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Chelsea learn Champions League opponentspublished at 17:35 28 August
17:35 28 August
Image source, Getty Images
Chelsea's Champions League draw is complete and Enzo Maresca's side now know which eight clubs they will meet in the 36-team league format, which was used for the first time last season.
The Champions League fixture list with match dates and kick-off times will be published no later than Saturday, 30 August.
The Blues will face:
Barcelona (H)
Bayern Munich (A)
Benfica (H)
Atalanta (A)
Ajax (H)
Napoli (A)
Pafos (H)
Qarabag (A)
Champions League group phase dates:
Matchday 1: 16–18 September 2025
Matchday 2: 30 September–1 October 2025
Matchday 3: 21-22 October 2025
Matchday 4: 4-5 November 2025
Matchday 5: 2-26 November 2025
Matchday 6: 9-10 December 2025
Matchday 7: 20-21 January 2026
Matchday 8: 28 January 2026
Champions League knockout stage dates:
Knockout phase play-offs: 17-18 and 24-25 February 2026
Watch and follow Champions League draw livepublished at 16:49 28 August
16:49 28 August
Image source, Getty Images
There are six Premier League teams in this season's Champions League.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Tottenham are about to find out who they will face in the league phase of the 2025-26 competition.
'He could have been a star' - could Chelsea 'regret' Nkunku exit?published at 16:02 28 August
16:02 28 August
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on Christopher Nkunku's Chelsea career after the news broke on Thursday that AC Milan have agreed a £36m deal to sign the France forward.
Here are some of your comments:
Lloyd: Given his injury record we should never have bought him. Hopefully he's fully fit & can rebuild his career in Serie A like many of our former players.
James: Nkunku's time at Chelsea was derailed by the serious injury he got in his first pre-season. He could have been a star for us if he'd avoided that injury, but we'll never know.
But, if he had stayed fit and played at number 10 behind Jackson from the start of 2023-2024 would we have signed Cole Palmer? Or if we had still signed Palmer but Nkunku was fit, would Palmer have had the impact he has?
It was deeply unfortunate for Nkunku that he got injured and then found a real star in his way in terms of getting back into the team. Clearly he hasn't been a big success but the fact he hasn't was as much about bad luck than any failure on anyone's part. I wish him well elsewhere.
Kenneth: Didn't think he was given a long enough run in the team. We could regret this.
Stevie: Unfortunately it never worked out for a player who had such promise. Injuries were an issue but we also played him in ways which didn't get the best out of him. It just didn't work out - I think a move is best for both parties and I wish him all the best in the future.
Ahmed: Wishing Nkunku the very best in his new endeavours. He is a player I so much cherish but he couldn't stamp his authority on the field of play or match his talents as expected. It may be due to severe injuries and other related factors.
JJ: What a shame. I'm so sad to see my favourite player leaving.
Stuart: It's a shame because early promise in pre-season was then ruined by a bad injury he never really came back from. Would've been a useful squad player, but a fresh start is probably for the best for both player and club.
'Nkunku's Chelsea career promised much - but was eventually deflating'published at 13:21 28 August
13:21 28 August
Nat Hayward BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
AC Milan have agreed a £36m deal - including add-ons - to sign Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku.
Should the move go through it will bring to an end a difficult period in West London for the France international, that promised much but will ultimately be viewed as a disappointment.
Nkunku arrived from RB Leipzig for around £52m in the summer of 2023 on the back of scoring 58 goals across his final two seasons in Germany.
He was Mauricio Pochettino's first signing and was charged with helping ease the Blues' goalscoring woes after they scored just 38 times in the league during the troublesome 2022-23 campaign which ended in a 12th-place finish.
However, despite initially impressing on the club's pre-season tour of the USA, he picked up a serious knee injury against Borussia Dortmund and did not make his competitive debut until December that year.
What would follow is series of false dawns. Nkunku finished the 2023-24 campaign with three Premier League goals in 11 appearances but started just twice and missed a further nine games between March and May with a hamstring problem.
Last season, the 27-year-old managed to stay fit but struggled to establish himself as a regular fixture in the Chelsea Premier League starting XI under new boss Enzo Maresca and became somewhat of a peripheral figure amid the club's wealth of attacking riches.
