Chelsea have made a bold statement ahead of the new season by axing nine high-profile players from their official first-team squad. Leading the list is Raheem Sterling, the 30-year-old winger who was once seen as a marquee signing from Manchester City. Alongside him, eight other big-money signings have been left off the club’s website, sparking speculation over their future at Stamford Bridge.
With Chelsea’s current squad ballooning to 47 players due to returning loanees and new signings, the club faces a critical need to offload unwanted names. Despite being officially on the books, the nine excluded players do not feature in the club’s online squad section and lack even a profile photo. This move reflects a clear message from the management that these individuals are no longer part of the club’s immediate plans.
The excluded players include defenders Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga, and Alfie Gilchrist; midfielders Carney Chukwuemeka and Lesley Ugochukwu; and forwards Raheem Sterling, Armando Broja, and David Datro Fofana. Collectively, these players cost the club over £200 million, but their absence suggests Chelsea are actively looking for transfer solutions before the September 1st deadline.
Sterling and Chilwell, once regulars for England and signed for £47.5 million and £50 million respectively, have already been sidelined for over a year. Both spent time on loan last season Sterling at Arsenal and Chilwell at Crystal Palace. Disasi, a £38 million addition from Monaco, also had a short loan spell at Aston Villa.
Meanwhile, young talents like Chukwuemeka, Ugochukwu, and Fofana have failed to convince during loan spells across Europe and now find themselves without clear roles in the squad. Renato Veiga’s potential move to Atletico Madrid appears to have collapsed, further complicating his future.
Even as Chelsea remain active in the transfer market, targeting the likes of Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho, the bloated roster continues to pose a logistical nightmare. The overhaul signals a shift toward a leaner, more competitive squad, but much depends on whether suitable exits can be secured for the banished players in time.
