For the Premier League’s biggest clubs, this competition is usually an opportunity to blood youngsters and give fringe players valuable minutes.
However, only 35-year-old Danny Welbeck, who scored twice, emerged from the starters with a compelling case for more regular involvement.
Even Valentin Barco, despite scoring Chelsea‘s fifth goal, was partly at fault for Leeds‘ second and was among several players who repeatedly surrendered possession during a difficult first half.
Young attackers Estevao Willian and Jamie Gittens suffered the disappointment of being substituted at half-time, while £40m signing Geovany Quenda, who joined from Sporting, did not add to his solitary substitute appearance for the club as he watched from the bench.
Midfielder Reggie Watson, making his debut at the age of 16, was also withdrawn at the break after being booked.
Alonso later said he would not take a “cynical” view as some on the outside might about the difference in level between his proven stars and Chelsea‘s back-up options.
He added: “I know that probably I have to take the right decisions for them to show their best level, so it’s something that I will analyse and learn from today.”
Nevertheless, reaching the fourth round is important for Chelsea.
It is not only about preserving their hopes of silverware in a season without European football, but Chelsea are also a club that need as many competitive fixtures as possible.
They have a 27-man squad, supported by a strong academy pipeline, and these matches are vital for keeping a large group of players engaged throughout the campaign.
There is an irony, then, that Palmer, Rogers and Chelsea‘s other established stars may have secured future opportunities for the very fringe players whose performances had put the club’s EFL Cup campaign at risk.
Emiliano Martinez: There was concern when the Argentina goalkeeper was accidentally kicked in the head by Gabriel early on, but he was beaten too easily at his near post for Havertz’s equaliser. He later made a high-quality save from Saka in the second half. 5
Josh Acheampong: Often dragged into uncomfortable areas by Tzolis from a tactical perspective, but handled his individual defensive duties well. 6
Maxence Lacroix: Miscontrolled a ball early on and allowed Havertz’s shot to pass through his legs but also impressed at other times. 6
Wesley Fofana: Unconvincing defensively against Saka, Odegaard and, ultimately, Havertz for the equaliser, but the most composed of Chelsea‘s defenders in possession. 6
Pedro Neto: Tasked with marking Calafiori while also providing an attacking threat. Hit the post just before half-time with a brilliant curling effort. 7
Reece James: Saw a well-struck long-range effort saved after 22 minutes and was arguably Chelsea‘s best passer. 7
Romeo Lavia: Produced a superb defensive header to clear the danger in the 32nd minute and competed aggressively throughout. 6
Jorrel Hato: His determination helped create Rogers’ volley and he matched that effort defensively, although he struggled to contain Saka at times. 6
Cole Palmer: Had one effort on target in the first half and was booked for a professional foul. Also had a second-half shot saved. Arsenal largely kept him quiet. 5
Morgan Rogers: Opened the scoring with a first-time volley after just two minutes. Later curled an effort narrowly wide in the 31st minute and was Chelsea‘s most dangerous attacking player. 7
Joao Pedro: Unconvincing defensively at set-pieces and had few opportunities in front of goal, including an ambitious effort from distance. Still made a significant contribution through his work-rate, physical presence and ability to bring team-mates into play as the number nine. 6
Subs:
Malo Gusto (on 60, Lavia): Poor effort moments after coming on, albeit playing out of position in central midfield. 5
Pep Chavarria (on 60, Hato): Struggled to track his runners on a few occasions. 6
Estevao Willian (on 80, Neto): The Brazilian’s sensational curling effort almost levelled but was saved by Raya.
Danny Welbeck (on 87, Rogers)
Subs not used: Penders, Colwill, Barco, Quenda, Gittens
Johnstone, who won the last of his four England caps in 2023, made 17 appearances last season but lost his starting place at relegated Wolves in December and has not played since an FA Cup loss to Liverpool in early March.
“I’m buzzing to be here and I’m excited to get going,” said the goalkeeper, who began his career at Manchester United and has had spells at Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palce.
“I didn’t need convincing by anyone, but Joe Hart rang me the other day just to reiterate what a place this is, what a great group of lads and how the fans are unbelievable.
