How Chelsea could sign Van Hecke, Rogers and Diomande 'for free' this summer

Updated: 9 Jun 2026 10:10 BST | 5 min read

Yan Diomande, Morgan Rogers, Jan Paul van Hecke, Chelsea — © IMAGO

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

Chelsea could sign Jan Paul van Hecke, Morgan Rogers and Yan Diomande ‘for free’ this summer if they sanction a number of sales before the end of Transfer Deadline Day.

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The Blues have been the busiest club in the transfer market since the arrival of BlueCo as their new owners in 2022, and they are set to spend big yet again this year after finishing 10th in the 2025-26 Premier League season.

Current ETV

Jan Paul van Hecke

D (C)

Brighton

Jan Paul van Hecke

D (C)

Brighton

ETV Range

€39.8M - €48.7M

Chelsea will be without European football entirely next campaign and new manager Xabi Alonso will therefore be afforded significant time on the training ground in between matches.

With fewer games on the fixture schedule next season, Chelsea are aware they need to trim down their first-team squad fairly significantly and it’s understood that sales will be prioritised during the early weeks of the summer window.

Deals have already been finalised to sign Geovany Quenda, Emmanuel Emegha, Dastan Satpaev and Denner, while the club have also reached an agreement to sign Strasbourg midfielder Valentin Barco amid concerns over Enzo Fernandez’s long-term future at Stamford Bridge.

Despite this, Chelsea are still eager to sign additional reinforcements and they are currently focused on purchasing a new central defender and a new versatile attacker - with Jan Paul van Hecke and Morgan Rogers both understood to be on their radar.

RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande has also been tentatively linked with a switch to the west London giants, although Liverpool are considered to be the frontrunners, and Chelsea could sign all three players without using any additional money if they are able to utilise the sale market effectively.

© IMAGO - Morgan Rogers is wanted by Chelsea

Who could Chelsea sell this summer?

A number of Chelsea stars are expected to be sold on permanent transfers this summer and if the Blues can earn a fee equivalent to each player’s Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) their budget will be boosted by as much as €315.5 million through sales.

This money could then be used to finalise the signings of Van Hecke (€80m), Rogers (€100m) and Diomande (€120m), who are expected to cost around €300m combined.

Filip Jorgensen and Gabriel Slonina have both asked to leave Chelsea this summer, and the club are expected to finalise agreements for the pair, with Mike Penders set to return to Stamford Bridge following a fruitful loan spell at Strasbourg.

Tosin Adarabioyi is currently expected to stay, but Chelsea could perform a u-turn regarding his future, while Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi are set to depart permanently. Caleb Wiley could also be sold without playing for the club.

In attack, Alejandro Garnacho and Liam Delap may leave after just one season, while Chelsea are eager to sell Tyrique George and David Datro Fofana after loan spells away from the club last term.

Pedro Neto, meanwhile, is fairly unlikely to be sold on a permanent deal, but if offloading him can help Chelsea sign Rogers and Diomande, the club would likely consider offers, especially as they already have Estevao Willian, Jamie Gittens and Quenda at their disposal.

Marc Guiu may leave if Chelsea decide to keep Nicolas Jackson.

Chelsea’s 2026-27 squad with Van Hecke, Rogers and Diomande

Goalkeepers: Robert Sanchez, Mike Penders, Teddy Sharman-Lowe.

Defenders: Reece James, Malo Gusto, Jan Paul van Hecke, Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah, Josh Acheampong, Wesley Fofana, Jorrel Hato, Marc Cucurella.

Midfielders: Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Andrey Santos, Valentin Barco, Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo.

Forwards: Cole Palmer, Estevao Willian, Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers, Geovany Quenda, Jamie Gittens, Nicolas Jackson, Emmanuel Emegha, Yan Diomande.

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