Nkunku made 27 league appearances but started just nine times and was labelled a "problem that needs solving for Chelsea" by BBC football news reporter Nizaar Kinsella in January.
He did, however, find goalscoring form in the Conference League. In much-rotated Chelsea teams he scored seven times - including in the play-off - and started as many European games as he did in the Premier League.
However, a knock kept him out of both legs of the semi-final and the final four league matches as Maresca's side secured Champions League qualification. He was then an unused substitute in the Conference League final.
With his career at Stamford Bridge in real danger of fizzling out completely, the summer's Club World Cup gave a final opportunity to secure a more positive Stamford Bridge legacy.
Nkunku appeared in all six of Chelsea's games in the USA - including starting the round of 16 and semi-final - and scored a crucial goal in extra-time as the Blues defeated Benfica to reach the final four.
The writing has been on the wall for some time regarding his exit however, only made more certain with the arrivals of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.
A move to Serie A would bring the curtain down on a Chelsea career that had moments but - for a man who famously celebrates by blowing up a balloon he keeps in his sock - quickly became deflating for both club and player.
Chelsea fans, how do you reflect on Nkunku's Chelsea career?
Chelsea weigh up Bayern loan interest in Jacksonpublished at 09:23 28 August
09:23 28 August
Nizaar Kinsella Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Yesterday we explained how Jadon Sancho's future is linked to Tyrique George's and there is a similar situation developing with Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku.
Both players are being allowed to explore options to leave Stamford Bridge but due to the late nature of the transfers window - much of the interest has been over loan moves.
There is also only one international loan slot left due to Fifa limiting all clubs to six overseas loans per season.
That means Chelsea are trying to sell both Jackson and Nkunku at the same time while also getting multiple suitors chancing their arm to take the last loan spot available from Stamford Bridge.
At the moment, it looks like Bayern Munich may get the opportunity to sign Jackson on an initial loan but negotiations continue over whether to include an option to buy, or make it an obligation to buy.
Those talks are no doubt emboldened by the situation around Nkunku, who has reportedly seen serious interest arrive from Milan to sign him on a permanent basis for the asking price of about £30m.
The situation around Nkunku remains complicated as he wants to play at a club in the Champions League and has a high salary which makes him less attractive to suitors.
Nkunku moving permanently would help Jackson move on loan or vice versa.
This is why they are linked and it leaves Chelsea needing to use domestic loans or sell the rest of their want-away players, including Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi, George, David Datro Fofana and Alfie Gilchrist.
AC Milan have entered the race for Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku, and the 27-year-old France international has also drawn interest from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and his former club RB Leipzig. (Athletic - subscription required), external
Simons to hold talks in Londonpublished at 11:27 28 August
11:27 28 August
Nizaar Kinsella Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
RB Leipzig midfielder Xavi Simons has been given permission to travel to London to hold talks with interested clubs.
Both Tottenham and Chelsea are potential destinations for the 22-year-old.
Simons held talks with Chelsea throughout August but the west Londoners have stopped short of making an official bid.
It has left open the possibility of rival moves and Spurs are believed to have joined Bayern Munich in expressing an interest for the Netherlands international.
Spurs are targeting an additional number 10 after missing out on Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White.
It remains unclear whether Simons, who is among the highest earners in Germany, would be a financially viable option.
When is the Champions League draw and how does it work?published at 18:32 27 August
18:32 27 August
The draw for the league phase of the 2025-26 Champions League will take place on Thursday in Monaco.
It will start at 17:00 BST and will follow the same procedure as the 2024-25 campaign - the first season where the 36-team league phase format took place.
The draw is made up of 27 teams that qualified via league positions, the winners of last season's Champions League and Europa League, and the seven teams that progressed out of qualifying.
This season, there are six English sides involved - Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle courtesy of finishing in the Premier League top five, and Tottenham after winning the Europa League.
The teams are split into four pots based on their individual Uefa club coefficient ranking.
Starting with pot one, each team will be drawn out individually. They will then be selected eight opponents via Uefa's automated software.
A team will play eight games in total, including two teams from each pot - one home and one away.
No group-stage fixtures can be played against teams from the same country, nor more than two against teams from the another country.
This procedure will continue until the fixtures for all 36 teams have been decided.
