Transfer Rumour Unconfirmed · Early speculationFootball.LondonUnverified source· 7 Aug 2026
Chelsea face 16-player clear-out under new FIFAPro rules
Chelsea's 41-man squad must shrink, with 'bomb squads' banned by FIFAPro.
Chelsea
team
Squad size
41 senior players
Players to sell
16
Rule change
FIFAPro bans 'bomb squads'
What happened. Chelsea must sell or reintegrate 16 players before the window ends due to new FIFAPro rules banning 'bomb squads'.
- Premier League allows 25 senior players, max 17 non-homegrown.
- Chelsea previously used 'bomb squads' for unwanted players.
- Selling 16 players could generate significant funds.
The clear-out could ease Xabi Alonso's concerns and avoid FIFA sanctions.
In this story
Xabi AlonsoMore to read
Football.London
Chelsea's dream attack for Xabi Alonso as 10 stars leave and £120m worth of transfers done
Daily Mail Football
What we learned from Mykhailo Mudryk's first Chelsea appearance in two years, the 'devastating' new combination that will terrorise defences and why Xabi Alonso was left frustrated in defeat by Juventus
Football.London
Every word Xabi Alonso said on how Mudryk reacted to return, Chelsea defeat, Palmer and Colwill
Metro Football
Xabi Alonso puts 11 players up for sale including £120m Chelsea star
Football.London
New Chelsea signing flies in as Xabi Alonso's six-man transfer decision heats up
Daily Mail Football
Chelsea fans go wild for Mykhailo Mudryk as he returns from doping ban - and Xabi Alonso reveals Ukrainian is in line for first appearance in 20 months