Chelsea face a crucial summer transfer window as they aim to build a squad capable of competing for major trophies. With only the Conference League left to play for this season, having been knocked out of the League Cup and EFL Cup, the Blues are nonetheless on track to secure a Champions League spot through a top-four or top-five finish in the Premier League.
Head coach Enzo Maresca may look to streamline the squad by offloading players who have either underperformed or spent time on loan without earning a place in the starting XI for the 2025/26 campaign. Moving on high-earning underperformers could free up space for new signings to bolster Maresca’s team.
Chelsea’s Highest Wage Earners
The top three earners at Chelsea—Reece James (£250k per week), Wesley Fofana (£215k per week), and Christopher Nkunku (£195k per week)—have started only 30 of a possible 87 Premier League matches this season. This raises questions about the value they provide relative to their salaries.
Here’s a breakdown of Chelsea’s highest earners (excluding loanees):
| Player | Weekly Wage |
|---|---|
| Reece James | £250k |
| Wesley Fofana | £215k |
| Christopher Nkunku | £195k |
| Enzo Fernandez | £180k |
| Marc Cucurella | £175k |
| Pedro Neto | £160k |
| Moises Caicedo | £150k |
| Cole Palmer | £130k |
| Tosin Adarabioyo | £100k |
| Nicolas Jackson | £100k |
Source: Capology
Notably, Chelsea are still paying £75k per week to Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who is currently on loan at Bournemouth.
Why Chelsea Must Sell Kepa Arrizabalaga
Maresca must finally move Kepa on this summer to stop the financial drain. Chelsea broke their transfer record in 2018 to sign him for £71m from Athletic Bilbao, making him the most expensive goalkeeper in history. He was handed a contract worth approximately £150k per week.
Over his first four seasons at Chelsea, Kepa reportedly earned £39.1m in wages while conceding 175 goals in 163 appearances, costing the club a total of £110.1m before this season. With Bournemouth covering half his wages this campaign, Chelsea have still paid him £3.9m, bringing the total spend on Kepa to £114m.
Kepa’s performances have not justified this expenditure. He conceded 8.9 more goals than expected based on post-shot expected goals (PSxG) in 109 Premier League appearances. Additionally, he gained notoriety for refusing to be substituted in a League Cup final and for consistently conceding long-range goals. Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville criticized his shot-stopping ability, calling it a "sorry story" for a player of his price tag.
With Kepa’s contract set to expire in the summer of 2026, Chelsea must offload him this year to avoid losing him for free and to recoup a fraction of their massive investment.
Chelsea’s Next Makelele?
In related news, Chelsea have signed a young talent who could follow in the footsteps of midfield legend Claude Makelele. This new signing has the potential to become a key figure in the team’s future success.
As the summer transfer window approaches, Chelsea will need to make decisive moves to reshape their squad and build a competitive team for the seasons ahead.
