Xabi Alonso's Tough Task: 16 Players Set to Leave

Chelsea are preparing for one of the biggest squad-clearance operations in the club's recent history ahead of the 2026-27 season. With just 25 days left before the summer transfer window closes, the club's bloated 41-man first-team squad presents a significant challenge for new head coach Xabi Alonso. Chelsea's absence from European competition this season makes carrying such a large group even harder to justify.

According to the BBC, the Spanish coach is aiming to trim the squad down to around 25 players, meaning at least 16 must leave the club or move elsewhere before the start of September. With FIFA having officially banned the practice known as the "bomb squad" — isolating unwanted players like Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi from first-team training in previous seasons — Chelsea must now find definitive solutions this time, whether through sales or loans.

While Premier League rules offer the club some breathing room through special exemptions for under-21 players and homegrown academy graduates, working with a squad of this size is said to risk affecting team stability. Alejandro Garnacho, Andrey Santos, Marc Cucurella and Tyrique George have already departed, while Filip Jorgensen and Trevoh Chalobah are in the process of moving to Strasbourg and Como respectively. Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, Caleb Wiley, David Datro Fofana and Marc Guiu have all been left out of pre-season preparations and are not training with the first team.

Source: BBC
Image: Be Soccer