Chelsea

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Chelsea winger Noni Madueke says he has "learned to just keep going" following a difficult full debut season featuring multiple injuries.

Madueke, who signed from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023, came through the youth system at Crystal Palace and Tottenham before leaving England to move to the Netherlands in 2018.

The 22-year-old joined Chelsea on a seven-and-a-half-year contract, with the option to extend for a further year, and has made 35 Premier League appearances to date.

Reflecting on last season, in which he scored five goals, Madueke told club media, external: "It's been ups and downs, individually and collectively. There have been a lot of learning moments and I have learned a lot about myself.

"I have had to show resilience at times because I started the season injured and that was not ideal. It was tough to take.

"I came back and then had another niggle after the international break so I missed a few games again. There is a reason all of those things happened and it probably made me stronger mentally and in my character.

"I have learned to just keep going because you never know how the journey is meant to go, but you can control the details everyday in terms of your work ethic and application."

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Chelsea's Ian Maatsen has been called up to the Netherlands squad for Euro 2024.

It comes after Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong and Atalanta's Teun Koopmeiners were ruled out of this summer's tournament because of injury.

The uncapped 22-year-old impressed during his loan spell with Borussia Dortmund last season and played in the Champions League final defeat by Real Madrid.

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton says he is the "most excited" to see Cole Palmer play for England at the upcoming European Championship.

The 22-year-old has travelled to Germany as part of Gareth Southgate's 26-man squad, off the back off a stellar debut Blues league campaign in which he scored 22 goals in 33 games.

Speaking about how the Chelsea midfielder should fit into the England side, Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club: "The first team that Southgate selects against Serbia will be interesting because he has to find a way of getting Palmer into the starting line-up.

"He is absolutely fearless and with his form from last season, he has to crowbar him in there.

"I would play him as a number 10, with Phil Foden off the left and Bukayo Saka on the right-hand-side. Jude Bellingham is adaptable so he should play him as a six or eight alongside Declan Rice.

"That is an attacking team and in their first game of the tournament they have to get a result, no matter how they do it.

"Southgate has a reputation for being slightly cautious but this time he has attacking talent at his disposal."

Watch the full episode of Monday Night club on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Chelsea have agreed personal terms with winger Michael Olise, 22, and are set to discuss scheduling payments to meet the France Under-21 international's release clause at Crystal Palace. (Givemesport), external

Bayern Munich are interested in Levi Colwill, with initial talks to sign the defender having already taken place. (Sky Germany), external

Meanwhile, the Blues have agreed personal terms with 17-year-old Brazilian defender Pedro Lima, who made his senior debut for Sport Recife in January. (HITC), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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Chelsea are confident they are compliant with Premier League profit and sustainability regulations ahead of the June 30 accounting deadline.

It means the Blues are in no rush to sell players before 30 June, amid reports they were one of several clubs concerned about falling foul of the financial rules before the "unofficial transfer deadline".

Conor Gallagher, 24, will not likely resolve his future until after Euro 2024 as he enters the last year of his contract. Chelsea want at least £50m for the England midfielder, who made Gareth Southgate's squad for the tournament on Thursday.

Similarly, they will seek substantial fees for Trevoh Chalobah, Armando Broja, Ian Maatsen and Omari Hutchinson, who are all high-value young players that could potentially leave the club this summer.

Chelsea will have to be cautious in the upcoming transfer window for the 2024-25 season.

They have made substantial losses in the past three accounting years, including a nearly £90m pre-tax loss in the latest accounts released in March, and will need to continue selling players to continue balancing the books.

They remain ambitious in the transfer market and will support manager Enzo Maresca by signing a striker and potentially more players in other positions.

After the news that Chelsea have signed Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer, we asked you for your thoughts on the early bit of business from the Blues.

Here is a selection of your comments:

Philippe: Makes sense across the board. Thiago Silva leaving means we need a replacement centre-back (I'm not suggesting he'll be as good as Silva). Tosin's stats are good. He's physically imposing. He has experience of the Premier League. Bringing him on a free allows us to sell Chalobah for 100% profit. What's not to like?

Lewis: This transfer just shouts that we are in trouble with authorities - he's a decent Premier League player but not any better than what we have. The pure advantages of this is that he's English and on a free. Automatically this means one of the home grown players get sold to facilitate PSR. We need better from the club.

Rob: Seems like a very good signing as it is a free transfer. He is good enough for our first team. Unfortunately we've spent a lot on central defenders recently and none have asserted themselves as a starter because of injuries and form. If Fofana can come back as good as he was when we signed him from Leicester, then they would make a great pairing.

Daniel: Tosin is definitely a good player and it's hard to pass up a free transfer. But that surely spells the end for Chalobah? Despite having Champions League experience and having been coached through games by Silva (priceless).

Stuart: We've got a small squad, so it's good to start bringing in players of Tosin's physical stature. The fact he's come on a free is a bonus! That said, I think we still need to hold onto Chalobah and I'd rather see Badiashile and/or Disasi leaving if we need to raise funds for PSR.

Dan: Wouldn't say he's a big upgrade on the defence. Seems like a financial fair play signing to sell on for profit.

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The 2023-24 Premier League season may have only just finished but there is only 10 weeks until the 2024-25 season is scheduled to start.

So what are the key dates that you need to know?

When does the season start and finish?

The 2024-25 Premier League campaign will get under way during the weekend of 17-18 August.

It will take place over 33 weekends, with four midweek rounds and one Bank Holiday matchweek.

To allow for a mid-August start, there will not be a 'winter break' this time around. However, to avoid Christmas and New Year fixture congestion, the league will give more rest time to sides over three of the festive match rounds, with no club playing within 60 hours of another match.

The final round of fixtures will be played on Sunday, 25 May 2025, with all games to kick off at the same time.

When are the fixtures released?

09:00 BST on Tuesday, 18 June.

We will have all the details here for your club as soon as the fixtures are released.

Sign up for news notifications to find out all the key fixtures

When does the transfer window open and close?

The summer window will officially open on Friday, 14 June, which also happens to be the start of Euro 2024, and will remain open until Friday, 30 August at 23:00 BST.

Transfer deadline day has been brought forward this year to be in line with the other major leagues in Europe. The closing dates were set following discussions with the leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France.

Follow your club page and make sure your notifications are on so you don't miss a transfer deal.

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?

Tell us your thoughts, external

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Chelsea 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.

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Chelsea 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.

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Aston 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?

Tell us here, external

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Mauricio 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."