Things have been chaotic at Chelsea since Todd Boehly’s takeover in 2022, but the west London club appears to be entering a genuinely new and more promising chapter.
With Xabi Alonso installed as manager ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, the Blues are looking like a serious contender once again, with some even tipping them to challenge at the Premier League summit.
The days of signing raw teenagers and project players appear to be over, with an experienced and cohesive core now available for the Spaniard to build around at Stamford Bridge.
In goal, Chelsea made a surprise late move to sign Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez on a £7m deal, with the veteran Argentine set to earn roughly £175,000 per week at the club.
Martinez, at 33, is not necessarily a long-term solution, but his World Cup heroics have proven he is a man for the biggest occasions, and he gives Chelsea a genuine match-winning presence between the sticks.
Mike Penders and Gabriel Slonina provide capable backup, with the goalkeeping department looking settled and secure for the season ahead.
At the back, captain Reece James tops the defensive wage list at £200,000 per week, a figure that reflects his importance during what has been a turbulent period for the club.
The £52m signing of Maxence Lacroix adds genuine leadership at the heart of the backline, while the likes of Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, Jorrel Hato and young Josh Acheampong give Alonso plenty of options in his preferred back three system.
In midfield, the £125m sale of Enzo Fernandez has left the squad looking a little thin in that area, with a late move for Monaco’s Lamine Camara also failing to materialise.
Moises Caicedo remains the anchor of Chelsea’s midfield, earning £180,000 per week and described as doing the work of two men at times, making him arguably one of the best in the league in that role.
Romeo Lavia, Valentin Barco and the experienced Jordan Henderson, on £75,000 per week, will provide further options in the centre of the park as the season unfolds.
Up front, the attacking trio of Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers represents a genuinely exciting prospect, with Pedro commanding the highest forward salary at £200,000 per week.
Alejandro Garnacho and Nicolas Jackson were both moved on over the summer, helping to trim the wage bill and clear space for a more cohesive attacking unit to take shape.
The signing of Danny Welbeck, set to earn £60,000 per week, adds a wise and experienced head to the forward line, a move that already looks like shrewd business from the Chelsea hierarchy.