Chelsea have signed defender Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer and he will officially join when his contract with Fulham expires at the end of June.
With Thiago Silva departing Stamford Bridge this summer and questions about Trevoh Chalobah's future with the club, what do you make of this bit of business by Chelsea?
A good signing? More needed?
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesChelsea have secured Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer from Fulham amid major pressure from rivals.
The 26-year-old agreed a four-year deal on Sunday evening and completed his medical earlier this week.
Manchester United tried to turn Adarabioyo's head with a late approach but he had already agreed a move to Stamford Bridge and kept his word.
It followed Chelsea's hijacking of Newcastle's month-long talks for Adarabioyo, with Atletico Madrid having also been interested but unable to compete with Premier League options.
The former Manchester City academy graduate chose Chelsea because of the promise of an important role, the chance to work with new manager Enzo Maresca again - who he briefly worked with at City - and because of his belief in the project. Chelsea also qualified for Europe ahead of Newcastle.
Chelsea's decision to push the boat out for Adarabioyo is hoped to help improve on a major weakness at set-pieces - utilising his 6ft 5in stature - while both attacking and defending at free-kicks and corners.
Coach Bernardo Cueva will also join from Brentford to build a new set-piece department to improve the club's fortunes.
There was also a gap left open in the squad by Thiago Silva's departure and Adarabioyo's ability on the ball is believed will be an asset.
Image source, Getty ImagesChelsea have confirmed the signing of Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer.
The 26-year-old will join the Blues on a four-year-deal when he leaves Fulham at the end of his contract this month.
The former Manchester City academy product spent four seasons with the Cottagers, making 132 appearances in all competitions and scoring five goals.
Chelsea have been looking to bolster their centre-back options following the departure of 39-year-old Thiago Silva at the end of the season.
The west London side are also expected to sell academy graduate defender Trevoh Chalobah this summer as they look to comply with profit and sustainability rules.
Adarabioyo told the club website: "Chelsea is a huge club and this is a full-circle moment for me. I was born three miles away from Stamford Bridge and made my professional debut there.
"I'm very excited and looking forward to helping push the club in the direction we want to go."
Co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart added: "We are delighted to bring Tosin to Chelsea. Throughout his career, he has showcased his maturity and defensive qualities and has gained a wealth of experience in the Premier League in recent seasons.
"He is ready to make the step up to Chelsea and work alongside the talented players in our squad. We look forward to Tosin joining up with us for pre-season."
Chelsea and Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, 31, has opened the door to a Saudi Pro League move but also has interest from AC Milan, Napoli and from Jose Mourinho for a reunion with his former manager at Fenerbahce. (Telegraph, subscription required), external
Chelsea are monitoring developments with Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin, while 21-year-old RB Leipzig and Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko is also among the options they are considering. (Mail), external
The Blues have made Crystal Palace and France Under-21 winger Michael Olise, 22, one of their top summer transfer targets, with the Blues ready to rival Manchester United to land the £60m-rated player. (Standard), external
Borussia Dortmund want to sign 22-year-old Dutch left-back Ian Maatsen on a permanent basis after he impressed on loan but are reluctant to meet Chelsea's £35m valuation. (ESPN), external
Chelsea and England midfielder Conor Gallagher, 24, is prepared to stay at the club despite interest from Aston Villa and Tottenham. (Guardian), external
Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling, 29, has no interest in a move to Fenerbahce and no talks have taken place about the England forward moving to Turkey. (Mail), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column
We asked for you for your thoughts on what Chelsea's summer priority is.
Here is a selection of your responses:
Nick: Agree a new contract with Conor Gallagher. To sell him would be madness and counter-productive - weakening Chelsea on the pitch and growing the division between owners and supporters. There are others who could be sold to meet FFP/PSR including Maatsen and Broja. Keep Gallagher and keep the supporters onside.
Mike: The ownership group must stop selling the homegrown talent, only to replace them with expensive and inferior purchases!
Chuck: For most fans, keeping Gallagher would be a great start. Letting him go could lead to an unbridgeable gap between fans and owners. I don't think we actually need more players, it was beginning to gel, now we might have gone back several months.
