Chelsea FC Squad for Pre-Season Tour Revealed Amid Injuries

Chelsea FC has announced their 27-man squad for the pre-season tour of Australia and Asia, but injuries have ruled out Emmanuel Emegha and Geovany Quenda.

What happened?

The two summer arrivals were surprising absentees from the squad, with Emegha injuring his hamstring in the behind-closed-doors friendly against Bromley and Quenda picking up a minor problem in training at Cobham on Thursday.

Why it matters for Chelsea FC

The injuries have left a gap in the squad, particularly at left-back, where Chelsea have an immediate need for competition with Jorrel Hato.

What comes next?

The pre-season tour offers academy prospects a rare opportunity to make a sustained impression in a first-team environment, and there are 10 Cobham graduates in Alonso's squad, including Levi Colwill and Josh Acheampong, who are well established in the first team.

Chelsea supporters will, however, be able to get a proper look at defender Marco Palestra, the first signing of the Xabi Alonso era, as well as Kazakh forward Dastan Satpayev. Fans who attend Chelsea's matches against Western Sydney Wanderers and Tottenham at Accor Stadium, or tune in to watch from around the world, should see plenty of star power. Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro headline the list of forwards, while Estevao is included as he continues his rapid recovery from a grade four hamstring injury sustained in April.

But there are also six players in Alonso's squad who do not even have profile pages on the club's official website yet (Palestra is among them, though that will likely be addressed sooner rather than later). Pre-season traditionally offers academy prospects a rare opportunity to make a sustained impression in a first-team environment, and there are 10 Cobham graduates in Alonso's squad - though that number includes Levi Colwill and Josh Acheampong, who are well established in the first team.

Teddy Sharman-Lowe has also served as senior third-choice goalkeeper. The younger homegrown faces are Ted Curd, Tayo Subuloye, Landon Emenalo, Reggie Walsh, Reggie Watson, Ryan Kavuma-McQueen and Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli. For most, the next four games represent invaluable first-team experience, as well as a useful shop window to lay the potential groundwork for the loans they may need to continue their development this season.

But it might be different for Emenalo. Son of former Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo and brother of U.S. college basketball prospect Seb, he started both of the Cobham games at left-back against Crawley Town and Bromley, and sources have told The Athletic that the high quality of his performances has been noted by club staff.

With the sale of Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid and no deal yet agreed with Rayo Vallecano for Pep Chavarria, Chelsea have an immediate need for left-back competition with Jorrel Hato. There may be a window of opportunity to be seized in midfield, too. That is where Alonso's tour squad looks thinnest in terms of established quality, with Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez both recuperating from their exertions with Ecuador and Argentina respectively and Andrey Santos now a Manchester United player.

Could that work in the favour of Walsh, whose startling physical development has been widely remarked upon by fans? The 2025-26 season has seen Chelsea FC finish 10th in the Premier League, with 52 points from 38 games, and a goal difference of +6. They are currently 33 points behind leaders Arsenal in the title race, with 58 goals scored and 52 conceded.

League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 10th in Premier League, 52 pts, 14W-10D-14L from 38 games, recent form LWDLL. Goals this season: 58 scored, 52 conceded (+6 goal difference). Title race: 33 points behind leaders Arsenal.