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Welbeck signs for Chelsea
Chelsea completed the signing of Danny Welbeck from Brighton & Hove Albion on a two-year contract, with the 35-year-old set to join Xabi Alonso’s squad for their pre-season tour.
“Chelsea have signed Brighton’s veteran striker Danny Welbeck in a deal worth a reported £5m”
Welbeck said, "El interés de Chelsea es un motivo de gran orgullo para mí," and added, "es un club que aspira a ganar títulos y trabaja arduamente por ello cada temporada" as he described the move.
The New York Times said Welbeck was under contract with Brighton until next summer but the south-coast club agreed to let him join Chelsea for an undisclosed fee.
The Guardian reported the deal is worth a reported £5m and that Welbeck will link up with Alonso’s squad on their pre-season tour.
Cadena 3 Argentina reported Welbeck will travel directly to Hong Kong to join Chelsea during the pre-season tour.
Quotes and tour plans
Welbeck framed the move in terms of Chelsea’s history, telling club media, "When you hear of the interest from Chelsea, it’s something that fills you with such immense pride."
He also said, "I’m really honoured to come to a club of this stature at what feels like a really exciting time," as he described having "fantastic conversations" with the manager.
ESPN said the move was a surprise because Chelsea, since the BlueCo takeover in 2022, largely pursued a transfer policy that has prioritised youth and players under the age of 25.
Sky Sports reported that Welbeck, 35, joins as Xabi Alonso seeks to bring veteran leadership to Stamford Bridge, and noted that the last time Chelsea paid a transfer fee for a player over the age of 26 was four years ago for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Barcelona.
The Guardian said Alonso opted for Welbeck after Brighton’s campaign, and it linked the signing to Alonso adding experience after last season’s disappointing 10th-place finish in the Premier League.
What it means for Chelsea
The Guardian said Welbeck’s arrival in west London will raise questions about the future of Chelsea striker Liam Delap, who signed from Ipswich last season, as well as fellow forwards Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu.
“Welbeck’s arrival in west London will raise questions about the future of Chelsea striker Liam Delap”
Sky Sports said the move adds to Chelsea’s summer recruitment that includes Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £117m and Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace, and it said it would place further doubt on the futures of Nicolas Jackson, Liam Delap and Marc Guiu.
Cadena 3 Argentina said Welbeck has played 42 matches with the England selection and has played 400 Premier League matches, while also noting he has experience in the Liga de Campeones and participated in two editions of the Copa del Mundo.
The Guardian reported Welbeck scored 13 goals in 37 Premier League games last term after netting 10 times in 2024-25, and it said he has 42 caps for England.
The Guardian also reported that Brentford completed a record Sangaré deal, signing Mamadou Sangaré from Lens for a club-record fee reported to be £39m on a five-year contract with an option to extend for another year.
