Chelsea has made its first, and probably only, move while serving a two-window transfer ban (this summer and next January) by permanently signing the previously on-loan Mateo Kovačić from Real Madrid for a fee that could approach nearly $57 million.
The 25-year-old just completed his first season with the Blues, and with plenty of unforeseen circumstances ahead, Kovačić had to be brought back.
One of the major criticisms Chelsea consistently has taken over the past few years is its inability to break youth into the first team. While the Blues have one of the best academies in English soccer, they consistently loan out their best products and are never heard from again.
But with the year-long transfer ban stopping Chelsea from buying more players to fill the holes in its roster, it will have to rely on its youth products to step up.
One such player is Tammy Abraham.
It's been a weird year for Chelsea fans. After finishing third in the English Premier League and winning the Europa League, manager Maurizio Sarri has left the club to return to Italy. He will be coaching Juventus.
As that news is settling down, one rumor won't go away: Blues legend Frank Lampard is set to take over at Chelsea.
For the third game in a row, Manchester United’s David De Gea found himself out of the starting 11 for the Spanish national team in favor of Kepa Arrizibalaga. The Chelsea keeper has proven his worth, having allowed one goal over the three games he’s started, with the goal coming off a cheap deflection against the Faroe Islands.
No one is surprised to see Christian Pulisic showcasing his skills, but seeing Christian Pulisic's mom ball out is something we deserved to see.
Kelley Pulisic and her son both had no trouble volleying the ball around in the kitchen in a recent Instagram stories video posted by the new Chelsea player.
It runs in the family
According to reports from ESPN and the BBC, Real Madrid and Chelsea have finally agreed to a transfer fee to send Eden Hazard from Stamford Bridge to the Santiago Bernabéu. The Eden Hazard transfer fee is being priced at $113 million, but that sum could rise to as high as $165 million should the 28-year-old Belgian attacker reach “realistic bonuses” along with additional payments that Real will make.
The Europa League’s leading scorer did it again on Wednesday with his most clutch goal of the season, the one that opened the scoring against Arsenal in the 2019 Europa League Final.
Former Gunner striker Olivier Giroud headed the ball beyond former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Čech for a poetic start to the final.
Chelsea defeated Arsenal 4-1 in the final of the Europa League thanks to a mesmerizing second half performance from Eden Hazard, who's almost certainly played his final match for the Blues before moving to Real Madrid this summer. Hazard recorded two goals and an assist before being subbed off to a standing ovation in the 89th minute.
Here he is talking post-match and saying goodbye.
"I made my decision already...I love Chelsea. Chelsea is part of my life, part of my family."