Seven players who could play their final Chelsea match this weekend against Sunderland. With Xabi Alonso at the helm, sweeping changes are expected to be made at Chelsea this summer, with several players potentially set to make their final appearances for the club this Sunday.
Xabi Alonso era begins
Xabi Alonso will take over as Chelsea boss in July. Chelsea face Sunderland on Sunday as they bring the curtain down on an anti-climactic and ultimately disappointing season. Yet, despite the gloom, a genuine glow of optimism is peeking over the horizon at Stamford Bridge following the appointment of Xabi Alonso.
The Spaniard, who officially takes the reins on July 1, faces a monumental task of injecting a tangible identity and a winning culture into a dressing room that's been so starved of direction and purpose under BlueCo.
It's understood Alonso will not only be given a sizeable transfer war chest to bolster the first team this summer but will also wield greater authority over recruitment than any of his recent predecessors.
Change, therefore, is afoot, with Chelsea expected to trim the squad in order to make room for yet another lavish spending spree. Ahead of Sunday's finale, we look at seven stars who could be making their final appearances for the club.
Enzo Fernandez
Much has been made of Enzo Fernandez and the persistent speculation surrounding his future. Reports of a blockbuster move to Real Madrid have been circulating for well over a year and the Argentina midfielder added fuel to the fire in March when he spoke openly about his affection for the Spanish capital and admitted he would assess his future after the World Cup.
With Jose Mourinho expected to take charge at the Bernabeu this summer, interest in Fernandez is unlikely to die down any time soon. That said, Chelsea have a pretty strong hand when it comes to potential negotiations. Fernandez has five years left on his Stamford Bridge contract and having paid £106 million to sign him from Benfica in 2023, Chelsea will almost certainly demand a similarly gargantuan fee to even consider a sale. Real Madrid aren't the financial colossus they once were, but history tells that when club president Florentino Perez wants a player, he usually ends up signing him.
Marc Cucurella
Marc Cucurella has come on in leaps and bounds at Chelsea, establishing himself as one of Europe's very best left backs after a rocky first couple of seasons in west London. Like with Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea have no intention of selling Cucurella, but growing interest from Spain could complicate matters.
It's understood Barcelona are keen on signing the 27-year-old, who spent several years in their academy system. In March, the defender admitted that it would be "hard to turn down" an offer to return to the Camp Nou, but later clarified that he was "very happy" at Chelsea. With Xabi Alonso now on board, the Blues have an ace in the hole in terms of persuading Cucurella to stay, particularly given the former Bayer Leverkusen manager's penchant for attacking, high-intensity full-backs. But reported interest in re-signing Newcastle's Lewis Hall this summer suggests planning for life after Cucurella is already underway.
Liam Delap
It's been a torrid season for Liam Delap, who appears to have become the umpteenth casualty of Chelsea's long-running No. 9 curse. The English striker, who joined from Ipswich last summer, has been hampered by injury issues and when he has been fit, he's played second-fiddle to the in-form Joao Pedro.
Ordinarily, that might be chalked up to a difficult adaptation and an opportunity to reset ahead of a new campaign. However, Delap's return of just two goals in 40 appearances, mostly cameos but still, has raised wider questions over his long-term role at the club, with a summer departure beginning to look like a realistic possibility. Xabi Alonso has reportedly been promised three or four 'ready made' first team signings, one of which is expected to be a centre forward. And with Joao Pedro and an additional arrival or two ahead of him in the pecking order, Delap may ultimately be forced to cut his losses and find a new club to resurrect his crumbling career.
Alejandro Garnacho
Alejandro Garnacho's first season at Chelsea has been a big disappointment. Just one goal in 24 league appearances in a season where competition on the left flank has been less intense than anticipated, with Jamie Gittens spending much of the season sidelined through injury, is a pretty poor return.
Chelsea may already be reassessing things and given their recent willingness to move players on shortly after signing them, a pattern seen with the likes of Jadon Sancho and Joao Felix, a summer exit isn't totally out of the question. Whether there is a strong market for the Argentina international remains uncertain, especially if Chelsea are intent on recouping a significant portion of the £40 million they invested in him a year ago. But with Garnacho struggling for form and Blues fans growing increasingly frustrated with his output, a departure might be best for all parties.
Filip Jorgensen
While Filip Jorgensen has been Chelsea's No. 2 since arriving from Villarreal in 2024, he's racked up a healthy amount of appearances, featuring 37 times in all competitions. That said, he looks set to be bumped down the goalkeeping pecking order this summer, with the Blues set to reinforce their options between the sticks.
Whether that comes in the form of a high-profile arrival such as Mike Maignan from AC Milan or the integration of highly rated youngster Mike Penders, who has spent the season on loan at Strasbourg, remains to be seen. Either way, Jorgensen's long-term future at Stamford Bridge looks uncertain and he may soon be forced to seek regular minutes elsewhere or risk spending the season as third-choice.
Benoit Badiashile
After playing just 13 times in the Premier League since the end of the 2023/24 season, Benoit Badiashile's Chelsea career looks done and dusted. The Frenchman still has four years left on his contract but with the Blues eyeing one or two additions at centre back this summer, Badiashile will no doubt be on the chopping block, particularly with youngsters Josh Acheampong and Mamadou Sarr getting the nod ahead of him in recent months.
Marc Guiu
In a season that began with a brief loan spell at Sunderland, Marc Guiu could yet find himself bringing it full circle by wrapping up his Chelsea career with one final appearance at the Stadium of Light. The former Barcelona youngster has featured only sparingly for the Blues, even amid their well-documented injury issues in attack. And while his long-term potential remains an open question, it already feels increasingly unlikely that his future lies in west London.
