The 12 players Chelsea MUST sell this summer

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 28 Apr 2025 05:25 CDT
• 7 min read

Analysis

Chelsea are set for yet another hectic summer transfer window as they look to finally achieve success under the Clearlake Capital reign.

The Blues remain the favourites to win the Europa Conference League in May, but Enzo Maresca’s debut campaign at the helm has been marred by a disappointing run of form since Christmas, and several reinforcements are expected to arrive this summer.

READ MORE: Chelsea intensify pursuit of 'world class' €100m forward

Chelsea have already agreed a deal to bring Sporting CP midfielder Dario Essugo to the club in July, while Estevao Willian, Kendry Paez and Mike Penders will also join the Stamford Bridge outfit this summer.

However, the Blues are still expected to be extremely active in the market, with Maresca aiming to sign a centre-back, a left winger and a centre forward during the 2025 summer transfer window.

While Chelsea have found several loopholes to escape financial breaches over the past three years, they are still in a precarious position and they may be required to offload a number of stars in order to fund their summer business.

READ MORE: Chelsea to include Sancho in MEGA swap deal as Maresca targets mass overhaul

Furthermore, with the club unlikely to be participating in the Europa Conference League next season, Maresca will need to trim down his first-team squad in order to ensure a pleasant atmosphere is created at Chelsea’s Cobham training base.

Below, FootballTransfers runs through 12 players who should be sold by Chelsea this summer.

Filip Jorgensen

Filip Jorgensen was a slightly strange signing from Chelsea last summer, following a decent but not spectacular spell at Villarreal, and he has been unable to oust Robert Sanchez as Maresca’s preferred goalkeeper this term.

With Djordje Petrovic impressing on loan at Strasbourg and Sanchez currently favoured by Maresca, Chelsea would be wise to cut their losses on the 23-year-old.

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Kepa Arrizabalaga is one of the worst signings in Chelsea’s history and he looks destined to finally depart the club after seven years at Stamford Bridge.

The Spaniard has impressed on loan at Bournemouth and a permanent sale to Andoni Iraola’s side would suit everyone involved.

Axel Disasi

Axel Disasi was a regular under Mauricio Pochettino during his debut campaign in west London, but he found game time hard to come by following the appointment of Maresca and was sent out on loan to Aston Villa in January.

After a promising start to life at Villa Park, Disasi has struggled in recent weeks and Chelsea will hope he regains his form soon in order to maximise the fee they are able to earn from his sale this summer.

Ben Chilwell

Ben Chilwell was a high-profile member of the ‘bomb squad’ at Chelsea last summer, however he was unable to secure a move away and he was forced to wait until January before joining Crystal Palace on loan.

The ex-England international has barely featured at Selhurst Park and given he is almost guaranteed to have no future under Maresca at Chelsea, the Blues will be desperate to offload him this year.

Benoit Badiashile

Benoit Badiashile may be seen as a surprise inclusion, but the Frenchman has been an injury risk over the past year and his form has been largely inconsistent during that time too.

Furthermore, Renato Veiga has impressed as a central defender on loan at Juventus and Chelsea therefore must consider reintegrating the Portugal international next season. As a result, Badiashile arguably should be sold, especially if Dean Huijsen or Marc Guehi arrive.

Carney Chukwuemeka

Borussia Dortmund boss Niko Kovac has been eager to praise Carney Chukwuemeka in recent weeks and a permanent move to the Bundesliga giants could be on the cards if Chelsea set a reasonable asking price.

The Englishman evidently isn’t fancied by Maresca and given the midfield options already at Stamford Bridge, a permanent exit would suit all parties.

Joao Felix

Chelsea only signed Joao Felix in order to finalise Conor Gallagher’s sale to Atletico Madrid and that decision looked incredibly foolish in hindsight.

Cole Palmer kept Felix out of the starting XI during the first-half of the campaign and he has been a disaster on loan at AC Milan. The Portuguese superstar has been a major transfer flop and Chelsea must prioritise a sale this summer, especially considering his lofty wages.

Christopher Nkunku

When Chelsea signed Christopher Nkunku, he was considered to be one of Europe’s most feared attackers and he was expected to fire the Blues back to the top of English football.

However, injuries have severely impacted his spell in west London and his form has been remarkably average this campaign. With Chelsea hoping to sign a new striker and Palmer cemented as the first-choice No.10, Nkunku needs to be sold.

Mykhailo Mudryk

Chelsea may find it almost impossible to sell Mykhailo Mudryk this summer if he remains suspended from all football activity, but they need to try.

Furthermore, a second sample verdict may well be delivered later this year and if the Ukraine international is cleared, Chelsea must look to ship him off after a dismal spell at Stamford Bridge.

Raheem Sterling

The arrival of Raheem Sterling in 2022 was intended to provide Chelsea with a world class winger capable of guiding them to Premier League glory, however the reality has been far more bleak.

He was shipped off on loan to Arsenal last summer, after an underwhelming spell in west London, and he has barely featured despite an injury crisis at the Emirates Stadium. Sterling has two years remaining on his Chelsea contract and a sale should be viewed as a necessity by Clearlake Capital.

Armando Broja

Armando Broja showed so much promise during a productive loan stint at Southampton during the 2021-22 season, but an ACL injury suffered just months after his return from St Mary’s has derailed his career massively.

He has struggled for form and fitness on loan at Everton and although he still has three years left on his current deal at Stamford Bridge, a permanent exit would be best for both Broja and Chelsea.

David Datro Fofana

David Datro Fofana is the final player who should be sold by Chelsea this summer if they want to fund the arrivals of several high-profile stars.

He joined the club from Molde back in January 2023, but he has played just four times for the Blues, he has been loaned out on three occasions and he is destined to leave before the new season begins.

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