VILLATILLIDIE

Chelsea FC Squad Depth Analysis for the 2025/26 Season

Will P

SEP 2, 2025

The summer 2025 transfer window slammed shut on September 1st, marking another ambitious rebuild for Chelsea FC under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.

With Enzo Maresca at the helm, the Blues focused on injecting youth, versatility, and depth into the squad while offloading surplus players to streamline operations. Chelsea's net spend was very balanced, with £296.5m spent and a whopping £314.4m incoming from sales.

Key arrivals such as João Pedro (£60m from Brighton), Jamie Gittens (£50m from Dortmund), and Alejandro Garnacho (£40m from Manchester United) signal a clear intent to bolster attacking options with high-potential talents.

Goalkeepers: Solid but not World Class

Chelsea's goalkeeping department remains anchored by Robert Sánchez as the first-choice shot-stopper, with Filip Jørgensen providing reliable backup after his arrival last season. Gabriel Slonina rounds out the trio, offering long-term potential but limited first-team experience.

First Choice: Robert Sánchez
Backup: Filip Jørgensen
Third String: Gabriel Slonina

Depth Rating: 7/10. This area is stable enough, with no new additions this window. Sánchez's distribution suits Maresca's build-from-the-back style, however many Chelsea fans wanted a World Class Goalkeeper to arrive. An injury to Sanchez would be a massive blow, if it were to happen.

Defenders: Fortress in the Making?

Defense was a priority, with Jorrel Hato (£38.5m from Ajax) adding versatility at left-back and centre-back. The centre-back pool is particularly crowded, boasting eight options despite Levi Colwill's long-term injury side-lining him potentially for the season. Right-back remains elite with Reece James and Malo Gusto, while the left side now has competition between Marc Cucurella and Hato.

Right-Backs: Reece James, Malo Gusto, Josh Acheampong (versatile)
Left-Backs: Marc Cucurella, Jorrel Hato (versatile)
Centre-Backs: Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoît Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, Josh Acheampong (also RB), Jorrel Hato (also LB), Levi Colwill (injured)

Depth Rating: 8/10. If Levi Colwill had stayed fit, this would have been arguably Chelsea's strongest area on the pitch. Despite having good back-ups like Tosin and Chalobah, Chelsea will miss Colwill's distribution and passing between the lines. If Wesley Fofana can stay fit, then this will also be a massive bonus for Chelsea.

Midfielders: Balanced and Youthful Engine Room

The midfield blends established stars with emerging talents. Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernández anchor the base, with new signing Dário Essugo (£18.5m from Sporting) providing defensive cover. Romeo Lavia's fitness issues persist, but Andrey Santos offers box-to-box energy.

Defensive Midfielders: Andrey Santos, Romeo Lavia
Central Midfielders: Enzo Fernández, Moises Caicedo, Dário Essugo
Attacking Midfielders: Cole Palmer, Estêvão Willian, Facundo Buonanotte (loan).

Depth Rating: 9/10. Getting midfield reinforcements for both Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez will be massive for Chelsea this year especially with Champions League football returning to Stamford Bridge. If Romeo Lavia can stay fit, he will be a huge asset in the big games where he has the ability to control a midfield.

Forwards: Explosive Options Galore

Chelsea's attack is where the summer spending shines, with over £272 million invested in wide forwards alone. João Pedro leads the line as a versatile striker/attacker, supported by Liam Delap (£30m from Ipswich). Wing depth is "scary," featuring speedsters like Pedro Neto, Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho, and teenage sensation Estêvão Willian.

Strikers/Central Forwards: João Pedro, Liam Delap (Injured), Marc Guiu
Right Wingers: Pedro Neto, Estêvão Willian (versatile), Cole Palmer (versatile)
Left Wingers: João Pedro (versatile), Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho, Pedro Neto (versatile), Tyrique George.

Depth Rating: 8/10. The wide areas are stacked with talent, allowing Maresca to rotate without drop-off, however with the injury to Liam Delap and departure of Nicolas Jackson, Chelsea now only have one star striker in the squad which was a problem last season. The likes of Gittens, Garnacho and Buonanotte could prove to be smart signings, however they are still unproven talents.

Joao Pedro looks to be one of the signings of the summer for just £55m. 6 Games, 5 goals and 2 assists so far in a Chelsea shirt, also helping the club to win the FIFA Club World Cup.

Recapping Chelsea's 2025/2026 summer window:

- 8 new signings for around €300M
- 14 permanent sales for around €315M
- 6/6 international loan spots used
- Green denotes a new squad addition, yellow denotes an international loan spot

(Threw this together very quickly, so there… pic.twitter.com/LECyZx9vfd
— Sumeet (@flameosumeet) September 1, 2025

Squad Assessment

Chelsea's squad now boasts around 30 senior players, emphasizing quality depth across most positions. The focus on young, high-upside signings aligns with the club's long-term vision, but integration challenges and injury risks (e.g., Colwill out long-term, Lavia and Fofana's histories) could hinder short-term success.

With a balanced net spend and departures clearing the wage bill, the Blues look equipped for a top-four push and European contention. However, Maresca's ability to manage such a large, talented group will be key—rotation could breed competition or discontent.

Remaining Bomb Squad Players

Despite efforts to trim the squad, a few players remain in limbo, training separately or excluded from first-team plans—the so-called "bomb squad." After deadline day, Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi failed to secure moves and face uncertain futures at Stamford Bridge.

Sterling, a £45m signing from Manchester City in 2022, was omitted from squad lists and linked with exits but stayed put. Disasi, a centre-back, also couldn't find a suitor despite interest. These players may seek January moves, but for now, they represent the remnants of Chelsea's ongoing squad overhaul.