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✅ Chelsea’s Selected Squad (Group D – v. LAFC, Flamengo, Espérance de Tunis)
(Squad and shirt numbers per official Chelsea announcement)
Goalkeepers
1. Robert Sánchez
2. Filip Jørgensen
3. Mike Penders
Defenders
3. Marc Cucurella
4. Tosin Adarabioyo
5. Benoît Badiashile
6. Levi Colwill
19. Mamadou Sarr
23. Trevoh Chalobah
24. Reece James
27. Malo Gusto
30. Aaron Anselmino
34. Josh Acheampong
Midfielders
8. Enzo Fernández
17. Andrey Santos
22. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
45. Romeo Lavia
10. Cole Palmer (new number for 2025–26)
14. Dário Essugo
Forwards
7. Pedro Neto
9. Liam Delap
11. Noni Madueke
15. Nicolas Jackson
18. Christopher Nkunku
32. Tyrique George
38. Marc Guiu
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❌ Notable Exclusions (5 Stars Dropped)
Enzo Maresca made bold choices, omitting several big names:
1. Raheem Sterling – No first-team minutes since returning from loan; looks destined for exit.
2. João Félix – Removed after underwhelming loan spells and stripped of shirt number.
3. Axel Disasi – Returned early from Aston Villa loan; not in coach’s plans.
4. Djordje Petrović – Surprised fans by omitting him despite solid form at Strasbourg.
5. Kendry Paez – Unsettled teenage midfielder, set for loan elsewhere; disappointed by exclusion.
Together, these players represent a combined value north of £145 million, highlighting the club’s decisive shift in personnel selection.
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⚽ What’s This Mean?
Tactical reset: Maresca is prioritizing a more cohesive, performance‑based group over big names.
Youth & new signings: Emphasis placed on recent signings and promising youth—Delap, Essugo, Sarr, and Santos make their debuts.
Strategic decisions: The Club World Cup is being treated as overdue pre‑season preparation rather than simply a showcase.
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Chelsea fans are now reacting massively to this dramatic squad shake-up, but Maresca’s
clear message is no sentimentality—this is about building a future-ready, hungry team.
