct upon its purchase of the club. The FA is continuing to investigate individual misconduct arising out of this case.

"Chelsea FC admitted to the 74 breaches of FA Rule E1.2 prior to a hearing and an independent Regulatory Commission imposed a six-point deduction, which was to be suspended until 30 June 2027, and a £10 million fine. 

"The club appealed against the suspended points deduction and an independent Appeal Board allowed the appeal and set aside this sanction following a further hearing. In its place, the Appeal Board imposed a registration ban for two complete and consecutive transfer windows which is suspended until 30 June 2027. 

"The £10 million fine imposed by the Regulatory Commission was not subject to appeal and the full amount will be invested into grassroots football."

🚨 Chelsea charged £10m by the FA for the 74 charges under Abramovich relating to signings. Chelsea was initially hit with a 6 point deduction but appealed and will now pay the fine + two year suspended transfer ban.