Chelsea Eye £80m Transfers with Release Clauses Ahead of Club World Cup Shake-Up
Chelsea Target Major Transfers as Club World Cup Looms
Chelsea aren't wasting time. With the 2025 Club World Cup on the horizon, the club is looking to shake things up with a serious transfer splash that could set them back £80m—maybe even more. The hunt is on for new talent, and the list is already getting interesting: Liam Delap and Dean Huijsen are firmly on the radar, both with release clauses that could be triggered by the Blues any day now. Delap’s specific buyout figure hasn’t been revealed, but with Huijsen’s set at £50m, the combined outlay for both could easily hit that hefty £80m mark.
The push for fresh faces is all part of a bigger picture. Chelsea want to bulk up their squad—not just for a standard Premier League grind—but to show up strong at the new, expanded Club World Cup. Owners and fans alike understand that the club can’t head into the tournament relying on depth alone. Competition will be fierce, the schedule unforgiving, and there are major holes to fill, especially with veteran leadership like Thiago Silva gone.
Tomas Araujo in the Spotlight—and Intense Competition
The real sticking point? Benfica center-back Tomas Araujo. He’s maybe the most in-demand of the bunch, largely because Chelsea’s defensive line looked shaky at times last season. Benfica have made their stance clear: pay the full €80m release clause or look elsewhere. No discounts, no negotiating. Real Madrid are also sniffing around, but Chelsea’s direct need may give them added motivation. Araujo’s game speaks for itself—he already has one international cap for Portugal and managed a goal in his 40 appearances this year, showing he’s comfortable under pressure.
Dean Huijsen, meanwhile, is drawing attention as the younger, possibly more flexible option. At just 19, he’s already proven he belongs at a higher level, and Chelsea would love to secure him for their long-term project, especially at that £50m price tag.
Then there’s Liam Delap, a forward more known for his raw finishing and high work rate—a type of striker Chelsea has lacked since poaching young talent like Nicolas Jackson. Delap is still developing, but with Chelsea looking to invest big, his contract’s buyout could quickly become a talking point as summer heats up.
Expect some familiar faces to be heading out of Stamford Bridge too. The club is planning to part ways with 7-8 players, which could include Axel Disasi, Trevoh Chalobah, and Renato Veiga. The idea is to recycle funds and rejuvenate the squad, bringing in fellows who fit the current vision. New boss Enzo Maresca has already pinpointed high-priority areas: a new striker, a center-back, and a right-footed attacker are non-negotiables. All these moves are designed to not only fill gaps left by departures—most notably Thiago Silva—but also to elevate Chelsea to a squad that can take on the world’s best in a tournament setting. The pressure is on, and the transfer window could be their lifeline.