Chelsea

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Departed left-back Ben Chilwell says Chelsea fans "gave me the best moments of my life" in a farewell message on social media, external.

The 28-year-old, who joined fellow BlueCo-owned club Strasbourg on a two-year deal on transfer deadline day, wrote a goodbye message to supporters alongside a video.

Chilwell's permanent move ends a five-year spell at Stamford Bridge after joining from Leicester in 2020. During that time, he became a Champions League winner and made 107 appearances in total, scoring nine goals and providing 13 assists.

Injury stunted his progress at Chelsea and he fell out of favour under recent management, ultimately spending the second half of last season on loan at Crystal Palace.

"Chelsea fans, firstly thank you! We won the Champions League together, made a bond like I'd never have imagined and I met brothers for life on and off the pitch here," the England international Chilwell said.

"You helped me through the tough times, injuries, personal life, and gave me the best moments of my life.

"I'll never be able to thank you guys enough - looking forward to showing everyone my best. See you soon. Chilly."

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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I do not do predictions but I am happy to try a few 'informed guesses'.

One this season was that the top four would end up being way ahead of the rest and yet even though three of that group are already in place at the top of the league (Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal), maybe that gap will not be as big as I thought.

Only Liverpool have full points but they have been far from totally convincing, though the signing of Alexander Isak will help their chances of domination.

Factor in Arsenal's propensity to get long-term injuries to key players, even if they have a bigger and better-balanced squad than ever, and Chelsea being almost certain to hit a wall at some point with injuries and tiredness due to having practically no summer break and finishing positions do not seem quite so clear-cut.

Manchester City's transition has not developed as far as most thought and of course all these team have a host of Champions League games to fit in as well.

The big four might have raided the smaller teams and taken their best players, but they have also funded those clubs handsomely and allowed them to keep their nimbler acquisition policies going strong.

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Chelsea's England forward Raheem Sterling, 30, France defender Axel Disasi, 27, and Brazil midfielder Andrey Santos, 21, could all make moves to Saudi Arabia before the Pro League transfer window closes. (Sport - in Spanish), external

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Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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Ruben Loftus-Cheek was a casualty of the unprecedented churn of players at Chelsea between the Roman Abramovich ownership and the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital era.

He was the first player to properly break through the now-revered Cobham academy under Abramovich's ownership, which made him an important figure at Stamford Bridge.

Loftus-Cheek had his best years under Thomas Tuchel, who made it one of his pet projects to allow the player he compared to Germany great Michael Ballack to realise his potential.

However, it was downhill after Tuchel was sacked by the new owners and Loftus-Cheek endured a chaotic 2022-23 season as Chelsea finished 12th.

Around this time, midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo joined for more than £100m apiece and academy players were sold for 'pure profit' to help balance the books.

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Former Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has reflected on his time playing under Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge after the England manager added him to his latest squad.

Loftus-Cheek - who now plays for AC Milan - was a favourite of Tuchel during his 20-month spell in charge of the Blues between 2021 and 2022 and played in several positions under the German.

It is over six years since the 29-year-old earned his last call-up under Gareth Southgate in March 2019.

"I played many positions under him - he values my physicality," Loftus-Cheek said.

"I played at six, eight and at centre-back all in one game!

"When he [Tuchel] came to Chelsea, he spoke to me about playing right wing-back. I said: 'No! No! No!' But I played there anyway.

"I had never played in that wide position before and Tuchel suggested that I am a powerful runner and have the pace and physicality to get up and down at speed.

"I ended up playing there a lot in that season. I was happy to play but it was just the shock of the suggestion which was the funny thing. I started to do quite well there and feel the position, and it became comfortable for me."

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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Chelsea recalled Marc Guiu as their top option to address striker Liam Delap's injury.

Guiu, 19, was deemed the best loanee to lead the attack at Stamford Bridge by the Chelsea hierarchy, given his Premier League experience and understanding of manager Enzo Maresca's style of play.

There had been a period of uncertainty around Chelsea's activity after Delap suffered a serious-looking hamstring injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham.

A ripple effect across the transfer market followed, including blocking Nicolas Jackson from undergoing a medical examination at Bayern Munich and an inquiry to Sporting about striker Conrad Harder.

However, concerns about the Denmark Under-21 forward's ability to make a difference at Chelsea made him an opportunity not worth pursuing, especially as he ultimately joined RB Leipzig.

Instead, Guiu, who joined Chelsea from Barcelona in 2024 for £5m, was seen as deserving the opportunity created by Delap's injury, and his pathway should not be blocked by a new signing.

There was no recall clause in Guiu's loan agreement with Sunderland, but the two clubs' positive relationship enabled them to reach a deal, aided by a penalty clause if the young striker did not play sufficient minutes.

Chelsea also factored in Strasbourg striker Emanuel Emegha when making the decision.

The 22-year-old, who now captains the French club in their Ligue 1 and Conference League campaigns, is seen internally as a future Netherlands international and player capable of featuring for Chelsea or in the Premier League soon.

The decision not to sign Harder and to work with Guiu was also made with Emegha's future development in mind.

Will Faulks
Fan writer

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It was a very solid transfer window for Chelsea, but one which just fell short of being really exceptional.

Unlike last year, where it was hard to identify where the team had really improved over the summer, the Blues added first team quality and depth through the squad.