“You hear about the size of the club, but just being here for a day, you notice how big the club is. And the pressure to win, which is what I like – pressure to win, pressure to perform and we all want to win trophies.”
Kasper Schmeichel had been first choice at Celtic since the summer of 2024, but played his last game in February and subsequently retired due to a shoulder injury.
Manager Martin O’Neill said Johnstone would be “a very good addition” and that Mheuka has “great quality”.
O’Neill also said new left-back Emenalo “has many attributes which I think can benefit us”, adding he is “very quick on the ball and, while he can defend, he certainly gets up the pitch into attacking positions too.”
Argentina international Enzo Fernandez signs for Manchester City in a deal from Chelsea worth 125 million pounds ($169m).
Published On 1 Sep 20261 Sep 2026
Manchester City equalled the British transfer fee record for a player when they signed midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea on deadline day for deals in Europe.
The 25-year-old Argentina international, who was part of his country’s team that reached the 2026 World Cup final, had long been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge.
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The deal, however, was stretched to the final few minutes of the summer transfer window, which shut at 22:00 GMT on Tuesday.
City confirmed the deal with a video on the social media platform X, with the fee matching the 125 million pounds ($169m) that Liverpool paid Newcastle for Alexander Isak last summer.
The deal seemed to have been agreed upon between the clubs hours before the window shut, allowing for the player to complete a medical, but doubts about the deal started to emerge with the clock ticking on the deadline.
Fernandez himself had taken to his Instagram page ahead of the deadline on Tuesday to bid farewell to Chelsea fans.
“I want you to know that these have not been easy days for me. Writing this is not easy either. The truth is, I haven’t been in a good place,” Fernandez wrote in a message directed to fans of the London club.
“Three years ago, Cobham [the club’s training ground] and Stamford Bridge became home for me and my family.
“Believe me when I say that, from the moment I arrived, I became obsessed with winning and with bringing this club every trophy that its history deserves.
“We suffered, we cried, I got angry many times, but we also celebrated titles and unforgettable victories. Together, through the good times and the difficult ones.”
Fernandez was part of the Chelsea side that won the UEFA Conference League in 2025 before going on to claim the expanded FIFA Club World Cup that year.
City boss Enzo Maresca worked with Fernandez at Chelsea before taking on the daunting task of succeeding Pep Guardiola at the Etihad.
The Italian was a driving force behind the deal to land Fernandez after the recent sale of influential World Cup winner Rodri to Barcelona, as well as the departures of fellow midfielders Bernardo Silva, Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders.
The 25-year-old will partner with England international Elliot Anderson and Moroccan Ayyoub Bouaddi in City’s revamped central midfield at a cost of more than 300 million pounds ($405.4m).
“Every player wants to be part of a club like this, because everyone knows how well-run City are,” said Fernandez in his statement released by City upon completion of the deal.
“This is a club built for success. If you look across the squad, City have quality in every area. I want to learn from my new teammates and become a better player.”
Fernandez, who signed for Chelsea from Benfica for 106 million pounds ($143.2m) in 2023, angered the Blues last season by expressing interest in joining Real Madrid, and was dropped for two matches as a result.
He scored twice in Argentina’s run to the World Cup final, including a stunning strike against England in the semifinal.
But his tournament ended with a red card in the final as Argentina were beaten 1-0 to miss out on retaining their status as world champions.
“He is a complete midfielder: technically gifted, hardworking, tenacious, and a goalscorer,” said City’s director of football Hugo Viana.
“To have played in two World Cup finals and won major trophies in multiple countries at just 25 says everything you need to know about his mentality, professionalism and technical quality.
“We are delighted to bring him here, and feel very strongly he will improve our team.”
Manchester City have opened talks with Chelsea in their bid to sign midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
In what is set to be one of the key narratives on transfer deadline day, City have set the wheels in motion towards what would be one of the most expensive deals of the summer.
It is understood Chelsea want a minimum of £120m for Fernandez and talks are under way as both clubs negotiate a price.
Fernandez, 25, worked with City manager Enzo Maresca during the Italian’s reign at Chelsea.