The Champions League fixture list with match dates and kick-off times will be published no later than Saturday, 30 August.
This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.
Sancho and George destinies interlinkedpublished at 13:41 27 August
13:41 27 August
Nizaar Kinsella Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester United's Jadon Sancho and Chelsea's fellow winger Tyrique George find their futures strangely interlinked.
Sancho is Roma's first-choice target to strengthen their attack but multiple sources have suggested getting him out of Old Trafford is complicated.
One issue is his reported £300,000-a-week wages being an obstacle for any buying club, while sources in Italy also believe he is lukewarm about moving to the Serie A club.
Further complicating matters is United's ability to trigger an option to extend Sancho's contract for a further year, until 2027, to avoid him leaving for free after any loan deal should one be agreed.
Ultimately, talks between the three parties are complex, while Sancho's agent, Emeka Obasi, also works with Chelsea's George.
The 19-year-old has become a viable alternative for Roma, with Chelsea known to be open to a potential sale.
George is believed to welcome a move to the Stadio Olimpico and a source involved in the deal has explained that £25m should be enough to make it happen if a significant sell-on clause was included.
However, Sancho remains the first choice and any break in the impasse would be likely to result in Roma changing course back to the United man.
Chelsea have other interest in George in England and elsewhere in Europe.
Sancho is training in United's so-called 'bomb squad' away from the first-team group. George is training with Enzo Maresca's first team but was left out of the squad for Friday's trip to West Ham.
Chelsea are interested in United winger Alejandro Garnacho, Barcelona forward Fermin Lopez and RB Leipzig midfielder Xavi Simons before the transfer deadline next week.
Anselmino takes another international loan spotpublished at 10:25 27 August
10:25 27 August
Nizaar Kinsella Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Chelsea defender Aaron Anselmino has completed his loan move to Dortmund.
The 20-year-old only joined the Blues from Boca Juniors in January in a £15.6m move but was told by manager Enzo Maresca he needed to go on loan to build experience with a view to returning to Chelsea.
His move comes amid what Dortmund terms a "strained personnel situation in central defence".
Dortmund CEO Lars Ricken explained: "Due to the injuries to Emre Can, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Niklas Sule, we were forced to make adjustments at centre-back. Aaron Anselmino has already gained first-league experience in his home country and has great potential. It was no coincidence that Chelsea signed him to an extremely long-term contract last summer."
Sporting director Sebastian Kehl added: "We have been following Aaron since his time at Boca Juniors. He is a very good solution in our current situation. We will integrate him quickly because we need him immediately and are looking forward to seeing Aaron in the black and yellow jersey this season."
Anselmino could make his debut at Signal Iduna Park against Union Berlin on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have used five of their six international loan spots up after the Argentine's move.
The Blues are still looking to offload Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku, Tyrique George, Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi, David Datro Fofana and Alfie Gilchrist on mostly permanent deals but are likely to need that last loan spot before the transfer deadline next week.
Gossip: George in exit talkspublished at 08:12 27 August
08:12 27 August
Roma have held talks with Chelsea and the representatives of Tyrique George over signing the 19-year-old English winger. (Gianluca di Marzio - in Italian, external)
Alejandro Garnacho has rejected a new approach from a Saudi Pro League club in the last 48 hours as talks between Manchester United and Chelsea for the 21-year-old Argentina winger remain very advanced. (Fabrizio Romano, external)
Chelsea consider Barca wingerpublished at 15:45 26 August
15:45 26 August
Nizaar Kinsella Chelsea reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Chelsea are interested in Barcelona winger Fermin Lopez but it remains to be seen where it sits in relation to other transfer activity.
The 22-year-old is admired with Barcelona often looking to raise further finances amid their own Financial Fair Play constraints in La Liga.
However, with the Blues having yet to contact the Spanish club directly, it remains unclear whether Lopez could join Chelsea this summer.
Lopez has scored 19 goals with 11 further assists in 89 appearances for Barcelona but was an unused substitute on Saturday for the trip to Levante.
Chelsea are known to be seriously targeting multiple additional attackers but are expected to make moves for Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho and midfielder Xavi Simons instead.
They also need to sell or loan certain attackers, like Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku and Tyrique George, who could all leave before the transfer deadline next week.
