Chelsea have sanctioned a 41st transfer of the summer, with a surprise deal on the verge of being completed.
Chelsea has significantly reduced their squad under Enzo Maresca, leading to a ‘bomb squad’ of about 15 players who were no longer needed training together. They needed to offload many players, and now David Datro Fofana is set to be their 41st departure.
The 21-year-old forward is expected to be loaned to AEK Athens in the Greek Super League for the season. The Greek transfer window closes on Wednesday evening, but the deal is likely to be completed before then.
Reports suggest that AEK Athens will have the option to purchase Fofana permanently for £20 million. He had attracted interest from various clubs, including Hull City, Stuttgart, Villarreal, and Atalanta.
Chelsea made 11 new signings during the transfer window, with Jadon Sancho joining on loan on deadline day.
However, he is now set to head to the Greek capital for his next challenge, potentially ending his Chelsea stint before it truly started.
Chelsea acquired Fofana from Norwegian club Molde for approximately £8 million in January 2023. He made only four appearances for the Blues and had loan spells at Union Berlin and Burnley, where he scored five goals in 15 matches.
With his departure, Chelsea’s total number of players released, sold, or loaned out will reach 41.
Thiago Silva was the first to depart after his contract ended, and other notable exits include Raheem Sterling, Conor Gallagher, Trevoh Chalobah, Romelu Lukaku, Lewis Hall, Ian Maatsen, Armando Broja, and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Further departures from Chelsea could still occur. Former vice-captain Ben Chilwell remains at the club despite being sidelined, and young players Deivid Washington, Alex Matos, and Harvey Vale are still available for loan if clubs, particularly from leagues like Turkey, show interest.