Chelsea agree summer deal as Maresca faces transfer problem

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 20 Jun 2025 03:20 CDT
• 4 min read

News

Chelsea have reportedly agreed a deal to send Caleb Wiley back to Watford on loan for the duration of the 2025-26 campaign.

The 20-year-old, who signed for Chelsea from Atlanta for €10.1 million last summer, joined Watford on a short-term deal in February, following a failed temporary move to Strasbourg, and he caught the eye during his time at Vicarage Road.

Current ETV

Caleb Ryan Wiley

D, M (L)

Watford

Caleb Ryan Wiley

D, M (L)

Watford

€12.1M

ETV Range

€10.9M - €13.3M

View full profile

Wiley only amassed 10 appearances for the Hornets due to a shoulder injury suffered during his time at Strasbourg, however he impressed the Watford hierarchy and a return to the club is now on the verge of being confirmed.

That is according to Sky Italia transfer reporter Luca Bendoni, who has revealed that an agreement has been reached between Chelsea and Watford over a season-long loan deal.

The Athletic have also confirmed that Wiley will return to Vicarage Road on a temporary basis, with only the paperwork left to go through.

The United States of America international will become Watford’s fourth signing of the summer so far, and he will also become the fourth first-team player to leave Chelsea since the window opened on 1 June - following the exits of Bashir Humphreys, Marcus Bettinelli and Lucas Bergstrom.

Chelsea’s transfer problem

News of Wiley’s imminent loan move to Watford could cause a transfer headache for Enzo Maresca. Although the American is yet to make his senior Chelsea debut, his temporary departure may force the Blues to sign a new left-back this summer.

Renato Veiga and Ben Chilwell were both excluded from Chelsea’s squad for the 2025 Club World Cup and they are expected to leave Stamford Bridge on a permanent deal this summer following loan moves away in January.

However, if Wiley, Veiga and Chilwell all depart, it will leave Marc Cucurella as the only senior left-back available to Maresca.

Ishe Samuels-Smith is a talented defender currently excelling for Chelsea’s U21 side, but he is yet to make his first-team debut, and with Champions League football to contend with this season, Maresca will likely need to sanction the signing of a new left-back.

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