Chelsea transfer news

CHELSEA outcast Callum Hudson-Odoi is the latest Blues player to be linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.French midfielder N’Golo Kante, 32, was confirmed as an Al-Ittihad player on Tuesday as he sealed a four-year deal worth £86million.
Callum Hudson-Odoi has been linked with a move to Saudi ArabiaCredit: Getty
And a host more Chelsea stars look set to join the World Cup winner in the Middle East.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Edouard Mendy, Hakim Ziyech, Romelu Lukaku and Kalidou Koulibaly are all being linked with Saudi moves.
And transfer expert Fabrizio Romano is now reporting Hudson-Odoi could be the latest to make the switch.
The 22-year-old is understood to have been approached by two Saudi clubs.
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Talks are yet to start and it is unclear whether Hudson-Odoi would accept a move to the Saudi Pro League.
The English forward spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan at Bayer Leverkusen where he made 21 appearances, contributing just one goal and one assist.
Prior to his spell in Germany, he had started just 21 Premier League games across the previous two seasons at Stamford Bridge.
And his lack of game time saw his career stall – with Hudson-Odoi failing to earn an England cap since 2019.
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His contract is set to expire next summer.
Yet despite all of the Chelsea players being linked with transfers to Saudi clubs, one player that is yet to be mentioned is midfielder Conor Gallagher.
And Blues supporters on social media want him to be next to make the move, saying: “Saudi…. Gallagher next please😂😂.”
Another added: “Still no interest for Gallagher from my Saudi bruddas 😵‍💫 Come on don’t be shy.”
And a third replied: “I wish they would take Gallagher too.” More

HAKIM ZIYECH, Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly have reportedly all reached full verbal agreements on transfers to Saudi Arabia.The Chelsea winger, 30, goalkeeper, 31, and centre-back, 32, are surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge following Todd Boehly’s mammoth spending spree.
Hakim Ziyech looks on the brink of moving to Saudi ArabiaCredit: Getty
Edouard Mendy is also set to make the switch to the Middle EastCredit: Getty
And now Fabrizio Romano claims deals are virtually done for the trio to become the next Chelsea players to make the switch to the Middle East this summer.
N’Golo Kante, whose contract in West London expired this month, completed a whopping £86million contract with Al-Ittihad.
Ziyech will link up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr after agreeing personal terms with the Saudi Pro League outfit and an agreement is in place with Chelsea.
The Moroccan is set to put pen to paper on a three-year contract until 2026.
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Ziyech was on the brink of joining Paris Saint-Germain on loan in the January transfer window.
However, the move collapsed when Chelsea failed to submit the completed paperwork in time.
And now Mendy – who lost his place in goal to Kepa Arrizabalaga and refused a new contract – has also found a new club with Al-Ahli set to seal a deal until 2026.
The contract is set to be signed imminently to confirm the Senegal stopper’s Blues exit.
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Both Mendy and Ziyech’s Stamford Bridge deals were due to expire in 2025, meaning they will likely get transfer fees for the Champions League winners.
Koulibaly only joined Chelsea last year and has three years left to run on his contract but has an agreement in place with Al-Hilal – again until 2026.
Pierre-Emerick Aubemeyang could also move to Saudi Arabia as Chelsea continue to clear out their deadwood – to trim down the bloated squad and help balance the books to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations.
Romelu Lukaku, though, is reluctant to make the move despite the Blues wanting to sell their £97.5m striker.

The dealings, though, have left rival clubs angry and accusing Chelsea of using a “get out of FFP jail free card”.
They want an investigation into the Saudi spending, especially as news emerged that the Saudi state’s Public Investment Fund had invested billions of pounds into Clearlake Capital, the majority owners of Chelsea.
The seeming ability to offload unwanted players for big transfer fees – Al-Hilal look set to pay £25m for Koulibaly – could prove a controversial loophole, understandably leaving other clubs desperate for action.
Wolves sold captain Ruben Neves to Al-Hilal for £47m while Saudi representatives are said to be in a posh London hotel this week to thrash out more transfers.
Kalidou Koulibaly will team up with Ruben Neves at Al-HilalCredit: Getty More

