Detailed Chelsea Season Preview: Insights and Predictions

Where Did Chelsea Finish Last Season?

CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD. pic.twitter.com/wWUEoi25Ov

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 13, 2025

Though they finished fourth place, and qualified for the Champions League for the first time since 2022, Chelsea had a rollercoaster 2024/25 season that looked set to fall short of European football completely at one stage.

A rapid start to the season under new coach Enzo Maresca quickly earned them the tag of title contenders - at one stage, the Blues sat just a point behind leaders Liverpool. However, their form dipped during the hectic festive period; between December 22nd and February 22nd, Chelsea managed just two wins from 10 league fixtures, with five of these ending in defeat to the likes of Ipswich, Fulham, and Brighton.

However, Maresca managed to arrest their mid-season slump and brought them back to a competitive level, and by the end of May, the West London Club had won eight of their last nine competitive games of the season to seal Champions League football on the final day of the season.

Three days later, they conquered Real Betis 4-1 in the Conference League Final to become the first side ever to win all three major European trophies. And best of all, just a after their Conference success, a revamped Chelsea side, sprinkled with new signings, went on a remarkable run to the Club World Cup final, where they completely dismantled European champions PSG to become the first ever club given the moniker "Champions of the World".

Best Result: Wolves 2-6 Chelsea (Cunha 27’, Strand Larsen 45+6’; Jackson 2’, Palmer 45’, Madueke 49’, 58’, 63’, Felix 80’)

Worst Result: Brighton 3-0 Chelsea (Mitoma 27’, Minteh 38’, 63’)

Who Have Chelsea Signed in the Summer Transfer Window So Far?

Joao Pedro from Brighton - £55 Million + £5 Million Add Ons

Beach to the Bridge. Joao Pedro is here! 🏖️ pic.twitter.com/wT3RUNLnUS

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 2, 2025

Jamie Bynoe-Gittens from Borussia Dortmund - £48.5 Million + £3.5 Million Add Ons

Willian Estavao from Palmeiras - £34 Million + £21 Million Add Ons - Agreed in 2024

Liam Delap from Ipswich Town - £30 Million

Dario Essugo from Sporting CP - £19 Million

Mamadou Sarr from RC Strasbourg Alsace - £12 Million

Kendry Paez from Independiente Del Valle - £8.5 Million + £8.5 Million Add Ons - Agreed in 2024

Who Have Chelsea Sold in the Summer Transfer Window So Far?

Noni Madueke to Arsenal - £48 Million + £4 Million Add Ons

🚨🩺 Noni Madueke has returned to England from the US with medical tests to follow as new Arsenal player.

All documents are ready between clubs after £52m package deal agreed on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/2o2V4PFLoQ

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 12, 2025

Djordje Petrovic to AFC Bournemouth - £25 Million

Bashir Humphrys to Burnley - Loan made permanent for £12 Million + 2.7 Million Add Ons

Kepa Arrizabalaga to Arsenal - £5 Million

Marcus Bettinelli to Manchester City - £2 Million

Jadon Sancho to Manchester United - End of Loan Deal

Dylan Williams to Burton Albion - Free Transfer

Zak Sturge to Millwall - Undisclosed Fee

Teddy Sarman-Lowe to Bolton Wanderers - Season long loan

Lucas Bergstrom - Released

Eddie Beach - Released

Chelsea 2025/26 Home, Away and Third Kits

THE 2025/26 CHELSEA HOME KIT 💙🥶 pic.twitter.com/HQK0tKAZQs

— Chelsea Photos (@ChelseaInPhotos) May 16, 2025

🚨 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Chelsea have dropped their new away kit for next season and it's a BANGER. 🥶🥶 pic.twitter.com/WOqtLFf01S

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) June 12, 2025

No third kit confirmed

What is Chelsea’s Opening Premier League Fixture?

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace | Stamford Bridge, London | Sunday, August 17th, 14:00

How Can I Watch Chelsea vs Crystal Palace?

