Liam Delap’s hamstring problem did not only affect Chelsea but also sparked unexpected movements in the European transfer market.
The immediate effect was felt at Bayern Munich, who were prepared to welcome Nicolas Jackson after Chelsea gave approval for a medical. That permission was withdrawn on Saturday once Delap’s injury became clear. At the same time, Chelsea opened conversations with Sporting Lisbon and Conrad Harder’s camp after their 2-0 victory against Fulham.
This move triggered a tense exchange between the two clubs, as Chelsea insisted Bayern convert their interest in Jackson into a permanent deal to free up funds for Harder. Bayern themselves pursued Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman but saw their bid rejected.
Harder eventually declined Chelsea’s offer and signed with RB Leipzig, where his role would be more significant. Chelsea then turned to a backup strategy – keeping Jackson in Munich overnight while pursuing a recall of Marc Guiu from Sunderland. Sunderland reluctantly agreed, forcing them to seek Brian Brobbey from Ajax. Ajax in turn targeted Kasper Dolberg from Anderlecht, who had been on Celtic’s shortlist.
Celtic, left without Dolberg, searched for other forwards and made a late attempt to secure Chelsea’s David Datro Fofana. Fofana preferred Charlton, though that transfer collapsed, leaving Celtic considering free agent Kelechi Iheanacho following his Sevilla exit.
Chelsea’s frantic deadline day
The expectation inside Chelsea was for a quiet finish to the window, with a focus on sales. But when Delap limped off just before 1pm on Saturday, panic set in.
Earlier in the day, AC Milan had finalized Christopher Nkunku’s switch, and Jackson had already traveled to meet Bayern. As the seriousness of Delap’s setback became evident, Chelsea pulled the plug on Jackson’s move, leaving the player and his agents frustrated.
Chelsea rotated through a series of solutions: Harder as their main target, Guiu as plan B, and keeping Jackson as a last resort. In the end, Guiu’s return proved workable, sparing them from compelling Jackson to stay against his preference.
Chelsea negotiated improved conditions for Jackson’s eventual deal with Bayern, who agreed to a £14.3m loan fee with an obligation to purchase for £56m tied to appearances. That pushed the total potential fee to more than £70m, compared to the £32m they originally paid Villarreal in 2023.
Before this drama, Chelsea had even made a £34.7m approach for Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez, encouraged by initial talks.
In the final hours of the window, Chelsea completed multiple transactions. Facundo Buonanotte joined temporarily from Brighton for £2m. Ben Chilwell moved to Strasbourg, Alex Matos transferred to Sheffield United for £2m, and Donell McNeilly switched to Nottingham Forest. Several academy players—including Omari Kellyman, Jimmy-Jay Morgan, and Ronnie Stutter—also departed on loan, while Ishe Samuels-Smith’s deal with Strasbourg was cancelled before being redirected to Swansea City.
Altogether, Chelsea set a new Premier League benchmark with more than £288m in sales, narrowly missing £300m after Tyrique George’s proposed £22m switch to Fulham fell apart.
Financial pressure and unresolved futures
Despite heavy activity, three players from Chelsea’s “bomb squad” – Raheem Sterling, Axel Disasi, and Fofana – remained. Fofana had an agreement with Charlton that broke down. For now, these players are isolated from the core group, working separately and uncertain of any reintegration.
Chelsea’s board nonetheless expressed satisfaction with a refreshed squad tailored for coach Enzo Maresca, adding nine new signings, six of them attackers. But they had not intended to be drawn into last-minute chaos.
Behind these decisions was also UEFA oversight. Chelsea had been fined £26.7m earlier in the summer for financial breaches, with further restrictions threatening. To register newcomers for the Champions League, they needed to close the window with a positive balance.
Reports suggest their net spend came to £1.5m, with £285m in purchases countered by £283.5m in sales. Add-ons could push the balance further into the black. Departures of previously loaned players such as Joao Felix, Renato Veiga, and Armando Broja also contributed to compliance.
Since the Boehly-Clearlake group took charge, Chelsea have invested more than £1.6bn but recouped over £750m in player exits. The club’s aim has been to counter past excess with strategic sales, all while managing UEFA’s three-year assessment cycle.
