Chelsea are prepared to part ways with young forward Tyrique George this January, just months after a proposed £22 million transfer to London rivals Fulham dramatically fell through. The 19-year-old academy graduate, whose opportunities have dwindled at Stamford Bridge, is now among a group of players the club is willing to offload.
Summer Move Collapsed at the Eleventh Hour
Tyrique George came agonisingly close to joining Fulham late in the summer 2025 transfer window. A deal worth an estimated £22 million was on the verge of being completed, only for negotiations to collapse at the very last moment. This left the England youth international in a state of limbo at Chelsea, where he has since struggled for game time under former manager Enzo Maresca.
Despite the managerial change that saw Maresca replaced by Liam Rosenior, the club's stance on George's future appears unchanged. Rosenior has indicated he will hold conversations with players deemed surplus to requirements, a list that reportedly includes George. The player has not been named in a matchday squad since Chelsea's 2-1 defeat to Sunderland back in October.
Permanent or Loan Exit on the Cards
According to reports from the Evening Standard, Chelsea are open to both a permanent sale or a loan departure for George during the current January 2026 transfer window. Clubs from within England and abroad are understood to be monitoring the situation. However, any temporary move would only be sanctioned if the terms were highly favourable to the Blues.
George, who remains under contract at Chelsea until 2027 with an option for an additional year, has made 37 senior appearances for the club across all competitions, scoring six goals. His potential departure is part of a wider clear-out, with senior figures like Axel Disasi and Raheem Sterling also expected to be shown the exit door after being frozen out by Maresca.
Rosenior's Approach to the Squad Shake-Up
New head coach Liam Rosenior has confirmed he will personally discuss futures with players like Sterling and Disasi. "I will have conversations with them," Rosenior stated. "We're in January, as you know. Raheem's had an outstanding career. I've got huge respect for him. Axel is someone I've really, really liked as a player for a long time."
He emphasised a measured approach, adding: "Honestly, I have to have a conversation with them. I have to have a conversation with the club... I literally have got to work through a list of priorities. I will do in the next few days." Regarding new signings, Rosenior suggested the immediate answers may lie within the existing squad, indicating major incoming business might not be imminent.
Chelsea's focus now shifts to the pitch, with a Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal followed by Rosenior's first Premier League match in charge against Brentford at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The decisions made in this transfer window, including the fate of Tyrique George, will significantly shape the squad he has at his disposal for the remainder of the campaign.