Maresca is keen to work with the Argentina international again, while Fernandez is open to a move to City.
No two Premier League clubs have exchanged more players, on permanent or loan deals, in the past four years.
But Villa boss Emery said the relationship between the two clubs is “only through the deals for money”.
“Good relations?” he said. “They want to kill us and we want to kill them!
“We have good players and we can sign one player off them, it’s not a good relationship – it’s a deal for money and a deal for players.
“I am happy for Emiliano Martinez and Morgan Rogers and I know I am not happy for Chelsea.”
A series of deals betwen the clubs began after Chelsea‘s owners, BlueCo, took control of the club in 2022 and signed Carney Chukwuemeka from Villa for £20m that summer. Ian Maatsen (£37.5m, to Villa), Omari Kellyman (£19m, to Chelsea) and Axel Disasi (a £5m loan deal, to Villa) subsequently moved between the clubs.
This summer alone has brought four more deals. Morgan Rogers completed a £117m move Chelsea, while Alejandro Garnacho joined Villa on loan with a conditional obligation to buy in a deal worth around £43m.
Jackson then moved to Villa for £65m, before Martinez followed.
Since 2022, Chelsea have paid Aston Villa £163.5m for players. Villa have spent £102.5m on Chelsea players including Axel Disasi’s loan fee. That figure could rise to £150.5m should certain criteria be met to make Garnacho’s loan move permanent. Chelsea believe the terms are easily reachable.
Match of the Day pundit Shay Given praises Chelsea’s flying wing-backs, backing Xabi Alonso’s side to win the Premier League title using a three-at-the-back system.
Who: Chelsea vs Brighton What: English Premier League Where: Stamford Bridge, London, United Kingdom When: Sunday, August 30, at 2pm (13:00 GMT) How to follow:Al Jazeera Sport will bring you all the build-up from 10:00 GMT ahead of our live text commentary stream
Chelsea and Brighton will look to build on decent starts to the season, as the Blues welcome the Seagulls to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea began life under new coach Xabi Alonso with a breathless 3-2 victory at West London neighbours Fulham in the Premier League on Monday as their exciting front three of Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer all found the net.
They then followed that up with a solid 2-0 win over Luton in the League Cup on Thursday.
But Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton side also came into the game in a buoyant mood after recording back-to-back 4-0 home wins over Aston Villa in their Premier League opener last weekend and against Norwegian side Tromso in a Europa Conference League playoff on Thursday.
Brighton will also fancy their chances against Chelsea, having won their last three league games against the Blues while finding the net three times on each occasion.
Fernandez’s Chelsea future uncertain as Alonso seeks commitment
Alonso said he wants players that “feel a desire” to play for Chelsea after Enzo Fernandez was left out of Thursday’s League Cup win over Luton.
The Argentina midfielder has been linked with a move to Manchester City, but no suitor has yet met Chelsea’s reported 120 million-pound ($162m) valuation of Fernandez.
The 25-year-old came off the bench in the Blues’s 3-2 win over Fulham to give Alonso a winning start to his reign in the Premier League on Monday.
However, the former Real Madrid boss hinted that Fernandez may not be involved against Brighton.
“We need to take everything into consideration: players that are in good moments, players that are not feeling that energy to play. For me, it’s very important that they feel that desire to play and to have good preparation,” said Alonso.
“We talked and we decided that [for Luton] it was better not to be part of the squad. He’s a top player, there’s no doubt about that.”
Alonso arrives at Stamford Bridge for the game against Luton [Peter Cziborra/Reuters]
Alonso happy with squad ‘balance’ amid busy transfer window
Selling Fernandez would ease the pressure on Chelsea to meet financial sustainability regulations after another window of heavy investment in the transfer market.
Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix, Marco Palestra, Valentin Barco, Pep Chavarria, Danny Welbeck, Emmanuel Emegha and Geovany Quenda have arrived at Stamford Bridge for combined fees in excess of 300 million pounds ($406m).
Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez is also set to join to replace the error-prone Robert Sanchez as Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper.
There have also been a number of departures from the club in recent days, including strikers Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson.
