Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali has announced a shift away from the club's controversial youth-focused recruitment strategy, vowing to target 'ready-made' players in the upcoming transfer window. Speaking at the CAA World Congress of Sports in Los Angeles, Eghbali acknowledged the need to add experienced talent to the squad after a disappointing run of results.
The BlueCo ownership group has faced criticism for prioritising young players with high resale value, a policy that has not translated into consistent on-pitch success. Fans have planned a protest before Saturday's Premier League match against Manchester United, expressing frustration with the high turnover of players and lack of clear improvement.
Eghbali admitted that the club must 'add more ready-made players' to take the project to the next level. 'We've done a few things right, a lot of things right. We've got to be better on a few things,' he said, emphasising the need for stability and elite talent to win trophies consistently.
Players have also voiced concerns, with Marc Cucurella recently calling for more experienced signings. Eghbali's comments suggest a strategic pivot, as he stressed the importance of winning: 'Can this be successful without winning? The answer is no. We've got to win.'
