Chelsea is entering the 2024-2025 season with hopes of rejuvenation after several years of not contending for top positions in the Premier League. Mauricio Pochettino failed to instill a winning mentality in the team, resulting in a sixth-place finish and securing a spot in the upcoming Conference League.
No titles were won last season, with a 1-0 loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup semifinal and another 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in the EFL Cup final. These outcomes led to the dismissal of Pochettino, replaced by Enzo Maresca. The former Juventus and Sevilla midfielder is tasked with restoring the club to its former glory after leading Leicester City to promotion to the Premier League.
This marks Maresca's fourth stint in English football as a manager, having previously been with West Ham, Manchester City, Leicester, and now Chelsea. As a player, he also spent time with West Bromwich Albion. Joining him on his staff is Roberto Vitiello, who previously played for Vicenza, Siena, and Palermo. The club is banking on a technical staff eager to compete at high levels after a remarkable season in the Championship.
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Chelsea has been very active in the transfer market. The most significant signing is Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester, costing over €30 million after scoring 12 goals and providing 14 assists in the Championship. Another investment of €18 million was made for Omari Kellyman, an 18-year-old attacking midfielder from Aston Villa. Additionally, Renato Veiga and Caleb Wiley round out the top four new signings, all of whom are under 25 years old.
These additions were made possible by some painful departures. Ian Maatsen was sold to Aston Villa for nearly €45 million, and full-back Lewis Hall moved to Newcastle for just over €30 million. Youngster Omari Hutchinson transferred to newly-promoted Ipswich Town. Hakim Ziyech was released and joined Galatasaray, while Thiago Silva returned to Brazil to play for Fluminense.
With a younger squad, careful management of club finances, and a new leadership team, Chelsea aims to return to being a dominant club both domestically and in Europe. The goal is clear: to restore Chelsea's status as a top-tier club that has made history in Europe.
