Chelsea Transfer News Today: Two deals DONE, THREE to follow, Boehly LOOPHOLE, Kvaratskhelia SNUB

Updated: 29 Jun 2024 13:44 CDT
6 min read

Chelsea continued their busy summer transfer window on June 29, 2024.

The Blues are looking to provide new coach Enzo Maresca with the means to be successful in his first season at Stamford Bridge and to do that, players will need to be sold and others brought in.

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On Saturday, Chelsea officially alleviated any and all concerns with regard to the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) by offloading Ian Maatsen to Aston Villa.

Additionally, the Blues confirmed the signing of yet another talented youngster and more deals are expected to be confirmed shortly. Below, FootballTransfers runs through all of the latest Chelsea transfer news...

Two (or three?) deals done

As mentioned, Chelsea officially confirmed the departure of left-back Ian Maatsen. The Dutchman has joined Aston Villa for a whopping fee in excess of €40 million.

That wasn't the only transfer to be confirmed, however, as Omari Kellyman's move the other way was also announced. The young striker has been signed for a little over €20m.

It is, of course, an open secret that this unofficial 'swap' was completed to massage both sides' finances with regard to PSR. Indeed, the Kellyman signing could yet go down in history and become infamous.

The Premier League has warned clubs that it will crack down on these shenanigans should irregularities in the transactions be spotted. The Kellyman deal in particular - paying over €20m for an 18-year-old with almost no first-team experience - could yet come back to bite Chelsea.

The league could not only punish the Blues if it is deemed that they paid massively over the odds for the striker, but it could also move to close another loophole exploited by Todd Boehly and company after already being forced to do something similar in terms of the amortisation of transfer fees.

In other potential signing news, Chelsea remain in talks with Leicester City for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, though it has now been revealed that his former Foxes coach Enzo Maresca did not demand the player be signed.

Two more deals to follow

The Kellyman signing is only the start of what will likely be a busy weekend or upcoming week as far as incomings are concerned. According to Fabrizio Romano, the deal to sign Marc Guiu from Barcelona is done and only needs to be announced.

Additionally, the Italian transfer expert has confirmed that Chelsea are also very close to striking a deal with Boca Juniors for Aaron Anselmino. The Blues will pay less than €20m for the 19-year-old centre-back.

Contrary to recent reports, Romano states that Anselmino is likely to remain with Boca for six months or potentially a full year on loan. He won't be heading to Strasbourg.

Wonderkid is City-bound

Romano has also revealed that highly-rated Chelsea talent Ryan McAido is set to join Man City this summer. The transfer is all but sealed after Pep Guardiola's side 'hijacked' deals the 16-year-old had with other Premier League sides.

The wonderkid will join Maatsen, Hakim Ziyech, Omari Hutchinson, Romelu Lukaku and more on the way out, though Chelsea will certainly not be happy about losing him.

As with Maatsen, Ziyech's exit has already been confirmed by the club, with Galatasaray's purchase obligation coming into force on Friday following his loan stint in Istanbul.

Hutchinson is on the verge of permanently joining Ipswich Town in a lucrative deal for Chelsea, albeit a solid chunk of the more than €20m fee will be owed to his ex-club Arsenal, it has been revealed.

Lukaku, meanwhile, is being courted by Italian and Saudi clubs, with AC Milan the latest high-profile side to take an interest in the Belgian striker.

© IMAGO - Cole Palmer and Mauricio Pochettino

Palmer 'gutted' by Pochettino exit

After Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer has become the latest Chelsea star to question the decision to part company with Mauricio Pochettino.

The England star has admitted that the announcement of the Argentine's departure left him 'gutted' and he credited Pochettino with laying the foundation for his inclusion in the Three Lions' Euro 2024 squad.

However, Palmer also spoke glowingly about new coach Enzo Maresca, with whom he worked at Man City.

Kvaratskhelia snub?

Chelsea remain interested in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano before the Euros. His performances in Germany will surely only have increased the Blues' admiration.

However, Napoli have no intention to sell, as reiterated by new coach Antonio Conte. The former Chelsea boss has emphatically announced that he has 'placed an absolute veto' on the potential sale of 'Kvaradona.'

Moreover, Napoli legend Marek Hamsik has urged the Georgian to stay put and become the face of the new Napoli project.