Over the last few decades, Stamford Bridge has undergone several significant changes. Some have been forced upon the club by outside sources, such as the resignation of Roman Abramovich. Others have been the result of extensive squad changes, some of which have seen players like Kevin De Bruyne and Mo Salah slip through the cracks.
Over the last few years, Todd Boehly has made a concerted effort to bring in a few Hollywood signings. While some have been successful, others have not. However, if Enzo can get a tune out of the recruits this summer, some pundits think that Chelsea could be dark horses this season.
What are the Sportsbooks Saying?
Sports betting companies have been bolstering their outright markets over the past few years. As betting becomes a more international market, gambling platforms have made it their mission to expand into as many outright markets as they can.
This includes title-winning odds, relegation odds, top scorer, and a multitude of other markets. The Premier League relegation odds often change significantly throughout the course of the season, and for betting companies, relegation odds are some of the most complex markets to predict accurately. It’s essential to stay up to date with the latest relegation odds. If you’re placing a bet, be sure to find the Premier League relegation odds before taking action.
Given that there are so many variables involved, ranging from injuries, suspensions, and managerial changes to the type of momentum they can pick up. Obviously, Chelsea won’t be in the relegation zone or in any sort of trouble at the end of the season. However, from an outright market perspective, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City are still the three main frontrunners for the title.
25/26 Could be a Pivotal Season for Chelsea
It’s fair to say that the transfer policy at Chelsea since Boehly arrived has been pretty hectic. The £42.5 million that Chelsea paid for Cole Palmer in September 2023 seemed like an enormous price tag at the time.
However, the young Englishman has become so pivotal in Chelsea’s team that he is easily worth double that now. If Chelsea had a few more signings of that quality, then there’s a solid chance they could improve on their 4th place finish from last year.
It’s unlikely that any of the names that have been brought into Stamford Bridge this summer are going to have the same impact that Palmer has had. Four of the ten highest transfer net spends have occurred at Chelsea. They’ve all been since the start of this decade, too. While the team has been moving in the right direction, the conveyor belt of managers is never healthy for any club. With players and managers consistently changing, this creates uncertainty and fails to contribute to a collegial atmosphere that can breed success.
The level of money spent has not been reflected in the performances on the pitch. Because of this, the new signings from the summer transfer window must be able to hit the ground running and thrust Chelsea into title contention.
Exploring the New Summer Signings
Estêvão, Jamie Gittens, and Alejandro Garnacho are three excellent attacking talents that could cause a positive shift in momentum. However, with all three players causing an eye-watering sum of close to £150 million, there is also tremendous pressure on their shoulders to perform.
Welcome to the World Champions, Estevao! ✨🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/XzS6yjKEo3
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 5, 2025
Nobody at the Bridge wants a repeat of Mudryk or Morata. However, in defence of Morata, we did recoup the majority of that huge initial transfer fee. Ideally, we want these players to stay and build a legacy at Chelsea. Most importantly, we want to ensure that they actually want to play for the club.
João Pedro was the landmark signing this year, and while it might not have been met with the sort of fanfare we’ve seen over the years for the likes of Palmer and Mudryk, early indications are good. The ex-Brighton striker looks promising and well-suited to life at Stamford Bridge. He had an excellent pre-season and has taken this form into the new Premier League campaign.
Taking the Initiative
For all too long, Chelsea has been a step behind the likes of Liverpool and City, especially in recent memory. One thing that the new attacking talents all have in common is that they are all 23 years old or younger. Some critics have stated that this could point to a lack of experience that could cost them in the crunch games this season.
If you’re more optimistic like me, you’ll appreciate that talented players within this age bracket often play with a freedom and flair that is missing from a lot of modern football. Is this something that will eventually lead to a Premier League title? Only time will tell.
Knee-jerk reactions and expensive, poor signings marred Boehly’s initial takeover. However, as is always the case in football, it takes time and multiple transfer windows to implement your footballing philosophy.
Hopefully, if Enzo is given the rest of the season to implement his philosophy, then this could shift the trio that has crystallised at the top of the Premier League over the last few years. We could see Arsenal, City and Liverpool dominating the title races.
Final Thoughts
It is hard to predict how Chelsea’s new signings could shift the Premier League scene. Arsenal and Liverpool are the benchmarks they’re trying to catch, and they have both added some serious quality to their squad over the summer.
It’s all about the players being able to gel and implement Enzo’s style and techniques. It doesn’t matter if they have broken their transfer record or if they are players that have been brought in for pennies. We saw it at PSG, as soon as they got rid of their big-name signings, they brought in a core of players who all pulled their weight, and it resulted in them winning their first-ever Champions League.
The early signs are good, and as long as Chelsea’s new signings can stay away from the treatment room and maintain their form, then they could be potential dark horses this year.