Alonso, who previously said his bloated squad size needed to be drastically cut, is satisfied with the clear-out.
“We are quite close to the plan that we had. We will see where we finish, if it’s fully executed or there are some things still to be done,” he added.
“But overall the balance of what we have is going to be good. We need to see how the last few days develop.”
Martinez has been signed from Villa but may not make the starting XI for the game against Brighton [Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images via Reuters]
Hurzeler warns of Cole Palmer threat
After a poor season, Palmer looked back to his best against Fulham as he thrived while roaming in a free role under Alonso.
During his pre-match news conference, Hurzeler warned his side cannot defend against Palmer on a “one-to-one” basis and must be collectively strong to stop the playmaker and Chelsea’s other talents.
The German coach said he was happy with his own squad as the transfer window is set to close.
“There’s a minor issue with small injuries but I’m not here to complain; I’m here to find solutions together with my team and that’s what we try to do since day one, so yes, I’m happy with the squad,” he said.
He said new signings Jaouen Hadjam and Promise David should be available for the Chelsea game.
I think they are two great players. Two great personalities. They make our squad stronger,” he said.
David in action for Canada during the World Cup as he challenges Morocco’s Yassine Boubou [Troy Taormina/Reuters]
Prediction
The Opta supercomputer has made Chelsea the favourites, with a win probability of 49.6 percent. Brighton were given a 26 percent chance of winning, while a draw was estimated at a 24.4 percent likelihood.
Head-to-head
The two clubs have faced each other 28 times, with Chelsea winning 16 games, Brighton winning 7, and five matches ending as draws.
Brighton have won the last four encounters between the two sides, with Chelsea’s last victory in the tie coming back in September 2024.
Last five encounters:
April 21, 2026: Brighton 3-0 Chelsea (Premier League)
September 27, 2025: Chelsea 1-3 Brighton (Premier League)
February 14, 2025: Brighton 3-0 Chelsea (Premier League)
February 08, 2025: Brighton 2-1 Chelsea (FA Cup fourth round)
September 28, 2024: Chelsea 4-2 Brighton (Premier League)
What happened the last time the two clubs met?
Brighton’s Ferdi Kadioglu netted an early opener, and Jack Hinshelwood and Danny Welbeck scored in the second half to pile more misery on floundering Chelsea in a 3-0 Premier League victory back in April.
The result saw Brighton climb above their visitors to sixth in the table, with Chelsea in the midst of a dire run of results that would see them miss out on European football this season.
Kadioglu celebrates scoring his team’s first goal at the Amex Stadium on April 21, 2026 [Warren Little/Getty Images]
Chelsea’s team news
Marco Palestra remains unavailable with an injury, as is Jordan Henderson, who continues to recover from a broken wrist sustained while celebrating England’s last-16 World Cup win over Mexico.
However, Alonso said he was hopeful that key midfielder Moises Caicedo will be fit enough to face his former club, while Levi Colwill and Geovany Quenda are also in contention to play.
Defender Wesley Fofana returns after serving his suspension for a red card on the final day of last season at Sunderland.
Alonso suggested that the unsettled Enzo Fernandez may not feature as he is being linked with a move to Manchester City.
Yankuba Minteh, Kaoru Mitoma, Stefanos Tzimas and Evan Ferguson are all long-term absentees for Brighton.
Jack Hinshelwood and Georginio Rutter are doubts after picking up knocks. If Rutter is unable to feature, then either Charalampos Kostoulas or new loan signing Promise David could start up front.
Chelsea are in talks to sign Atalanta defender Honest Ahanor.
The Blues expressed an interest in the 18-year-old Italian when they signed right-back Marco Palestra from the Serie A side in July.
BBC Sport has been told Atalanta are willing to sell Ahanor if their 40m euro (£34.3m) valuation is met.
Ahanor, who mainly plays at left-back, joined Atalanta from Genoa on a three-year deal last summer for a reported fee of 16m euros, plus 4m euros in add-ons.
He made 28 appearances in Serie A for Atalanta last season, establishing himself as a regular starter for the Italian club. He also made his Champions League debut in a 2-1 win against Club Brugge in September.
