Chelsea Football Club is making headlines across the footballing world this September, with a flurry of transfer activity, squad reshuffles, and a major London derby on the horizon. As the Premier League season ramps up, the Blues find themselves at the center of both speculation and strategic maneuvering, with several key players’ futures hanging in the balance and new stars arriving to bolster both the men’s and women’s teams.
Perhaps the most dramatic storyline involves French center back Axel Disasi. As of September 9, 2025, Disasi finds himself training apart from Chelsea’s first team at Cobham. Despite being physically fit and maintaining a professional attitude, the 27-year-old defender is working with a small group of senior players, often referred to as the “bomb squad.” This setup, according to multiple reports, involves separate training sessions, dining arrangements, and even facility use, underlining a clear separation from the main squad. Yet, Disasi remains available for selection, ready to step in if manager Enzo Maresca calls his number. "The message is clear: stay sharp, stay ready," as one club insider put it.
Disasi’s situation is a product of a turbulent transfer window. Chelsea explored both sales and loan deals for the Frenchman, with Premier League rivals Bournemouth and West Ham expressing interest. A late loan back to his former club Monaco also fell through. As a result, Disasi remains on the fringes, awaiting clarity on his role moving forward. The Turkish side Besiktas has emerged as a potential destination ahead of their window deadline, and with the January transfer window looming, further movement remains possible if Disasi’s playing time does not improve.
For Chelsea, squad depth in defense is always a concern over a long and grueling season. Injuries or suspensions could quickly shift the club’s plans and open the door for Disasi’s reintegration. Until then, his task is simple but not easy: train hard, maintain focus, and be ready to seize any opportunity that arises—even if it comes from a separate building on the training ground.
While Disasi’s future hangs in the balance, another Chelsea player is attracting significant attention from abroad. Reports on September 8, 2025, revealed that Saudi club Al-Qadsiah has submitted a massive bid—close to £60 million—for Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos. The 21-year-old is fresh off an impressive loan spell at Strasbourg, where he scored 11 goals and provided six assists in 38 matches across all competitions. Santos averaged 1.45 shots per 90 minutes in Ligue 1, with 34.8% of his attempts finding the target, and boasted an impressive 88.2% pass completion rate.
Santos’ contract at Stamford Bridge runs until the summer of 2030, meaning Chelsea is under no immediate pressure to sell. Despite not being a regular starter at present, his potential is undeniable. Many within the club believe Santos could become a crucial member of Maresca’s match-day squad this season. As one analyst put it, "Santos is already good enough to help the Premier League giants compete across all competitions in the coming seasons." With his value only expected to rise, the consensus is that Chelsea should keep hold of the Brazilian sensation for the long haul, resisting the lure of a quick sale.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s women’s team has pulled off one of the most significant transfers in global women’s soccer. Rising U.S. national team star Alyssa Thompson, just 20 years old, has signed with Chelsea FC in the United Kingdom, leaving behind Angel City FC and her hometown of Los Angeles. Angel City described the deal as "one of the highest transactions in global women’s soccer," though the exact financial terms remain undisclosed.
Thompson’s move comes after she had re-signed with Angel City earlier this year, a contract that would have kept her in L.A. through 2028. But the opportunity for career growth and new experiences proved too tempting to pass up. "I love L.A. I love playing there. I love being with my sister. I love my family. But what I also know is that I want more for myself, and I want to experience different things. I feel like Chelsea is such an amazing club," Thompson said in her first statement as a Blue.
The timing of Thompson’s arrival is notable. Chelsea announced the signing shortly after revealing that Colombian forward Mayra Ramírez would be sidelined indefinitely following hamstring surgery. Thompson’s younger sister, Gisele, remains at Angel City, which is fighting desperately for a playoff spot in the NWSL. The club currently sits ninth in the standings, just behind Gotham FC, and must now cope without one of its top scorers—Thompson has netted six goals this season, just two shy of the team lead.
Thompson’s impact extends beyond club soccer. Drafted by Angel City at just 17, she became the first high schooler ever selected in the NWSL draft. She has since scored three goals and provided three assists for the U.S. women’s national team, earning her place among the country’s brightest young talents. At Chelsea, she will join fellow Americans Naomi Girma and Cat Macario, with Girma having made headlines herself as the first million-dollar player in women’s soccer earlier this year.
On the men’s side, transfer dealings have also seen striker Nicolas Jackson depart for Bayern Munich on loan. The deal, finalized just before the transfer window closed in early September, was negotiated on Bayern’s terms. The reported fee ranged from €13.5 million to €16.5 million, but the obligation to buy will only be triggered if Jackson appears in 40 Bundesliga and Champions League games—DFB Pokal matches do not count. With a maximum of 49 such games possible this season and Jackson likely to miss several due to the Africa Cup of Nations, Bayern retains significant control over the striker’s future.
All these moves set the stage for Chelsea’s next big test: a Premier League clash against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, September 13, with an 8 pm UK kickoff. This London derby has been tight in recent years, with the last meeting ending 0-0 on April 6, 2025. Brentford’s compact ground and high-pressing style under Thomas Frank promise to make things difficult for Maresca’s side, who will be looking for sharper build-up play and a more clinical edge in front of goal. Early midfield battles and set pieces could prove decisive, and with both teams eager for points, the margins are likely to be razor-thin once again.
With ongoing uncertainty around key players, new arrivals making headlines, and another high-stakes derby looming, Chelsea fans have plenty to watch for as the season unfolds. Whether it’s a sidelined star waiting for his chance, a young talent weighing a big-money move, or a new signing ready to dazzle on the international stage, the Blues remain at the heart of the football conversation—both in England and around the globe.