The addition of Lopez is acknowledgement of a potential alternative option amid active negotiations on multiple fronts.
'More than a rising star'published at 12:41 26 August
12:41 26 August
Will Faulks Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
He has a first Premier League start, he has a first assist for Chelsea, he even has a song. Estevao Willian was supposed to be worked gradually into the picture at Stamford Bridge, but circumstances have accelerated the whole process significantly.
Fans were warned for a long time before he arrived that he was going to need time to adapt to life in England and to the Premier League. But any attempts to temper expectations have been ruined by his dynamic start to life in west London.
He shone in two friendlies, then had a chance for a league start before the end of August handed to him by Cole Palmer's late withdrawal from the squad on Friday night as the Blues prepared to face West Ham.
He played 77 electric minutes in the end, contributing to the demolition of a rotten Hammers team.
But Estevao's breathtaking ability isn't the only impressive thing about him. He is also unbelievably mature, taking everything in his stride and looking as comfortable starting in the Premier League for his new team as he did for his boyhood club in the Brasileirao.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca's attempts to bring the winger down to earth a little by using his post-game interview to point to Estevao's errant flick which was turned into West Ham's opening goal are understandable - but felt futile.
The valiant efforts by Maresca to try to stop the hype building to damaging levels can only do so much when the teenager looks so good and so confident on the pitch. He's already more than a rising star, and increasingly the problem for the manager is going to be how to avoid the rising calls to start him every week; rather than how best to work him into the action slowly and safely.
Chelsea weigh up loan options for Rak-Sakyipublished at 11:00 25 August
11:00 25 August
Nizaar Kinsella Chelsea reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Chelsea are considering loan options for midfielder Sam Rak-Sakyi before the transfer deadline on 1 September.
The 20-year-old has interest from leagues domestically and in Europe as the Blues explore ways to get him more competitive first-team experience this season.
Rak-Sakyi has already made four senior appearances at Chelsea while part of the Conference League-winning squad last term.
He was also in the Premier League squad for a game against Brentford and has been training with the first team.
His recent involvement in pre-season friendlies against AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen was a positive sign he is valued by the club and manager Enzo Maresca.
However, the Blues have a strong midfield, with in-form duo Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez now backed up by Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo and Andrey Santos.
Rak-Sakyi has been at Chelsea since the age of eight and is the brother of Crystal Palace forward Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.
Gossip: Garnacho and Simons deals still onpublished at 07:05 25 August
07:05 25 August
Chelsea will press ahead with moves to sign Manchester United and Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho, 21, and RB Leipzig's Dutch midfielder Xavi Simons, 22, if they are able to offload some of their unwanted players. (Sky Sports), external
Watch Premier League highlights and analysispublished at 11:34 24 August
11:34 24 August
Pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Sautrday's Premier League fixtures.
West Ham 1-5 Chelsea - the fans' verdictpublished at 13:16 23 August
13:16 23 August
Media caption,
We asked for your thoughts after Friday's Premier League game between West Ham and Chelsea.
Here are some of your comments:
West Ham fans
Matthew: I've never seen a West Ham side as disorganised, lethargic and uncommitted in all my life. Every Chelsea attack was like a knife through melted butter, and emphasised how far away we are from those European nights.
Rob: Looking like a Championship side after just two games. Schoolboy errors all over the pitch and other teams can't wait to play us. How do we get out of this one ?
Rich: Playing at Upton Park gave West Ham an extra player. London Stadium is like playing with nine men. Yes, they were poor, but this ground makes it hard to get behind the team and easy for terrace critics to dominate. If West Ham players fear playing at home, the team is in a doom loop. How do fans help stop this?
Chelsea fans
James: A good performance. Apart from the early West Ham goal, it wasn't really much of a contest. We look very good going forward. It will be interesting to see how Maresca manages minutes among the vast array of talent in this squad.
Martin: Won 5-1 and didn't really get out of second gear. West Ham were woeful. Still think Chelsea need to tighten up at the back because we looked vulnerable a few times. Estevao will light up the Premier League.
Scott: Great result but a flattering scoreline - it was more down to West Ham being utterly awful after they took the lead. We will cause any team problems going forward, but defensively we're still suspect. And what was Sanchez doing for the Hammers goal? He will cost us tight games.
Image source, Getty Images