Dan: A proper, experienced and dogged centre-half - our defence was, at times, a shambles last season. You can have all the talent in the world but it'll never replace experience. And although Nicolas Jackson is undoubtedly talented, he could do with some help up top so a proper striker would be good.
The latest episode of the Planet Premier League podcast is available now on BBC Sounds.
Mark Chapman is joined by ex-Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas and former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha.
The first topic they discuss is Chelsea's appointment of Enzo Maresca as their new manager, and how they think the Italian will fare at Stamford Bridge.
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa have expressed an interest in Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher.
The 24-year-old will be subject to a summer of uncertainty as he enters the last year of his contract at Stamford Bridge - with no progress made in renewing his deal.
Villa join Chelsea’s rivals Tottenham in showing interest, but Gallagher remains open to staying at his boyhood club, who he signed for aged just eight.
Both Chelsea and Villa must factor Premier League profit and sustainability rules into their summer activity.
The sale of academy stars helps free up ‘pure profit’ allowing clubs to spend more freely, with Trevoh Chalobah, Ian Maatsen and Armando Broja among those who could be sold.
Chelsea have also previously expressed an interest in Villa striker Jhon Duran, 20, in January and continue to pursue further attacking signings.
They are also set to sign Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer, amid a reported medical at Cobham on Tuesday.
Chelsea are confident they can rival Arsenal in the race to sign 21-year-old Slovenia forward Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. (Standard), external
Fulham's English defender Tosin Adarabioyo, 26, has undergone a medical ahead of a move to Chelsea. (Mail), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
The club summer is off and running, so what's the first thing that needs sorting out at Chelsea?
Is it a contract, a transfer, a fan issue or something else?
Image source, Getty ImagesMauricio Pochettino - who left his role as Chelsea manager by mutual consent at the end of the season - has released a farewell message, external to Blues fans on social media.
Enzo Maresca was confirmed as his successor on Monday, after Pochettino achieved a sixth-place Premier League finish in his only season in charge.
"To the owners, the sporting directors, we appreciate the opportunity to return to the Premier League at this great club Chelsea and for the support you gave us, as well as from all the players, staff and fans - thank you," the Argentine said.
"We understand how important this football club is to you all and that is why we work so hard to give you a Chelsea you can be proud of.
"I am so pleased with the level the team reached and the way the players and staff have all worked so hard to increase their standards, they deserve great credit and I hope you felt that too in how they performed on the pitch.
"We know there have been ups and downs but we always believed in this team and that we would arrive at a consistent level.
"I believe the experiences of this season and big improvement we saw, I hope will only make the players stronger for the future. It has been a pleasure to work with them all and we appreciate the strong bonds we created in this last year together.
"I want to wish all of you the best for next season and beyond."
We asked for your views on new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, the length of his contract and how he will fit in at Stamford Bridge.
Here are some of your thoughts:
Steve: A crazy appointment! This could be another Graham Potter moment. I don't understand what is going on at our club. Pochettino had just got us going and he was playing our youngsters. Maresca having a stint under Pep Guardiola doesn't guarantee anything!
Fossie: Time will tell as to how well Maresca will do. A five-year deal is a long time and the club could end up paying wages for another short managerial stint, given their record. Apparently his tactics are similar to Pochettino's. I don't envisage much change in playing style but the defence must improve and that will go some way in improving our results.
Nick: When Potter arrived, we were told it was for the long-term and he would be given time, but he lasted less than a season. Then Pochettino was appointed to develop the younger players, he did that but lasted a season. Chelsea fans will give Maresca their support but, if he doesn't achieve top six, the fans will turn on Eghbali, Winstanley and Stewart.
Chris: Why is he any better than Pochettino? I find the whole thing baffling. These two Americans are making us a laughing stock. Pep's number two and one year at Leicester, is that really good enough for us? If it is, I fear our standards have dropped! We will see.
Mark: It is putting a lot of faith in the Pep effect. It's worth remembering that Arteta had never managed before when he took over Arsenal and, after an average start, they are one of the most consistent Premier League teams. Enzo has dealt with the expectation of getting Leicester promoted, so he has clearly got something going for him. Will the club give him the time? That's the question.
