(London, July 20, 2025) — Christopher Nkunku has moved to cool intensifying speculation over his future, signalling he could yet remain at Chelsea and compete for a bigger role under head coach Enzo Maresca. Linked with Manchester United and Bayern Munich, the French forward has endured an uneven spell in West London after injury setbacks and intermittent starts across the tenures of Mauricio Pochettino and Maresca.
Chelsea’s aggressive summer recruitment has inevitably raised questions about squad size and potential departures. Club figures are understood to be open to exits where suitable bids arrive, and Nkunku signed from RB Leipzig in 2023 for a fee in the region of £52 million has been among the names monitored by would‑be suitors. Any move would likely need to recoup a significant portion of that outlay.
Recent performances, however, have strengthened Nkunku’s case to stay. He produced an influential display during Chelsea’s Club World Cup triumph, making a key contribution in the semi‑final win over Fluminense and featuring in the final. Soon after lifting the trophy he posted a celebratory photo captioned “Still in the mood,” a message widely read by supporters as a hint that he intends to remain at Stamford Bridge and fight for his place.
The broader Chelsea picture remains fluid. Noni Madueke has completed a £52 million move to London rivals Arsenal, and further departures are possible before the window closes. Incoming talent has been plentiful: winger Pedro Neto has impressed since arriving from Wolves and making his mark at the Club World Cup; forward João Pedro has started brightly, becoming the first Chelsea player in the Premier League era to score three goals across his first two competitive starts; striker Liam Delap joined from Ipswich Town in early June on a contract running to 2031; and winger Jamie Gittens has arrived from Borussia Dortmund to add depth out wide.
Against that backdrop, Nkunku’s stance matters. Choosing to remain would give Maresca another versatile attacking option capable of operating across the front line and linking play between midfield and the forwards. With pre‑season still unfolding and the transfer window open, his situation bears close watching over the coming weeks.
