MX23RW : Monday, November 18 16:35:17| >> :60:62:62:

Chelsea expiring contracts: Who is free to leave next summer and in 2026?

Sports Mole rounds up all of Chelsea's expiring contracts for this season and next.

Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have made a habit of handing long-term contracts to as many players as possible since their arrival in 2022.

However, there have been squad members who have not been presented with extended deals, some more surprising than not.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at the players whose contracts either expire in 2025 or 2026.


Which Chelsea players are out of contract in 2026?

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga during the warm up  on April 4, 2022© Reuters

Age: 29
Position: Goalkeeper
Transfer value: £10.2m
Joined: August 8, 2018
Joining fee: £71.6m
Chelsea appearances: 163
Chelsea clean sheets: 59

Honours

  • Champions League (2): 2020-21, 2023-24

  • Europa League (1): 2018-19

  • FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2021

  • UEFA Super Cup (1): 2021

  • La Liga (1): 2023-24

  • Supercopa de Espana (1): 2023-24

  • UEFA Nations League (1): 2022-23
  • Kepa Arrizabalaga had hoped that a season-long loan switch to Real Madrid would ultimately lead to a permanent switch to the Bernabeu.

    However, losing his place midway through the season led to the Spain international returning to his parent club ahead of an eventual loan switch to Bournemouth.


    Alfie Gilchrist

    Chelsea's Alfie Gilchrist pictured in January 2024© Reuters

    Age: 20
    Position: Defender
    Transfer value: £4.25m
    Joined: 2014
    Joining fee: Academy graduate
    Chelsea appearances: 17
    Chelsea goals: 1

    Honours

    No silverware won.


    Up until December, Alfie Gilchrist had not made a single appearance as a professional, yet the academy graduate would prove to be a valuable squad member during the second half of the campaign.

    Although Chelsea officials have agreed a new contract with the versatile defender, he has made the temporary switch to Championship side Sheffield United.


    Marcus Bettinelli

    Chelsea's Marcus Bettinelli in action as he makes his debut on January 8, 2022© Reuters

    Age: 32
    Position: Goalkeeper
    Transfer value: £850,000
    Joined: 2021
    Joining fee: Free
    Chelsea appearances: 1
    Chelsea clean sheets: 0

    Honours

  • FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2021

  • Championship playoffs (2): 2018, 2020

  • Marcus Bettinelli has spent the last three years as the perfect clubman at Chelsea, acting as third-choice goalkeeper with minimal fuss.

    The 31-year-old may, at some stage, want first-team football elsewhere, but for now, another campaign in his current role appears to be more likely than not.


    Josh Acheampong

    Chelsea defender Josh Acheampong in August 2024.© Imago

    Age: 18
    Position: Defender
    Transfer value: £10m
    Joined: 2014
    Joining fee: Academy
    Chelsea appearances: 2
    Chelsea clean sheets: 0

    Honours

    No silverware won.


    Having made his first-team debut against Tottenham Hotspur in May, Josh Acheampong is viewed as a potential first-team star by the powers-that-be at Chelsea.

    However, the 18-year-old will not make another senior appearance unless he agrees to extend his contract past the end of next season.


    ID:544771:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6104:
    Collect / Create New Data
    Share this article now:
    Omari Hutchinson celebrates scoring their third goal April 27, 2024
    Read Next:
    Club-record deal confirmed: Chelsea announce £22m sale of 20-year-old
    >
    Sports Mole Logo
    Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
    rhs 2.0
    Today's games header
    Tables header RHS
    TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
    1Liverpool119112161528
    2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
    3Chelsea115422113819
    4Arsenal115421812619
    5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
    6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
    7Fulham115331613318
    8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
    9Aston Villa115331717018
    10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
    11Brentford115152222016
    12Bournemouth114341515015
    13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
    14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
    15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
    16Everton112451017-710
    17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
    18Crystal Palace11146815-77
    19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
    20Southampton11119721-144


    Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
    Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!