Chelsea’s summer transfer window has come and gone, but the intrigue around Stamford Bridge is far from over. With the new Premier League season underway and the Blues still unbeaten after three matches, manager Enzo Maresca’s squad is the talk of the town—thanks to headline-grabbing transfer pursuits, high-profile contract sagas, and a renewed focus on youth development. But what’s truly going on behind the scenes as Chelsea eyes a return to the summit of English football?
Under the club’s new ownership, Chelsea’s transfer strategy has shifted dramatically. Gone are the days of splashing out on established stars for astronomical fees and wages. Instead, the Blues have doubled down on signing and nurturing young talent, aiming to build a sustainable core for years to come. This approach has already yielded some impressive arrivals, but it’s also left a few high-profile veterans in limbo—most notably Raheem Sterling.
Sterling, once considered among the Premier League’s elite, finds himself on the outside looking in. Despite earning a reported £300,000 per week, the English winger has fallen out of favor with Maresca and is not expected to feature in the first team unless he secures a move elsewhere. Over the summer, Chelsea attempted to facilitate transfers to Bayer Leverkusen and Juventus, but Sterling ultimately chose to stay in London to remain close to his family. According to BBC reports, even interest from Fulham, Crystal Palace, and West Ham couldn’t sway him from his decision to stay put at Cobham.
It’s a situation that underscores the risks of big-money signings. Sterling arrived from Manchester City in 2022 for a fee believed to be around €56.2 million, but his stint at Chelsea has been underwhelming. A loan spell at Arsenal last season failed to reignite his form, with Mikel Arteta’s side opting not to make the move permanent. As Chelsea’s hierarchy reflects on Sterling’s contract, the lesson is clear: think twice before handing out massive wages and transfer fees, no matter a player’s pedigree.
Meanwhile, the club’s youth-focused recruitment drive has produced some eye-catching deals. In early July, Chelsea signed Jamie Gittens as a replacement for Jadon Sancho, who returned to Manchester United after his loan. But the big splash came with the arrival of Alejandro Garnacho, a 21-year-old Argentine winger who made nearly 100 Premier League appearances for Manchester United before his £40 million move to Stamford Bridge. Garnacho’s Premier League record—16 goals and 8 assists in 93 appearances—speaks for itself, and his familiarity with the English top flight should ease his transition into Maresca’s plans.
Interestingly, Chelsea’s summer shortlist also included Lyon’s Malick Fofana, who notched five goals and four assists in 29 Ligue 1 matches last season. Fofana confirmed the Blues’ interest, telling Het Belang van Limburg: “There was interest from those two clubs, but ultimately it wasn’t concrete enough. I’ve thought about a transfer, but I think it’s more important now that I play a lot, and that has to happen at Lyon. Because I still have progress to make.” Ultimately, Chelsea opted for Garnacho, whose lower price tag and Premier League experience made him a more attractive option than Fofana, for whom Lyon demanded £51.5 million.
But the transfer rumors don’t stop there. The latest buzz surrounds Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers—a 23-year-old playmaker who enjoyed a breakout season in the West Midlands. Rogers dazzled fans with 14 goals and 16 assists in 54 matches across all competitions last year, averaging 1.59 shots per 90 minutes in the Premier League with 36.4% on target, and a respectable 73.2% pass completion rate. His versatility as an attacking midfielder or winger, coupled with his Premier League pedigree, has put him firmly on Chelsea’s radar.
According to Fichajes and CaughtOffside, Chelsea are reportedly willing to spend up to €100 million (£86.7 million) to secure Rogers’ signature, though a summer move failed to materialize. With Rogers under contract at Aston Villa until 2030, prying him away won’t come cheap. Yet, the appeal is obvious: “Rogers would bring more goals and assists to Enzo Maresca’s frontline. He has what it takes to earn a regular starting spot at the West London club in the coming seasons.” At just 23, Rogers is seen as a player whose best years are still ahead of him.
Chelsea’s commitment to youth is mirrored in their handling of midfield talent Romeo Lavia. After joining the Blues, Lavia has been building match fitness and is recovering from a minor groin issue, but he remains a key part of Maresca’s plans. Manchester United made a late approach for the Belgian international in the summer window, but Chelsea rebuffed any suggestion of a sale unless a massive offer came in. As football.london observed, “Lavia clearly has great quality. He just needs to stay fit.” With Andrey Santos also arriving to bolster midfield depth, Chelsea’s engine room looks well stocked for the campaign ahead.
Elsewhere, the club has been dealing with the fallout from Nicolas Jackson’s loan saga. Bayern Munich’s honorary president Uli Hoeness publicly dismissed the possibility of a permanent move for the striker, stating on German TV: “There will definitely not be a permanent contract. That only happens if he plays 40 games from the start. He will never do that.” Jackson’s advisor, Diomansy Kamara, shot back on social media: “Many speak, but few tell the truth. That’s not the topic today. Our only priority is Senegal’s decisive match for World Cup qualification... The rest will be dealt with later, at the appropriate time. End of story.”
Despite the transfer drama, Chelsea have started the 2025/26 Premier League season in impressive fashion. They’re one of just three unbeaten teams, notching two wins and a draw in their first three fixtures. The campaign began with a goalless draw against Crystal Palace, followed by emphatic victories over West Ham and Fulham. With Champions League and Carabao Cup fixtures against Munich and Lincoln looming, Maresca will be hoping his squad avoids further injuries—especially to key players like Cole Palmer and Lavia.
As the dust settles on the summer window, Chelsea’s blend of youthful exuberance and calculated ambition has set the stage for a fascinating season. With potential blockbuster signings like Morgan Rogers still on the horizon and a core of young stars ready to prove themselves, the Blues look poised to challenge for major honors once again. The coming months will reveal whether Maresca’s vision can deliver the consistency and silverware that Chelsea fans crave.
