Zola and Lampard: the two signings that built Chelsea
Gianfranco Zola and Frank Lampard. Two names that turned Chelsea into a genuine top club (3). That is the story today, a look back at the transfers that changed the club's trajectory. If you want to understand how Chelsea got here, you start with those two.
Zola arrived and made the club watchable. Lampard arrived and made it relentless. Both shaped the modern Chelsea identity more than almost any other signings in the club's history (3).
Garnacho wants to stay at Aston Villa
Alejandro Garnacho wants to make his Aston Villa loan permanent rather than come back to Chelsea (1). The deal already carries an obligation clause, which means this is not really Villa's call to make or yours to hope against (1).
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He has struggled for regular minutes since arriving from Chelsea in the summer, but he wants to stay at Villa Park anyway (1).
U21s beat Reading 2–0
Chelsea U21s beat Reading 2–0, and Reading boss Leam Richardson did not dress it up afterwards (4). "Didn't help themselves," he said of his own team, admitting the Royals were punished for their own mistakes (4).
He added that Reading will move on quickly from the result (4).
Neto and Adarabioyo, the 2024 arrivals
Pedro Neto and Tosin Adarabioyo came in during the summer of 2024, two signings Chelsea expected to strengthen the squad for the new season (2). Neto arrived from Wolves, Adarabioyo from Fulham.
That is the club's own framing of it at the time: key additions meant to lift the squad (2).
Everton away, then Tottenham at home
Everton away on Saturday, October 17 at 13:30 CEST is next (Premier League). Then Tottenham at home on Saturday, October 24 at 18:30 CEST.
You go into the Everton trip off the back of a 5–1 win over Bournemouth on October 10. Sixth in the table on 10 points from six games, goal difference +2.
Fan reactions
The mood on r/chelseafc is split between transfer bragging and transfer regret, and both talking points are about players who are not even at the club. One thread is chewing over David Ornstein's claim that Arsenal were offered Morgan Rogers ahead of Chelsea closing the deal and passed at that price, with fans enjoying the idea of Arsenal looking back with regret. Another thread is just enjoying the Premier League's own account posting about Chelsea as liquid football. The takeover of the timeline is half the fun at this point. Morgan Rogers thread
