Chelsea sent a multitude of players out on loan in the recently-concluded 2025/26 season and they face enormous summers in terms of their futures
Xabi Alonso faces a summer full of transfer decisions at Chelsea(Image: Maurice van Steen – AVP)
While newly-appointed Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso will have countless meetings with the club’s sporting directors about recruitment this summer, the Spaniard will also need to take some time to assess some of his players at Stamford Bridge.
There is expected to be lots of activity on the transfer front in the upcoming summer window with Alonso at the helm of the surgery required at the club. Several first-team players are set to be signed over the course of the summer, while many are expected to depart as well.
Last season, Chelsea had seven players (who were signed for the first-team or at least played in the senior squad for a bit) out on loan all around the world. Those seven players, who cost the Blues close to £130million in combined transfer fees (not including add-ons), now face big summers, with some of them hoping to impress Alonso, while others will be looking for a move away from Stamford Bridge.
FOLLOW OUR CHELSEA FB PAGE! Latest Blues news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
Below, our Chelsea correspondent Bobby Vincent assesses each player’s unique situation and says whether the club should keep, sell or loan them in the upcoming season:
Axel Disasi
The Frenchman caught the eye of many when Chelsea decided to loan him to West Ham United midway through the season. While Disasi couldn’t keep the Hammers in the Premier League, the 28-year-old defender certainly tried his best and was one of the few to come out of the London Stadium with any sort of personal pride.
There are noises coming from Disasi’s entourage of interest from around Europe following his impressive loan. Despite his performances being at a high level, it appears Chelsea will look to move the former AS Monaco defender on in the coming months.
Verdict: Loan
Kendry Paez
Since arriving at River Plate midway through the season, minutes have been difficult for Paez to come by. The 19-year-old Ecuador international has less than 500 since switching to Argentina from Strasbourg.
Paez will be hoping to impress for Ecuador in the upcoming World Cup, with Alonso having more than half an eye on him and his international and club teammate Moises Caicedo. There are a few suggestions that the teenager, while possessing exciting talent, is a bit raw at the moment. Another loan spell could do him the world of good.
Verdict: Loan
David Datro Fofana
Chelsea have struggled in recent transfer windows, one way or the other, to offload Datro Fofana on a permanent basis. The Ivorian striker had spells at Fatih Karagumruk and Strasbourg in 25/26 but the Blues will look to sell him over the course of the next few months.
A minimal fee is expected for the 23-year-old, who signed for Chelsea for a fee believed to be around £10m in January 2023. Since moving to the club three-and-a-half years ago, Datro Fofana has featured four times for the Blues’ first team.
Verdict: Sell
Get Chelsea’s new 2026/27 home kit
Chelsea have launched their new home kit for the 2026/27 season, said to be ‘a celebration of the club’s Italian Renaissance.