Sales were also always going to be important this summer, and on that front things went even better, starting with an unexpected windfall for Joao Felix from Saudi Arabia. The club were able to cash in on some of their successful buy low, sell high gambles from years past: Renato Veiga and Noni Madueke were both flipped for serious profit. That created the headroom necessary for another major shakeup of the first XI.

Joao Pedro has hit the ground running up front and looks to finally have brought a consistent goalscorer to Stamford Bridge. The most hyped transfer was one arranged more than a year ago - Estevao Willian is probably the most exciting attacking signing at Chelsea since Eden Hazard. But less glamorous additions like Jorrel Hato and the return of Andrey Santos will be just as important in a long season competing on four fronts.

Moves for Facundo Buonanotte and Alejandro Garnacho feel like gambles - but ones the club can afford to take after such a strong summer of selling.

Of course it wasn't a perfect window - Robert Sanchez is still the first choice goalkeeper, and there does feel a risk in relying on the injury prone Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile as important defensive options in a season we know Levi Colwill is going to miss.

Nicolas Jackson's departure to Bayern Munich was a deal too good to miss - but it's a gamble and it will only take a couple of injuries up front for it to backfire.

I would rate this window an 8/10.

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external

Umir Irfan
Football tactics correspondent

Chelsea have been strong on set-pieces in the opening three games of the season - getting good shots off following corners in particular.

Analysing Joao Pedro's goal in the win over Fulham highlights the interesting manner in which they have been troubling opposition goalkeepers.

Pedro found space from Calvin Bassey as the Fulham man defended zonally. The Brazilian striker didn't move just to get room but also to trouble the goalkeeper directly.

After moving away from Bassey, he applied physical pressure to Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno - being the 'blocker' Chelsea have used Delap as. It prevents the goalkeeper stepping up and frees space for team-mates.

But against Fulham, the 'blocker' stepped back into space to head the ball home himself. Leno was preoccupied with trying to deal with the physical contact and by the time the header came, he couldn't react quickly enough.

Chelsea's improved corner routines - and the use of certain players on the opposition goalkeeper - is a trend to look out for in coming weeks.

Raheem Sterling looks set to stay at Chelsea with no interest the forward from clubs in Turkey, Saudi Arabia or the United States, even though their transfer windows closes later. (Athletic - subscription required), external

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Chelsea have confirmed that forward Nicolas Jackson has joined Bayern Munich on a season-long loan.

The German champions will pay an initial £14.3m fee and have an obligation to buy the 24-year-old for £56.2m if he makes a set number of appearances.

The Senegal forward joined Chelsea for £32m from Villarreal in 2023 and scored 30 goals in 81 matches.

Ben Chilwell has also left Stamford Bridge, signing a two-year deal at Ligue 1 outfit Strasbourg.

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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Fulham had agreed a £22m move for Chelsea forward Tyrique George earlier on deadline day but it collapsed in the late hours.

The primary reason George's move fell through was that he was a contingency plan in case Leeds made an offer Fulham could not refuse for Harry Wilson.

Ultimately though, they preferred to keep the Wales international.

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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Ben Chilwell has agreed a two-year contract to join Strasbourg, who have the same BlueCo ownership as Chelsea, on a permanent basis.

The England international will sign a two-year contract, which is the same as the remaining length of his contract at Stamford Bridge.

Both Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi are staying at Chelsea having been in the 'bomb squad' all summer.

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We asked for your views on the imminent departure of Nicolas Jackson.

Here are some of your comments:

Dave: Much better deal than an option to buy, Bayern always likely not to take that up. Think the fee reflects his status on the fringes of the squad. Wish him the best.

Stevie: Fantastic business for a player who showed promise but failed to deliver with problems on the mental side of the game. Almost cost us Champions League football last season with a stupid sending off at Newcastle and then again at the Club World Cup. Joao Pedro and Liam Delap are both better.

Jared: I have to say it's a good bit of business offloading Jackson and not keeping him on the bench where he would be sulking. Just hoping he doesn't score against us in the Champions League.

Chris: Good bit to of business, I was finding it difficult to deal with his inconsistent performances and his obvious disciplinary problems. He always seemed like a bomb waiting to go off and not in a good way like Diego Costa, but I think all in all we're better off without him.

Abbs: Unfortunately, we let the situation get totally out of hand. In a few years time he could be a top striker, but all said and done he did have his chance.

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Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

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Fulham have agreed a £22m fee with Chelsea to sign winger Tyrique George.

The 19-year-old is expected to agree a five-year contract at Craven Cottage with Chelsea including a sell-on clause.

George came through the Blues' academy and became a regular feature in the side last season, particularly in their successful Conference League campaign.

He has made 27 appearances for the club in total, scoring three goals and providing five assists.

George came on as a substitute in their 2-0 win against the Whites on Sunday following striker Liam Delap's hamstring injury.

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

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Chelsea have agreed a new loan with an obligation to buy with Bayern Munich for forward Nicolas Jackson.

The 24-year-old's on-off transfer is set to complete for an initial £14.3m (16.5m euros), with the deal now including a mandatory purchase for £56.2m (65m euros), should he feature in a certain number of games.

The agreement is on slightly improved terms to the one agreed on Saturday.

There is also a higher likelihood now that Jackson will remain at the Allianz Arena beyond this current season, with personal terms already in place for a future permanent contract.

How do you feel about Jackson's exit?

Is it a good deal for the club or could he have still had a future at Chelsea?

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