{"id":21061,"date":"2026-07-24T20:23:04","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T20:23:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=21061"},"modified":"2026-07-24T20:23:04","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T20:23:04","slug":"chelsea-confirm-squad-for-pre-season-tour-as-xabi-alonso-dealt-fresh-injury-blow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=21061","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea confirm squad for pre-season tour as Xabi Alonso dealt fresh injury blow"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_9f853e\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Xabi Alonso and his Chelsea squad are making the trip to Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\">11:36, 24 Jul 2026<\/span><span class=\"ArticleTimestamp_updated-date__7qD4Q ArticleTimestamp_updated-date-with-published__iFKpF\" data-testid=\"byline-updatedDate\">Updated 11:53, 24 Jul 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"34344469\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Manager Xabi Alonso of Chelsea\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article34344469.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2285443303.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article34344469.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_GettyImages-2285443303.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article34344469.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_GettyImages-2285443303.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article34344469.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2285443303.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Manager Xabi Alonso of Chelsea (Photo by Darren Walsh\/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Manager Xabi Alonso of Chelsea (Photo by Darren Walsh\/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Chelsea have confirmed their travelling squad for the pre-season tour ahead of the 2026\/27 season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">With Xabi Alonso at the helm, the Blues make the trip across the other side of the world to begin a four-country tour of Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia. On Friday, Chelsea announced 27 players are part of the travelling party.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Emmanuel Emegha is not among those travelling, however, after the forward picked up a hamstring injury in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Bromley on Thursday. Geovany Quenda has also picked up a minor injury, it&#8217;s understood, and has stayed at Cobham to recover.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Today&#8217;s travelling party includes summer signing Marco Palestra, and several players who have come through the Blues&#8217; Academy at Cobham,&#8221; Chelsea said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Several other first-team players are expected to join the Blues squad during the tour. Information as to when they report will be confirmed on club channels.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">FOLLOW OUR CHELSEA FB PAGE! Latest Blues news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Those making the trip are due to arrive in Sydney on Saturday and there will be an open training session at 9am UK time on Sunday at Allianz Stadium. The west Londoners will then play their first game against Western Sydney on Tuesday, July 28.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Games against Tottenham (Saturday, August 1), Juventus (Wednesday, August 5), AC Milan (Saturday, August 8) and Johor Darul Ta&#8217;zim (Sunday, August 9) follow before Alonso and his team return to the UK.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Once the Blues arrive back in London, Alonso will get one last chance to look at his players as they take on Real Sociedad on Saturday, August 15. The game will also be the first time Alonso manages his side at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Premier League season will then kick-off the following week with Chelsea travelling to Fulham on Monday, August 24.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"HeadingThree_heading-three__PBHLs  __className_66a192\">Chelsea squad in full<\/h3>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Goalkeepers: <\/strong>Filip Jorgensen, Robert Sanchez, Ted Curd, Teddy Sharman-Lowe<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Defenders: <\/strong>Josh Acheampong, Tosin Adarabioyo, Aaron Anselmino, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Jorrel Hato, Marco Palestra, Mamadou Sarr, Tayo Subuloye<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Midfielders: <\/strong>Landon Emenalo, Dario Essugo, Omari Kellyman, Romeo Lavia, Madhi Nicoll-Jazuli, Reggie Walsh, Reggie Watson<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Forwards:<\/strong> Cole Palmer, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, Joao Pedro, Dastan Satpeyev, Estevao Willian<\/p>\n<aside class=\"Factbox_factbox-container__hSMOa\" id=\"factbox\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Entering Factbox content\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"29214132\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"factbox\" data-testid=\"factbox\">\n<h3 class=\"HeadingThree_heading-three__PBHLs Factbox_heading-three__NXU52 __className_66a192\">Sign up for Chelsea news direct to your email inbox<\/h3>\n<div class=\"Factbox_content__xdMV8\">\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Chelsea face a crucial summer transfer window with Xabi Alonso now at the helm and you can stay up to date with every breaking news story, opinion and more&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">And by signing up to our newsletter here, you&#8217;ll make sure you receive the best Blues content including news, rumours, articles and fan opinions &#8211; direct into your inbox and <strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">all for free!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">We also want to hear from<strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"> <em>you.<\/em><\/strong>  Create an account here in just a few moments, so you can have your say on all things Chelsea, join the debate and take part in exclusive Q&#038;As as well.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Xabi Alonso and his Chelsea squad are making the trip to Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17617,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21061","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21061","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=21061"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21061\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/17617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=21061"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=21061"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=21061"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}