Chelsea transfer gets 'here we go' as valuation problem emerges in defender deal

Chelsea are still busy attempting to add new recruits to their squad as they ramp up preparations for the new season with their work off the pitch. The Blues players are currently on break after the FIFA Club World Cup, with just a couple of friendlies planned before the start of the Premier League season.

The Blues will have at least three new signings to use on opening day, and Enzo Maresca will be hoping for a handful of more new signings by the time the big first day arrives. Here we round up all the latest news and transfer rumours surrounding Stamford Bridge.

Joao Felix to leave

Joao Felix looks to be heading to Saudi Arabia, with the Blues remarkably making back much of their £44.5million investment from their initial deal to land the Portugal international last summer.

Fabrizio Romano has posted on X: “EXCLUSIVE: Al Nassr agree deal to sign João Félix from Chelsea, here we go! Player authorized to fly for medical and join Al Nassr, initial transfer fee worth €30m plus add-ons and heavy sell-on clause to meet Chelsea €50m valuation in future. Paperwork being prepared.”

Hato update

Chelsea are still chasing a deal to land Ajax defender Jorrel Hato, and according to Sky Sports, the two sides remain apart in their valuations. According to the report, Chelsea want to pay £44million for the 19-year-old, but Ajax are holding out for £52million.

Talks are still ongoing, with the clubs surely likely to come to an agreement given the relatively small gap between the two valuations, and add-ons usually play a big role in two clubs coming to an agreement in such situations. Chelsea want to add competition at the back this summer, and there is likely to be a defensive departure if, and perhaps when, Hato arrives.

Carvalho recalls Chelsea spell

Former Chelsea favourite Ricardo Carvalho has been recalling his move to Stamford Bridge back in 2004. He told the club website: “It was almost at the same time in 2004. It was Mourinho who signed the contract first and I think at that point it was already in my head to join. The first player to sign was Paulo and then Tiago Mendes from Benfica, and at the end was myself in August.

“So when I arrived, there was already the technical staff I worked with in Porto, my team-mate Paulo, and Tiago, who I’d built a great relationship with. Of course, adapting was a little bit easier because I knew the methods that Mourinho was training and also his language. But in the end, the important thing was that we had great players in the club.”

He added: “You are there to play. Of course, it’s good to see people that speak Portuguese and you have a good relationship with, but I still have a good relationship with the other guys I met there, like Didier Drogba. We don’t speak often but when we do it’s about remembering those times and how we miss each other. It was a very good team spirit.

“That's because we started to win. For a team to grow it’s important to win and we started to win games from the beginning. That helped a lot. I spent six years at Chelsea and in the first three years we had Paulo, Tiago, then after that came Hilario, then [Jose] Bosingwa, who I also have a very good relationship with, and others too. So it was good to speak in the dressing room. After we’ve got our families and your own lives, but everyone was so social at that time at Chelsea. The results helped a lot for us to feel that we were a team.”

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