Two Chelsea teenagers make the Golden Boy shortlist
Estêvão and Jorrel Hato are on the final shortlist for the 2026 Golden Boy award (3). Two Chelsea players in the last group of Europe's best young talent. The organisers confirmed both names (3).
Lamine Yamal is not on it. The award's rule excludes him this year (3).
Lavia set up Belgium's goal, then Belgium fell apart
Romeo Lavia split France open. His assist put Dodi Lukebakio through on 36 minutes, and Belgium led (5). Then Belgium lost 1–4 to France, conceding four late goals (5).
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Your midfielder did his job. The rest of the team did not.
Girma out of the USWNT squad
Naomi Girma is injured. She has been replaced on the USWNT roster by Kate Del Fava for the matches against Spain (10). Sam Coffey of Manchester City is also out, with Jaelin Howell called in (10).
Chelsea lead the chase for Alex Scott
Chelsea are in pole position for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, rated at €100m (6). Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Real Madrid are also in the picture (6).
Zubimendi in January for around €70m?
Martin Zubimendi is short of minutes at Arsenal, and Chelsea are ready to spend around €70m on him in January (1). Unconfirmed, but it keeps coming back.
The rest of the watchlist
Marcos Llorente at Atlético Madrid is being tracked by Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City, with Atlético trying to extend him past 2027 (2). Feyenoord's Gjivai Zechiël is on Chelsea's radar too, with Arsenal and Lille also keen (4). Bayer Leverkusen's Ibrahim Maza has Arsenal and Tottenham pushing hardest, Chelsea among the watchers (7). Palmeiras winger Eduardo Conceicao, 16, is being monitored along with Manchester United (8) (9). Nottingham Forest defender Murillo has Chelsea and Liverpool in the race (11). Freiburg striker Igor Matanovic is now wanted by Aston Villa, Coventry and Fulham alongside Chelsea, United, Tottenham and Arsenal (12). Rayan Cherki wants a short-term Manchester City exit, and Chelsea retain interest (14).
Camara, the one that got away
Monaco boss Filipe Luís called Lamine Camara "the future of football" (13). Chelsea's summer move for the Senegal midfielder collapsed in the final minutes, and he is now being praised by his own manager (13).
Bournemouth at the Bridge on Saturday
Chelsea sit 10th with 7 points from 5 games, form W W L D L. AFC Bournemouth visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday, 16:00 CEST. Everton away follows on Saturday, October 17, 13:30 CEST.
Fan reactions
The Chelsea subreddit is split between pride and frustration. Hato and Estêvão on the Golden Boy shortlist got the positive thread, while Lavia's assist for Belgium drew a clip of the Lukebakio goal before France ran away with it. The mood on the rest of the board is about the run ahead, and there is a long-time-season-ticket thread listing what match day at the Bridge is actually like.