In May, he was called up by Italy for friendly matches against Luxembourg and Greece.
Aston Villa are close to an agreement to sign striker Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea in a deal worth up to £65m.
There is a broad agreement between the clubs over the terms of a move for the 25-year-old, with Chelsea set to achieve their asking price with an initial sum of £47.5m with £17.5m in add-ons.
And if the Senegal international agrees personal terms and completes the switch to Villa his arrival is likely to trigger England international Ollie Watkins’ move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.
The deal remains subject to personal terms being agreed, but negotiations are at an advanced stage, with Jackson expected to reunite with Unai Emery having played under the Villa boss at Spanish club Villarreal.
Jackson would become the latest player in Villa’s summer rebuild following the arrivals of record buy Johan Manzambi, midfielder Joao Gomes, goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and defender Matteo Ruggeri.
However, there has also been significant movement out of the club and Watkins leaving would mean they had sold five of the starting XI who won the Europa League in May.
Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa have already left with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez expected to depart too.
Chelsea are weighing up a move for the Argentine, who is now deemed surplus to requirements after Suzuki joined from Parma.
In signing Jackson, Villa would be getting a forward who joined Chelsea from Villarreal for £35m in 2023 and scored 30 goals in 81 appearances.
His most recent appearance for the Blues came against Fluminense in the Club World Cup in 2025, while he also won the Europa Conference League with the club.
He spent last season on loan to Bayern Munich, scoring 11 times in 34 games and helping Bayern win the Bundesliga.
Chelsea banked a £14.3m loan fee from the move, though an obligation to buy for £56.2m was not triggered after Jackson failed to make 40 appearances of 45 minutes or more.
Fellow forward Liam Delap is also likely to leave the Blues, with a £50m fee agreed with Nottingham Forest for the striker.
Meanwhile, the club have also been holding talks with Atalanta’s Honest Ahanor, 18, over a potential move to Stamford Bridge. The defender is valued at £34.3m by the Italian club.
The new series will see how the couple, former Made in Chelsea stars, adapt to family life, returning to work and going on new family adventures
09:11, 26 Aug 2026Updated 09:11, 26 Aug 2026
Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo are returning to Disney+
Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo are returning to Disney+ for a second series of their ‘Raising Chelsea’ series with new faces also joining the show.
Season one, which premiered on Disney+ in April, saw Sophie’s raw journey through pregnancy and the chaotic early days of welcoming their baby boy, Ziggy.
The new series will see how the couple, former Made in Chelsea stars, adapt to family life, returning to work and going on new family adventures.
In a joint statement, Jamie and Sophie said: “We were blown away by the response to the show and are so excited to keep sharing our journey. The experience of working with Disney+ for season one made it easy for us to say yes.
“We’ve always documented our lives over the years and continuing to do this on a bigger scale is just amazing. We hope that fans and viewers carry on enjoying our honesty as we continue to navigate raising Ziggy, together with balancing our family and professional lives. We can’t wait to bring you in more.”
Together with the return of the couple’s mums Penny Baines and Sarah Wigley, the second series will also feature Sophie’s sister Georgia Habboo, and Jamie’s best-friend, Oliver Proudlock.
It is produced by the award-winning production company behind critically acclaimed series ‘Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story’ and the EMMY nominated ‘Pamela, A Love Story.’
Sean Doyle, VP, Unscripted, Disney+ EMEA, said: “We loved Jamie and Sophie’s pregnancy story in season one and meeting baby Ziggy, and we can’t wait to follow their family in season two.”
Disney+ also announced this week that another former Made In Chelsea star will get a new documentary on their streaming platform.
Documentary makers followed Spencer Matthews at the end of 2025 as he took on his greatest challenge yet – seven full distance 140-mile triathlons across all seven continents in just 21 days.
The feature-length documentary has the working title ‘Breaking Spencer Matthews’ and Spencer said: “This challenge has become about far more than completing seven Ironman’s across all seven continents. What began as an extreme physical pursuit has evolved into a journey of self-discovery and transformation that has tested me in ways I could never have anticipated. There were moments of exhaustion, doubt, and struggle where I had to dig deeper than ever before, treading a fine line between one of the greatest adventures imaginable and life-threatening danger.
