🚨🔵 Danny Welbeck to Chelsea, here we go! Deal in place with Brighton for the English striker. Welbeck agreed terms with Chelsea until 2028, medical next; Brighton approved decision to let him go after formal request from Danny. Jordan Henderson: coming soon. 🔜 pic.twitter.com/E7C5gaiW8U.
Terms are in place with Brighton over a deal for the 35-year-old striker, as part of a drive for experience at Stamford Bridge. Welbeck is now due for a medical with the Blues, who are set to become the fifth permanent club of his career. A medical is expected to follow after Brighton approved his formal request to leave the club. As for Welbeck, the striker is set to fly out to Hong Kong and join the Chelsea squad for the remainder of their pre-season tour.
The move is part of new manager Xabi Alonso's recruitment drive to add experience to Chelsea's squad, which has been the youngest in the Premier League for the past two seasons. Towards the end of last season's disappointing campaign, when they finished 10th and won nothing, Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali said their recruitment model needed a "tweak". Welbeck earned this opportunity through his performances rather than reputation alone. He scored 13 goals across 37 Premier League appearances for Brighton, producing the most prolific league campaign of his career.
After a failed £8million move for Granit Xhaka, the heartbeat of Alonso’s title-winning Bayer Leverkusen side, the Blues are moving quickly to land Welbeck and Henderson. Chelsea failed in their pursuit of Granit Xhaka earlier this summer but are now closing in on a deal to sign Welbeck, with talks over a move for 36-year-old Jordan Henderson also underway. Brentford are willing to let Henderson leave on a free transfer despite the former Liverpool midfielder having a year remaining on his contract with the west London club. Romano also indicated that Henderson’s move could be completed soon, potentially giving Chelsea two experienced English leaders without enormous transfer fees.