Chelsea are keeping their Premier League rivals on their toes with a string of surprising transfers ahead of Xabi Alonso’s first season in charge at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have invested heavily this summer, bringing Morgan Rogers in from Aston Villa for a British record transfer fee and signing Atalanta full-back Marco Palestra. Geovany Quenda has completed his move and striker Emmanuel Emegha has been imported from Strasbourg.
Those four players have an average age between 21 and 22, a number lowered further by the two teenage players Chelsea have acquired for lower fees this summer, but the next players through the door will be a different story.
Henderson free to join Chelsea from Brentford
Chelsea are eager to add cost-effective experience and leadership to their ranks. Not being a club to do things by halves, they’re on the cusp of signing both Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck.
It was reported on Wednesday morning that Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion have agreed a deal for Welbeck, who has now been given permission to undergo a medical before completing a transfer to Stamford Bridge on a two-year deal.
35-year-old Welbeck is shining in the twilight of his career. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker will join the Blues on the back of a fine season in front of goal.
He scored 13 times in the Premier League – the best return of his career – but it’s almost as noteworthy that he was consistently fit and available for the Seagulls. Welbeck is being signed for experience but there’s every chance he features regularly, with Liam Delap struggling to lock down a place and Emegha still developing.
Brighton will receive an undisclosed transfer fee thanks to a one-year contract extension signed earlier this year, while Brentford will allow Henderson to leave the Gtech Community Stadium for nothing.
“England midfielder Henderson, 36, has a year left on his Brentford contract but the Bees are willing to let him leave on a free transfer,” report Nazaar Kinsella and Sami Mokbel for BBC Sport.
“Henderson made 34 appearances in all competitions for Brentford last season after joining from Ajax. He made one substitute appearance for England at the World Cup before breaking his arm falling over advertising hoardings while celebrating their last-16 win over Mexico.”
Both Henderson and Welbeck are expected to be part of Chelsea’s pre-season tour of Hong Kong.
The Blues will play Tottenham Hotspur in Sydney on Saturday before facing Juventus in Hong Kong and AC Milan in Jakarta over the course of the next week.
Alonso will then take on his first club, Real Sociedad, in his first match in charge at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea’s Premier League campaign gets underway down the road at Fulham on Monday, August 24.
