Chelsea

Alejandro Garnacho says he is "very happy" to have signed for Chelsea and "can't wait to get started."

The 21-year-old has made the switch from Manchester United and signed a seven year-deal to keep him at the club until 2032.

"It's an incredible moment for my family and I to join this great club," Garnacho said. "I can't wait to get started.

"I watched the Club World Cup and to join the world champions is special – we're the best team in the world!

"It's amazing to be here and I'm very happy."

Garnacho made 93 Premier League appearances for United, scoring 16 goals.

He was spotted at Stamford Bridge watching Blues' win over Fulham earlier today.

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Joao Pedro has made a great impact since cutting short his holiday on the beaches of his native Brazil to join Chelsea during the Club World Cup in July.

Three goals in three starts, including one in the final in New Jersey against Paris St-Germain in July, has been followed up with a great start in the Premier League.

He now has two goals and two assists in his first three league games.

In all competitions, that is five goals and a further two assists in his first five starts, becoming the first Chelsea player to score five goals or more in his first five starts since Tammy Abraham in 2019.

Joao Pedro cites similarities between manager Enzo Maresca's style of play to his former Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi as a key reason behind his quick adaptation to life in west London. Of course, the forward also knows the Premier League and English football having moved to the league to join Watford in 2020.

He is already repaying the initial £55m paid to Brighton for his services over the summer.

However, there will be concern after Liam Delap suffered a hamstring injury which Maresca says he fears could rule him out for six to eight weeks after an early assessment.

He would join star attacker Cole Palmer on the sidelines and the Blues had to play academy talent Tyrique George up front for the majority of the match.

Enzo Maresca spoke to TNT Sports after Chelsea's victory against Fulham: "We were not good enough in the first half but were brilliant in the second. We didn't keep the ball and we didn't win the duels in the first half but we did the right things in the second half."

On refereeing decisions and whether his team was lucky with them: "I don't think so because the foul is a foul and the penalty is a penalty. For me, it's quite clear. If I had some doubt, I would say. But it's quite clear that the foul is foul and the other one is simple."

On Liam Delap's injury: "It was hamstring and in full speed. Hopefully, it's not too long but this kind of injuries could be six or eight weeks."

Joao Pedro spoke to TNT Sports about the start to his Chelsea career: "I am very happy but I think I need to keep working hard to help this team. I need to improve every day to keep what I am doing. Now is a break and I go to the Brazil squad. I need to keep working hard."

Did you know?

• Five of Chelsea's seven Premier League goals this season have been scored from set pieces (including penalties), including four from corners, as many corner goals as they managed in their final 24 league matches last term.

• Timed at 53:56, Joao Pedro's opener was Chelsea's latest first half goal on record (since 2006-07) in a Premier League game.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Chelsea's performance

What did you make of Fulham's display?

Come back to this page on Sunday to find a selection of your replies

Image source, Getty Images

Uefa has confirmed the date and time for each of Chelsea's eight Champions League group stage matches:

• Bayern Munich v Chelsea: Wednesday, 17 September - 20:00 BST

• Chelsea vs Benfica: Tuesday, 30 September - 20:00 BST

• Chelsea vs Ajax: Wednesday, 22 October - 20:00 BST

• Qarabag vs Chelsea: Wednesday, 5 November - 20:00 GMT

• Chelsea vs Barcelona: Tuesday, 25 November - 20:00 GMT

• Atalanta vs Chelsea: Tuesday, 9 December - 20:00 GMT

• Chelsea vs Pafos: Wednesday, 21 January - 20:00 GMT

• Napoli vs Chelsea: Wednesday, 28 January - 20:00 GMT

Chelsea are unchanged after their 5-1 win at West Ham last weekend.

Similarly, Fulham have the same starting eleven that started in the 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United on Sunday.

Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo starts and Fulham winger Harry Wilson is on the bench despite both having been doubts through injury.

Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Gusto, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Estevao, Joao Pedro, Neto, Delap.

Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, James, Fofana, Hato, Essugo, Santos, George, Gittens

Fulham XI: Leno, Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Castagne, Lukic, Berge, Sessegnon, King, Iwobi, Muniz.

Subs: Lecomte, Cuenca, Robinson, Reed, Cairney, Adama, Wilson, Smith Rowe, Jimenez.

There are six games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Chelsea v Fulham (12:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Man Utd v Burnley

• Sunderland v Brentford

• Tottenham v Bournemouth - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Wolves v Everton

• Leeds v Newcastle (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Chelsea face a third consecutive London derby, taking on a Fulham side who have drawn their opening two Premier League matches. BBC Sport takes a look at some of the key themes before Saturday's game.

No Cole Palmer, no problem. Chelsea's Club World Cup final match-winner missed the trip to West Ham with a groin issue but Enzo Maresca's men were still far too strong for the Hammers, running out 5-1 winners.

