Chelsea has officially signed Danny Welbeck from Brighton, as confirmed by the club.
This transfer comes as a surprise, considering Welbeck’s age of 35, especially since Chelsea has focused on acquiring younger talents under the age of 25 since the BlueCo takeover in 2022.
New head coach Xabi Alonso has emphasized the need for greater “balance” within the squad during preseason.
In the recent match against Western Sydney Wanderers, the oldest starting player was merely 23 years old.
“Hearing about Chelsea’s interest is a tremendous honor,” said Welbeck to the club’s media. “Chelsea has a rich history of striving for trophies every season, and I’m proud to join such a prestigious club at an exciting time.”
“I’m familiar with some of the players and have had great discussions with the manager, already feeling a strong connection. I’m ready to give my all for Chelsea and make the fans proud.”
Welbeck is the latest addition to Alonso’s Chelsea roster this summer.
Other new faces include Morgan Rogers, who moved from Aston Villa in a record transfer, Marco Palestra, and Geovany Quenda.
The former Arsenal and Manchester United forward netted 13 Premier League goals in 37 appearances for Brighton last season.
Chelsea is also reportedly pursuing a deal for Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson.