After signing Morgan Rogers, Chelsea want another England star from 2026 FIFA World Cup squad to join them: Reports

Chelsea are reportedly eyeing a move for England defender John Stones as they look to bolster their defensive options ahead of the 2026-27 season.

The Blues have been active in the summer transfer window and recently completed the signing of Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for a reported £117 million. Xabi Alonso is still keen on strengthening major areas in the squad, especially in defence where the Stamford Bridge side has struggled in recent seasons.

Chelsea have been strongly linked with a move for France and Crystal Palace star Maxence Lacroix. However, while both clubs are yet to agree on a transfer fee for the Frenchman, the west London club have turned to other options.

According to Chelsea Chronicles (via The Athletic), the Blues have added former Manchester City star John Stones to their shortlist. Stones, 32, is currently a free agent following the expiration of his contract with City at the end of the 2025-26 season.

The English centre-back has struggled with injury in the past couple of seasons, and managed only 18 appearances across competitions in the 2025-26 season. However, he made England’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, registering five appearances as the Three Lions reached the semi-final.

Stones’ wealth of experience playing in the Premier League makes him an ideal option for Chelsea. The Englishman recorded 295 appearances for City, winning six league titles, including the treble in 2023.

Under Todd Boehly and the Newco consortium, the Blues have invested heavily in younger talent. However, a short term contract with Stones will bring a blend of youth and experience to the team as they look to rebuild under new manager Alonso.

Chelsea 2026 pre-season schedule

Chelsea will begin life under Xabi Alonso with pre-season activities in Australia and Asia. The Spanish manager assumed his role at the club at the start of July and has been working at the club’s Cobham facility with players who didn’t feature at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Blues defeated Crawley Town 3-1 in a closed-door friendly on July 18, and are set to play Bromley in another closed-door match on July 23. However, they commence their pre-season proper in Australia with games against Western Sydney (July 28) and London rivals Tottenham (August 1).

After that comes a trip to Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia, where they will take on Juventus(August 5), AC Milan (August 8) and Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta’zim (August 9), respectively.