Chelsea’s opening clash with Palace will be broadcasted on Sky Sports. As of the time of writing, it is unclear which Sky channel the game will be shown on, but it is likely to air on either Sky Sports Main Event or Sky Sports Premier League.

What Are Chelsea’s Opening Five Fixtures?

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace - Sunday, August 17th.

West Ham United vs Chelsea - Friday, August 22nd.

Chelsea vs Fulham - Saturday, August 30th.

Brentford vs Chelsea - TBC.

Manchester United vs Chelsea - TBC.

When Do Chelsea Play Rivals Tottenham in 2025/26?

One of Chelsea’s many London derbies - all of Chelsea’s first four league games take place in their home city - their clashes with Tottenham always possess a little bit of extra bite. With goals flowing freely in this fixture in recent years, fans are guaranteed excitement and no shortage of spice.

Tottenham vs Chelsea - TBC.

Chelsea vs Tottenham - TBC.

Last Five Meetings:

- 03/04/2025: Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham.

- 08/12/2024: Tottenham 3-4 Chelsea.

- 02/05/2024: Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham.

- 06/11/2023: Tottenham 1-4 Chelsea.

- 26/02/2023: Tottenham 2-0 Chelsea.

Who is Chelsea’s Manager for 2025/26?

🔵🇮🇹 Enzo Maresca on his first season as Chelsea manager…

🏆 FIFA Club World Cup winner.
🏆 Conference League winner.
🎟️ Champions League spot.

Excellent impact. #CFC pic.twitter.com/x7hbKxW0nV

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 13, 2025

Coming in from Championship winners Leicester before the start of last season, Italian national and Pep Guardiola’s former assistant Enzo Maresca looks set to become the first Chelsea manager to take the helm in more than one season since Thomas Tuchel, way back in 2022.

Bucking the trend of the one season curse at Chelsea is no easy task - great managers, including Pochettino, Andre Villas-Boas, Luiz Filipe Scolari and Maurizio Sarri all failed to manage in two separate seasons - but it appears this Chelsea side is starting to operate slightly differently to Blue’s teams of the past.

Focusing on youth recruitment, the five time Premier League champions are bang in the middle of a rebuilding process, one which started after the catastrophic events of Graham Potter’s time in charge. Maresca is absolutely central to this gradual rebuild - though on occasions he was booed by his own fans for some tentative, and often overly-careful play, he was still able to grind out results, and with the club making serious moves in the transfer market this summer, Maresca will have plenty of opportunity to tweak and his tactical style this season.

The Club World Cup triumph was an indicator of how far the coach and his side had come since his arrival - at the start of the season, not even the hardiest Chelsea fan would have touted their side as World Champions - and yet, here we stand. Maresca, with more than a little tactical flexibility, showed the world that they must be ready for "Maresca-ball" in years to come.

Who is Chelsea’s Player to Watch?

Cole Palmer

After a dream full debut in the semi-finals, this spot was going to go to Joao Pedro - when was the last time a Chelsea striker netted two in their first start for the club? However, Cole Palmer's Player of the Tournament winning masterclass against PSG put my head back on straight.

That fake pass from Cole Palmer, and the finish. Incredible. 🪄🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿pic.twitter.com/uMHeclXGZC

— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) July 14, 2025

The kid is just so good. Until his goal against Palmeiras in the quarterfinals, Plamer hadn't scored an open play goal since mid-January, against Bournemouth. For context, that is a streak of 26 competitive matches (the longest barren run of his career), with just one goal to show for it - a penalty against Liverpool. However, throughout his dry spell in front of goal, Palmer somehow always looked like the main man, and would still attempt daring passes and audacious efforts on goal.

At the Club World Cup, everything seemed to click back into place again, and his two goals in the final against the Champions of Europe were typically Cole Palmer-esque. Both were passed along the ground into the far corner, leaving Gianluigi Donnarumma sprawling, and his assist for Chelsea's third was equally precise. At his full, flowing best, Palmer is one of the best players on the planet, and there are very few who relish the prospect of facing him.

Chelsea 2025/26 Season Prediction

This section will be completed at the start of August, when the team has started to take a more accurate shape following various incomings and outgoings.