Chelsea 2026-27 Season Preview - Xabi Alonso Aims for Champions League Spot

John Eastwood

Editor

Last updated: 2 hours ago

John Eastwood 2 hours ago

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Chelsea finished 10th last season and missed out on Europe.
Xabi Alonso arrives as manager, new signings bolster the squad, and several important players depart.
A top four finish is the target, but success depends on keeping key men fit and being stronger defensively.

Head Coach Xabi Alonso will usher in a new era at Stamford Bridge (Getty Images).

Last Season’s Summary

Chelsea endured a hugely disappointing 2025/26 campaign, finishing 10th in the Premier League after a season of constant upheaval.
Last Season’s Summary
Chelsea Coaching Change
Key Transfers In
Key Transfers Out
Three Key Players
Main Areas for Improvement
Upcoming Chelsea Transfer Activity
Overall Season Expectations – Chelsea

The club went through two permanent head coaches, Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior, as well as caretaker spells that further disrupted the team's progress.

The Blues also missed out on European football for the new campaign, meaning just one game a week this time around.

A highlight was João Pedro emerging as one of the team's brightest performers, finishing as the club's leading scorer across the season. The Blues showed flashes of quality but lacked the consistency and defensive stability required to compete near the top of the Premier League. Rosenior looked out of his depth, and Maresca left Chelsea in the lurch with his sudden departure.

It was a season to forget for many individual players too.

Chelsea Coaching Change

Xabi Alonso arrives at Stamford Bridge with the responsibility of bringing stability to a club that desperately needs it.

The Spaniard enjoyed major success at Bayer Leverkusen, winning the Bundesliga and German Cup in 2024 and going on a long unbeaten run. However, his short spell at Real Madrid ended in disappointment and leaves him with a point to prove.

Chelsea have appointed Alonso as manager rather than head coach, suggesting that he is expected to have greater authority over the football operations and transfers. His tactical flexibility could be particularly important, as he switches between back three and back four shapes.

Attracting Alonso ahead of Liverpool was a real coup for the Blues and has lifted optimism of having a fine season.

Key Transfers In

Chelsea have invested heavily again, with Morgan Rogers arriving from Aston Villa in a British-record deal reported at £117 million. Marco Palestra and Maxence Lacroix strengthen a defence that needed greater physicality and tactical flexibility, as has left wingback Pep Chavarria.

Geovany Quenda adds another exciting young option in the wide areas and experienced Premier League figures Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck have also been brought in to provide leadership around a squad dominated by young players.

Key Transfers Out

Chelsea have also begun reshaping the squad by allowing several established players to leave. Marc Cucurella completed a permanent move to Real Madrid after four seasons at Stamford Bridge. Academy product Tyrique George also made his temporary Everton move permanent, while Andrey Santos joined Manchester United after making 47 appearances for Chelsea.

Trevoh Chalobah has also departed, further changing the options available in central defence. Alejandro Garnacho has moved to Aston Villa on loan after one season at Chelsea, while several academy players have also left permanently or on loan.

The big question mark is over whether Enzo Fernandez remains at the club. The first-team squad is bloated and around 15 players have to be sold or loaned out before the window closes.

Three Key Players

Cole Palmer remains arguably Chelsea's most important attacking player and will be expected to rediscover his best form under Alonso. His creativity, goals and ability to decide matches make him central to Chelsea's hopes of returning to the Champions League.

João Pedro is another major figure after becoming the team's leading scorer last season and taking the No.9 shirt for the new campaign. The issue is over a lack of cover if Pedro picks up an injury.

Moisés Caicedo could be equally important in midfield because his defensive work, energy and ability to control transitions provide the platform for Chelsea's attacking players. Reece James may play in midfield this season if Enzo is sold.

Main Areas for Improvement

Chelsea's biggest priority is consistency after a campaign in which performances and results regularly fluctuated. Defensive organisation must improve, particularly against strong Premier League opponents who punished Chelsea when they lost control of matches.

The midfield also needs to become more reliable at controlling tempo and protecting the defence during transitions. Andrey Santos is a big loss in this regard.

Chelsea need their attacking players to be more clinical, especially when dominating possession without creating enough clear chances. Alonso must also find a settled tactical system instead of constantly changing the team's structure. Above all, Chelsea need to develop a winning mentality and greater resilience if they are to turn their enormous potential into results. This is perhaps the reason for signing proven winners like Henderson and Welbeck.

Upcoming Chelsea Transfer Activity

Chelsea's transfer business is unlikely to be finished because the squad remains extremely large. The club still needs to move on several players who are unlikely to have significant roles under Alonso, with squad management becoming one of the manager's biggest challenges.

Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson are among the forwards whose futures have attracted attention as Chelsea attempt to reduce the number of strikers available. Enzo Fernández has also been linked with a possible departure, although Chelsea set a deadline for his sale and would have to spend big on a replacement.

The club could therefore focus more on departures and loans than major additions during the remaining part of the window. With the Premier League transfer deadline approaching on September 1st, Chelsea still have time to significantly reshape Alonso's squad.

Overall Season Expectations – Chelsea

Chelsea should be targeting a return to the Champions League after finishing 10th last season. The absence of European football gives Alonso more time on the training ground and a less congested schedule than many of their rivals.

A top-four finish would represent a major improvement, while a top-five position should also be viewed as a realistic minimum target. The domestic cups provide another opportunity for Chelsea to challenge for silverware after last season ended without a trophy.

There are still major questions around squad size, defensive consistency and whether the new signings can quickly adapt to Alonso's ideas. Overall, Chelsea have enough quality to make a serious top-four challenge, but turning that potential into sustained performances will determine whether this new era succeeds.

Graduated from the University of Portsmouth in 2008 with a BA in English Literature before completing MA in Journalism. Began his career as a sports journalist in London before moving to the Middle East to work as a sports editor for national media companies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Favourite Sports: Tennis, Boxing, Golf.