Daniel: I believe we will be able to win a trophy next season. I pray that we can sign Osimhen or Sesko because we need a world-class striker. I'm not saying that Jackson is bad, but we need someone that can actually finish. I really believe that we will succeed and I have Maresca's back. I pray he does well.
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesIf we’re honest, some of the early reaction to Enzo Maresca’s appointment has been that of trepidation.
Chelsea fans will back their new manager but he arrives in unusual circumstances of succeeding Mauricio Pochettino, who had strung together five wins in a row at the end of last season.
Although the Argentine, 42, struggled to win over Chelsea fans throughout his time at Stamford Bridge, some were beginning to recognise the progress being made, and yearned for stability.
There’s a sense Chelsea have gone back to square one, albeit with a talented emerging coach, who learned his trade under Pep Guardiola.
Chelsea have also had some bad experience under possession-based managers, most notably fellow Italian Maurizio Sarri, who's style of football frustrated supporters.
When the football starts, they will get behind Maresca, but like every manager to date in west London, he will need to produce results quickly.
There is expectation from above to improve upon Pochettino’s last season despite a willingness to be patient and build under a new manager.
The fans are also hungry for silverware, having not won a trophy since the Club World Cup in February 2022.
Watch The Football News Show discuss Maresca here
Chelsea fan Teema Nicholls believes new manager Enzo Maresca "has to win a trophy and get top four" to be considered a success at Stamford Bridge.
Speaking to the BBC's Football News Show, Nicholls affirmed how the owners have set certain targets in the past, and that these should be no different for Maresca:
"They talked about competing for trophies and regularly getting in the top four," she said. "If you're going to judge Pochettino on those standards, Maresca should also be judged on those."
"To go from Tuchel to Maresca in four appointments is quite something. They have taken a massive risk. If this doesn't work out it could turn toxic for them."
"Forwards leads way to cement place in squad for Euros".
That's the view of the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday as they reflect on Cole Palmer's display in England's 3-0 friendly win over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Borussia Dortmund do not have first option to buy on-loan Dutch defender Ian Maatsen, with Chelsea's £35m release clause open to any clubs interested in the 22-year-old left-back. (Mail), external
Spanish football journalist and BBC columnist Guillem Balague has broken down how new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca impressed the Blues' hierarchy in his interview for the role.
"The five-year deal suggests that they have seen not only someone who is Chelsea quality but somebody that's got the energy to keep improving Chelsea and get them into the top four again," he told The Football News Show.
"All that comes off the basis of two things - what they saw he did at Leicester City and the interview being very impressive.
"Some people walk into the interview with Enzo Maresca feeling, 'Yeah we'll see... he's a Championship manager... hasn't got a lot of experience' and came out of it like: 'It has to be him'."
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
Enzo Maresca was the first and unanimous choice among Chelsea's decision makers.
Sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart have been working 17-hour days leading up to this appointment of a man who also worked under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and managed Italian club Parma, alongside influential co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali.
They were the three main parties who have opted to appoint Maresca in place of Mauricio Pochettino. He was selected from a four-man shortlist, including newly promoted Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna, former Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi and Brentford’s Thomas Frank.
The 44-year-old Italian is believed to be a good fit for Chelsea’s model, a highly data-driven and sports science approach, in which the various departments at the club have input.
The club is moving away from a manager-led recruitment process, leaving the manager to focus on football, which was at times a point of friction between former manager Pochettino and the ownership.
Maresca is comfortable working in this structure and excited to focus on improving players and preparing for matches with strong resources.
He has already asked the data department for profiles on every player, including academy stars, and even key club staff, as he looks to get a head start ahead of his official start date on 1 July.
It is a sign of the excitement among the new coaching staff to work with this squad as they look to add a striker and, potentially, a further defender, as Chelsea close in on a move for Tosin Adarabioyo from Fulham.
Maresca is expected to take several academy players in pre-season, including Tyrique George and Josh Acheampong, with some senior players expected back late from international duty at Euro 2024 and Copa America.
Chelsea are excited to see how Maresca’s tactical approach will work with their group of players, and believe that his association with Guardiola, widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the world, is a major positive.
