Inside Chelsea's pre-season plans as Enzo Maresca sets Cobham return date

Chelsea players are currently on a short break after an 11-month season that concluded with their Club World Cup victory on July 13. Manager Enzo Maresca granted the squad three weeks off, with players scheduled to return to Cobham training base around the week commencing August 4 to prepare for the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.

The Blues will play two warm-up matches at Stamford Bridge during the VisitMalta Weekender (August 8-10) against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan. These fixtures offer debut opportunities for new signings Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Dario Essugo, and Estevao Willian, who joined during the U.S. tour.

Chelsea's competitive season opens with a Premier League home match against Crystal Palace on August 17. The club remains active in the transfer market, negotiating for Dutch players Jorrel Hato (Ajax) and Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig), while finalizing departures including Axel Disasi, Joao Felix, Christopher Nkunku, Djordje Petrovic, and Noni Madueke to streamline the squad.