Chelsea masterclass as Premier League rivals fund Garnacho signing

Tom Weber
Tom Weber
  • Updated: 9 Aug 2025 13:34 BST
  • 4 min read
Alejandro Garnacho, Chelsea
© IMAGO

Burnley have singlehandedly funded Chelsea's next signing by raiding the Blues' 'Bomb Squad' this summer.

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Chelsea have made a habit of tumultuous transfer windows since the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital takeover in 2022, making headlines with a frankly ridiculous amount of player turnover.

In three years under Boehly, Chelsea have made more transfers than many Premier League clubs have in the past decade, and this trend has continued this summer.

Compared
Player image Alejandro Garnacho
Alejandro Garnacho

AM (C)

Alejandro Garnacho
Alejandro Garnacho

AM (C)

Man Utd

Man Utd

VS

Player image Xavi Simons
Xavi Simons

M (L), AM (C)

RB Leipzig logo

RB Leipzig

Xavi Simons
Xavi Simons

M (L), AM (C)

RB Leipzig

RB Leipzig

€59.8M

ETV

€67.5M

€53.8M - €65.8M ETV Range €60.7M - €74.2M
21 years old (01 Jul, 2004) Age 22 years old (21 Apr, 2003)
Argentina Argentina
Nationality
Netherlands Netherlands

Eight players have been signed, and at least three more arrivals are in the works. Chelsea are currently negotiating deals for Man Utd winger Alejandro Garnacho and RB Leipzig attacker Xavi Simons. Moreover, Enzo Maresca wants a new centre-back after Levi Colwill's ACL injury.

Close to €280 million has been spent this summer, so naturally, there is also a need for outgoings. 11 faces have already departed permanently, but there are still more members of the 'Bomb Squad.'

Burnley fund Chelsea's business

In one of the more interesting and bizarre turns of this summer window, three of Chelsea's 'Bomb Squad' members have joined the same club, with Burnley completing deals for perennial loanee Bashir Humphreys, midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu and striker Armando Broja.

Humphreys cost the Clarets €14m, while Broja joined in a deal worth up to €23m. Most expensive of all has been Ugochukwu, who has commanded a whopping €28.7m.

Armando Broja last played for Chelsea in 2023/24
© IMAGO - Armando Broja last played for Chelsea in 2023/24

Honestly, this is incredible business by Chelsea as all three had become forgotten men at Stamford Bridge. Humphreys leaves with two senior appearances to his name, Broja last played for the Blues in January 2024 and Ugochukwu in May of that year.

The €65.7m raised from these three deals alone is easily enough to fund Chelsea's next signing. Garnacho is expected to cost €50m-€60m, while Simons' asking price is €70m, although the Blues feel that they can get him for cheaper.

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