With Palmer sidelined, summer signing Joao Pedro switched from centre-forward to number 10 and looked the part, contributing an early goal and two assists. Taking into account the Club World Cup, the Brazilian has six goal involvements in four competitive starts for his new side, quickly proving his worth following a move from Brighton last month.

The Blues' next opponents are neighbours Fulham, who won 2-1 at Stamford Bridge last season, claiming their first victory there since 1979.

Nonetheless, Chelsea still have a formidable overall record in this fixture, losing just three of 36 Premier League meetings, home and away. That equates to 8.3% - the joint-lowest loss rate by one club against another in a fixture played at least 20 times.

Will Silva's super subs strike again?

Fulham's win over the Blues on 26 December came courtesy of late goals from substitutes Harry Wilson and Rodrigo Muniz, and the impact of players coming off the bench has been a recurring strength for Marco Silva's team.

Emile Smith Rowe's equaliser in Sunday's draw with Manchester United means Fulham subs have scored 19 Premier League goals since the start of last season, at least four more than any other club.

Raul Jimenez, their top scorer in 2024-25, lost his starting spot to Muniz against the Red Devils and may again have to settle for a place on the bench as he nears a career landmark. The 34-year-old needs one more appearance to become the first Mexican to play 200 Premier League games.

Chelsea looked lacklustre in their opener against Crystal Palace but then thrashed West Ham 5-1. The things is, how can you properly judge anybody who has played West Ham?

My gut feeling is Chelsea will have got a great deal of confidence from the manner in which they beat the Hammers last week.

I like Fulham under Marco Silva and the way they play could cause Chelsea one or two problems.

But I still think the Blues will come out on top in this West London derby.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Fulham at Stamford Bridge (12:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Maresca confirmed Cole Palmer will miss Saturday's match with a groin problem, while Benoit Badiashille and Romeo Lavia remain out.

• Palmer has been left out of Thomas Tuchel's England squad and will be assessed "day by day", while Badiashille and Lavia will not return immediately after the international break but "will be closer".

• On coping without Palmer: "When Cole is not in the game, we need to find different solutions. Hopefully tomorrow we can do the same."

• More on Lavia's fitness: "Two years ago, he didn't play any games. Last year, he played some games. The target is to give him more games this season. I don't know [when he will be back]."

• Maresca confirmed the arrival of Alejandro Garnacho: "I know he is around here. It's quite clear his position is a winger and I see him as a winger."

• Asked if there could be more incomings before Monday's deadline, Maresca said: "You can expect anything with the transfer window open - anything can happen, in and out. I joined the club one year ago saying I was in love with the squad and it has got better. The feeling is the same."

• On the departing Christopher Nkunku, who is set to join AC Milan: "Christo is a fantastic professional, first of all. The only problem is that in his position is a player like Cole, so it is difficult for him to get some minutes."

• On Fulham's strengths: "Solid, well organised, they play nice football and it is not random they are doing well. Marco [Silva] is good, the players are good. We need to be careful, as always."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

England boss Thomas Tuchel has selected his 24-man squad for the September World Cup qualifiers.

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Dean Henderson

Defenders: Reece James, Marc Guehi, John Stones, Dan Burn, Ezri Konsa, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tino Livramento, Djed Spence

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Jordan Henderson, Adam Wharton, Morgan Rogers, Declan Rice

Forwards: Harry Kane, Eberechi Eze, Jarrod Bowen, Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Ollie Watkins

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

West Brom are set to sign Chelsea defender Alfie Gilchrist for an initial £1.2m rising to potentially £2m with add-ons.

The 21-year-old is currently undergoing a medical in the Midlands and is expected to sign a four year contract.

Gilchrist had been training in Chelsea's so-called 'bomb squad' and was deemed surplus to requirements but proved his ability to play at Championship level at Sheffield United last season, featuring 32 times for the Blades.

The Chelsea academy graduate also played 17 times for his boyhood club under Mauricio Pochettino in a breakthrough season and scored once.

Chelsea now hold the Premier League record after selling £264.4m worth of players - not including potential add-ons.

After agreeing a fee for Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho, 21, Chelsea are also prepared to make a £60m bid for Leipzig's Xavi Simons. (Metro), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The biggest question mark on Chelsea this season is how they handle simultaneous Premier League and Champions League campaigns.

They won't have the luxury of playing one stronger 11 in the Premier League and a second 11 in Europe - as they did last season with the Conference League.

Matches at home to Barcelona, Benfica and Ajax will need to be respected. As will away trips to Bayern Munich, Napoli and Atalanta.

There is also the long haul travel involved when facing Azerbaijani side Qarabag.

The one opportunity to rest players might be when former defender David Luiz's visits Stamford Bridge with his new Cypriot club Pafos.