We are 10 games into the 2026/27 Premier League campaign, which represents just over a quarter of the season, so it is still early days. However, with the final international window of the year upon us, it seems like a good time to take stock and assess how Chelsea have performed thus far.
It’s fair to say that a batch of 10 league fixtures represents a small sample size, even with three EFL Cup games thrown in, especially as there was a decent amount of rotation in those League Cup matches. Nonetheless, with the Blues not in action until they host Leeds United on the 21st of November, let’s take a look at whether or not the club, and their new boss Xabi Alonso, have lived up to expectations.
Change of Strategy in Transfer Window
An exciting and very interesting transfer window saw Chelsea change their strategy in the market. Having long targeted very young players with a view to future sell-on value, the club brought in three players in their 30s, as well as a number of Premier League-ready stars.
Emi Martinez. ⚽️🧤 https://t.co/PRy1D26JAe
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 30, 2026
They spent over €400m according to data from Transfermarkt, with Morgan Rogers purchased from Aston Villa being the marquee signing. The England attacker cost £117m and became the most expensive British player ever at that time.
Perhaps just as important were the additions of Maxence Lacroix from Palace and Emi Martinez, the latter for a bargain £7.5m fee. Fans felt both would fix longstanding weaknesses in key defensive positions. The most left-field additions were Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck, now 36 and 35 respectively. Quite how much game time both were expecting we don’t know, but it was felt that, along with Martinez, they could bring experience, both generally and of winning, and also set high standards in training and preparation.
It was not all good news in the window though, unless you are viewing things through the eyes of the Blues’ accountants. That huge spend was offset – and then some – by some big sales. The most notable one was Enzo Fernandez, who moved to Manchester City for a massive £125m. Marc Cucurella was also a loss, heading to Real Madrid, one of four players aside from Fernandez that Chelsea sold for more than €50m.
In all, the Blues sold players for almost €450m, meaning they made a profit during the window of about €40m. Overall, fans were fairly content with the window, and while Fernandez was a loss, his performances for Man City since and the huge fee Chelsea extracted make the deal look better and better for the vendors.
Strong Start and “JP Morgan” Trio Excite
Excitement built rapidly after Chelsea won their opener at local rivals Fulham and then backed that up with a victory over Luton in the EFL Cup. A rollocking 4-3 success over Brighton, who have since proven what a dangerous side they are, had some fans wondering if maybe the appointment of Alonso was a masterstroke that could see them mount a serious title challenge.
Rogers was not a player that too many fans would have felt Chelsea needed; however, Alonso’s decision to employ the former Villa man alongside Cole Palmer rapidly paid dividends. The two played as dual number 10s, with Joao Pedro operating in front of them, and the trio hit it off instantly.
Against Fulham, they were a joy to watch, in attack at least, winning 3-2, with Palmer seemingly back to his best, having missed out on England’s World Cup squad in the summer. Wags soon dubbed the trio “JP Morgan” and the numbers the three posted in those early weeks of the campaign were ones any football bank would love to see.
All three scored against the Cottagers, with Palmer and Pedro assisting each other’s goals as well. Against Brighton, they added four more goal involvements as a collective, and although they lost their next league game, away at Arsenal, Rogers scored in the 2-1 defeat. What’s more, they played very well in defeat.
Chelsea’s next game was in the League Cup against Leeds, and their three key attackers started on the bench. With the Blues in trouble, Palmer and Rogers came on, and the former scored twice, with the latter producing a trio of assists. Four more goal involvements followed in a 2-2 draw with high-flying Hull.
Injuries Halt Blues
Unfortunately, a knee issue kept Pedro out of a league game against Brentford, which the Blues lost 3-0. Due to the international window, the Brazilian only missed one club game, returning for the home game against Bournemouth after the break.
Chelsea’s front three were straight back at it, Pedro netting twice, Rogers once and Palmer landing an assist. In the next game, away at Everton, there was a tweak to the formation, with Pedro Neto coming in on the right and the Blues fielding an attacking quartet. It worked; they won 2-0 and Neto scored twice.
However, ahead of the club’s next match, against Spurs, Joao Pedro picked up a thigh and hamstring problem. That has kept him out of action since and the Blues’ form and results have really suffered.
They lost 2-0 at home to a Tottenham side that had really been struggling and created very little. Rogers played as a false nine, with Palmer and Geovany Quenda behind, but the Blues lacked the movement, brilliant interplay and magic that the JP Morgan combination brought.
They rotated their XI for the next game, at Anfield in the EFL Cup, and lost on penalties. A 2-0 home win over Man United followed, and while both Rogers and Palmer scored, everyone beats United these days, don’t they?!
Any optimism that success brought was rapidly tempered by a 1-0 loss at Sunderland in Chelsea’s most recent fixture. The Black Cats had been bottom of the table coming into the game and were winless at home. What’s more, the away side can hardly claim they were hard done to, Sunderland deserving the points.
The Verdict
So, as things stand, Chelsea are out of the League Cup. Given they have no European football this term, that is a competition they might have targeted. In the league, they are currently fifth, which should be good enough to secure Champions League football next term, or Europa League at the worst.
| Team | Goal Diff | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | +10 | 27 |
| 2 | Brighton | +19 | 22 |
| 3 | Man City | +8 | 21 |
| 4 | Liverpool | +4 | 18 |
| 5 | Chelsea | +3 | 16 |
| 6 | Everton | +2 | 16 |
They have 16 points from their first 10 games, winning five times but losing four as well. They are 11 points behind league leaders Arsenal, so closer to Palace at the bottom (the Eagles have seven points).
All is far from lost, though. Had the Blues won at Sunderland, they would have been fourth and the picture would have felt a lot rosier. What’s more, the club have had tougher-than-average fixtures. When the Premier League returns, they will have three out of four games at home, with their only away-day being at Nottingham Forest.
Alonso is making progress, and while the drop in results without Pedro is concerning, we have faith the Spaniard will find a way to adapt his system. There is still no date for the key attacker’s return, though. But all in all, it has been a solid start for the Blues, and who knows just how well they might have done had Pedro stayed fit?