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DONE DEALS
- 1 hours ago
Chelsea make shock Josh Acheampong transfer decision
Cameron Smith
- 2 Feb 2026 12:07 GMT
- 4 min read
News
Chelsea have reportedly turned down a loan offer for Josh Acheampong from Crystal Palace, despite the imminent return of Mamadou Sarr from Strasbourg.
The Blues academy graduate has been heavily linked with a Stamford Bridge exit in recent months and speculation over a departure has ramped up amid his lack of first-team action over the past few weeks.
Current ETV
Josh Acheampong
D (CR)
Chelsea
Josh Acheampong
D (CR)
Chelsea
ETV Range
€19.5M - €23.8M
Acheampong has only played 148 minutes from a possible 630 since the appointment of Liam Rosenior in early January, while he has started just two of the Blues’ last 15 Premier League matches.
The 19-year-old has been touted as a potential signing for the likes of Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool over the past 12 months, while Crystal Palace have emerged as possible suitors amid their pursuit of a replacement for Marc Guehi, who joined Manchester City earlier this window.
However, Chelsea have “rebuffed” a loan approach from Oliver Glasner’s side as they have no intention of allowing Acheampong to depart before the end of Deadline Day, as per The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg.
Josh Acheampong to stay at Chelsea
While Acheampong is regarded as one of the most promising young defenders in European football, he is yet to solidify himself as a first-team regular at Chelsea and consistent football would undoubtedly help his development.
The likes of Reece James, Mason Mount, Levi Colwill, Conor Gallagher, Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori all enjoyed loan spells away from Stamford Bridge before establishing themselves as first-team regulars in west London, but Acheampong is unlikely to follow suit.
That is despite the fact that Chelsea’s centre-back roster is expected to be bolstered by the arrival of Mamadou Sarr, who will be recalled from his loan spell at sister club Strasbourg before the end of Transfer Deadline Day.
Acheampong is set to fall further down the pecking order thanks to Sarr’s return, but Chelsea have surprisingly decided to block a loan exit.
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