“I hope this film inspires people to question their own limits and to see that what feels impossible, physically, emotionally, or personally can often be the very thing that transforms us.”
While Palmer and Joao Pedro have generally carried Chelsea‘s biggest attacking threat in recent times, they have now been joined by the impressive Rogers too.
His arrival reunites him with Palmer, an ex-Manchester City team-mate and someone he described after the win at Craven Cottage as his “best friend in football”.
“He had a difficult season with injuries and stuff last year – and you could see it in his eyes in pre-season and training that he’s ready this year and ready to prove people wrong,” added Rogers when asked about Palmer’s display.
“You saw that with that performance. He was the best player on the pitch by a mile and that’s what he does. It’s good to have him on our side.”
Indeed, it was also encouraging how Rogers, whose pre-season was shortened by his involvement in England’s run to third place at the World Cup, looked so fit and powerful.
Rogers is the first Chelsea player to score on his Premier League debut since Christopher Nkunku in 2023 – and the first to create five chances in his first league appearance since records began in 2003-04.
It was also the first time Chelsea supporters sang the new Rogers chant in the away end.
Like Palmer, Joao Pedro missed out on the World Cup – as a high-profile omission from Brazil’s squad – but returned in pre-season with eight goals in seven games.
It was no surprise to see him on the scoresheet so early in the Premier League campaign, having inherited the number nine shirt from Liam Delap, who was left out of the squad on Monday, following the contract extension the Brazilian signed this weekend.
“Great combination, great quality,” Alonso told BBC Match of the Day when asked about his front three.
“We know if we reach them [Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer] in good positions, they have this talent to create special things and I am very happy the three forwards have scored.
“We need to put them in the best situations. I am happy for the three of them. They played for the team.”
Cole Palmer scores a goal and provides an assist as Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers also get on the scoresheet to secure Chelsea’s win over Fulham at Craven Cottage. With both Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa making their Premier League managerial debuts, the Blues hold on against a spirited Fulham to give Alonso a winning start.
Chelsea striker Joao Pedro has signed a new contract running until 2034.
The Brazil international, 24, joined from Brighton last summer in a deal worth an initial £55m, plus £5m in add-ons.
He scored 20 goals in all competitions in his first season at the club, having played a key role in their Club World Cup success.
“I am very happy to sign a new contract with Chelsea,” Joao Pedro said.
“I always dreamed of playing for a big club, and it means a lot to me to give my long-term commitment to this club. Chelsea has a long tradition of winning and it has big ambitions for the future.
“Everyone is very excited for this season. We know we can achieve a lot of things, we have a great team, we have a coach who wants to win and has won already.”
When he signed for the club, his original contract was announced as running until 2033.
However, that deal actually ran until 2032 with an option for one further year.
Chelsea typically include those club options when stating the length of a player’s contract in official announcements.
Therefore, Joao Pedro’s new deal has been announced him as being under contract until 2034, despite the deal itself running until 2032 with a further two-year option.
In reality, Chelsea have extended his contract on improved terms rather than reducing it.
The strategy is not only designed to protect their investment – Barcelona have been keen on the striker – but it also serves as a reward for performance.
Chelsea operate a strict wage structure, but are keen to incentivise strong performances by allowing players to move up wage bands.
They did so with Cole Palmer after his impressive form and also with Nicolas Jackson, who moved from an entry-level salary to a more established wage bracket after joining from Villarreal.
Last season, Joao Pedro became the first Chelsea striker since Diego Costa to score 20 goals in a campaign without taking penalties.
He also netted three times during Chelsea‘s Club World Cup-winning campaign last summer and has eight goals in seven pre-season matches.
He is likely to start Chelsea‘s Premier League opener at Fulham on Monday, with new signings Danny Welbeck and Emmanuel Emegha expected to provide cover this season.
Chelsea intend to hand out a number of new contracts to key players after the transfer window closes, with Levi Colwill and Estevao Willian among those likely to be considered.