CHELSEA have been accused of using a “get out of Financial Fair Play jail free card”.And rivals are reportedly calling for an investigation into the Saudi Arabia transfer spending.
Todd Boehly has spent huge money on transfers since buying Chelsea last yearCredit: Reuters
Todd Boehly’s £600million-plus spending in the transfer market in the 2022-23 season left the Blues staring down the barrel of major FFP breaches.
It has led to the club needing to make significant sales before June 30 to help balance the books and trim down the massive squad.
And news of the Saudi Pro League trying to sign as many as SIX deadwood players for a combined £100m has led to a furious reaction from other clubs – especially as news emerged that the Saudi state’s Public Investment Fund had invested billions of pounds into Clearlake Capital, the majority owners of Chelsea.
Wolves are also being targetted by the angry rivals after selling captain Ruben Neves to Saudi side Al-Hilal for £47m.
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According to The Telegraph, teams want a fair market inquiry into the transfer dealings and the mega Saudi spending, especially with Saudi representatives said to be in a posh London hotel this week to thrash out more transfers.
The report adds that the Premier League handbook already has a Fair Value Assessment Protocol that must be followed by clubs to try and ensure fair and accurate prices for player sales.
However, one leading European club told the newspaper “live investigations” by Uefa are needed immediately to help tackle the potential issues and any future deals.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Kalidou Koulibaly, Hakim Ziyech and Edouard Mendy are all surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge and it appears the Saudi route could be the best way to get rid of them for inflated fees.
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N’Golo Kante is also expected to move to the Middle East on a deal worth £1.7m per week – although that would be a free transfer with his Chelsea contract expiring.
Romelu Lukaku, though, is reluctant to make the move despite the Blues wanting to sell their £97.5m striker.
Even so, the seeming ability to offload unwanted players for big transfer fees – Al-Hilal look set to pay £25m for Koulibaly – could prove a controversial loophole, understandably leaving other clubs desperate for action.
Karim Benzema has already completed his shock free transfer to Al-Ittihad after 14 years with Real Madrid.
It comes six months after Cristiano Ronaldo stunned the football world by accepting a whopping £173m-a-year contract to join Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo said after the Benzema deal was sealed: “I knew that me going to Saudi Arabia would open a box and I wasn’t wrong.
“I’m sure in a couple of years or three, this league is going to be one of the most important leagues in the world.
“Karim left already and I am 1000 per cent sure that many more players will.”
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is one of the unwanted Chelsea players who could move to Saudi ArabiaCredit: Getty More

CHELSEA have been left frustrated in their attempts to shift Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Saudi Arabia this month.Aubameyang, 34, is one of several players that Chelsea are trying to shift to the Saudi league alongside Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy and Hakim Ziyech.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has endured a miserable spell at ChelseaCredit: Reuters
The Daily Mail reports that Chelsea have received a £6million bid from an unnamed Saudi side and are keen to get the former Arsenal man off their wage bill.
The club feel that in the current transfer climate it is unlikely that they will receive an improved bid for the player who has one year left on his current deal.
But it is understood that Aubameyang wants to leave on his own terms rather than having his next club decided for him by a Chelsea board desperate to shift players.
The forward is “dragging his heels on any move” in favour of a return to Barcelona where he enjoyed a successful spell before signing for Chelsea.
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The Catalan club were forced to sell the forward to Chelsea because of their financial issues last summer but his signature is not seen as a priority for them this window.
Aubameyang is also attracting interest from the MLS and his camp are more open to a move there than to a Saudi club.
It is understood that the striker’s representatives would favour a free transfer for the Gabon international in order to widen his options.
With a year left on his £160,000-a-week contract this would involve either running down the final year of his contract or Chelsea allowing the striker to leave by mutual consent.
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Aubameyang has endured a miserable time at the Bridge, returning just one goal in his 15 league appearances for the Blues.
Aubameyang is not the only wantaway Chelsea striker that has rejected a move to a Saudi club.
The Blues were hoping they could offload Romelu Lukaku, 30, after receiving an offer from Al-Hilal.
But Lukaku favours continuing in Europe and will hold out for a loan return to Champions League finalists Inter Milan, where he also spent last season on loan. More

CHELSEA are set to bag £25million for unwanted defender Kalidou Koulibaly after an offer from the Saudi League.Koulibaly, 31, has agreed personal terms with Al-Hilal on a lucrative contract but a fee is yet to be agreed between the two clubs according to Goal.
Koulibaly looks set to be the latest player to join a Saudi side on a mega-bucks dealCredit: Alamy
Koulibaly signed from Napoli for £33m last season on a four year contract amid high expectations.
He had established himself as one of the finest defenders in the Serie A – making the league’s team of the season on four occasions.
But a combination of poor form and upheaval at Chelsea saw the defender struggle to nail down a place in the side.
Koulibaly played just 23 times in the league for Chelsea last season and given his £162,000-a-week deal at the Bridge, his sale is seen as a priority.
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He is one of three Chelsea players that look set to move to the Saudi league on mega-contracts.
Edouard Mendy, 31, and Hakim Ziyech, 30, will follow Koulibaly out of the exit door according to Sky Sports Italy’s Gianluca Di Marzio.
Mendy looks set to join Saudi side Al-Ahli with Ziyech possibly linking up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.
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Fees are yet to be agreed between the clubs but representatives of the Saudi government are in London to make a deal happen.
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Romelu Lukaku, 30, was offered the chance to join the Saudi league according to French outlet Foot Mercato, but turned down a £326,000-per-week contract because he wants to join Inter Milan.
Meanwhile another Chelsea player’s move to the Saudi League looks set to be announced imminently.
N’golo Kante, 32, will be announced as an Al-Ittihad player on a contract worth £375,000-a-week shortly.
He will join on a four year deal until June 2027. More