Premier League 2025/26: Can world champions Chelsea win on domestic stage?

Another frantic summer has played out at Stamford Bridge, with nine players coming in and around £260 million spent to add to the squad which lifted the Club World Cup just a month ago.

Last season the Blues were widely mocked for their policy of signing young talent on huge contracts but by the end of the campaign there were signs that Enzo Maresca was building a really talented squad that had more logic behind it than seemed at first glance.

So who has come in, where do they still need to add, and how far can they go?

Chelsea signings: New strikeforce

Spare a thought for Nicolas Jackson, who headed to the United States as Chelsea’s main striker and came back third choice behind Liam Delap and Joao Pedro.

Pedro lit up the Club World Cup with some brilliant goals and looks a fine choice to link up Chelsea’s list of exciting attacking options, while Delap is a perfect candidate to play as a lone striker. Could they play together? They add much more certaintly and assured finishing prowess at the apex of the Chelsea XI.

Jackson may have to make way but Maresca’s new strikers certainly promise much.

Last season they finished 15 points behind champions Liverpool. You can expect that gap to shorten this time around.

Number one still an issue

Chelsea’s other signings have largely seen fringe players leave the club, with the exception of Noni Madueke.

The England international’s move to Arsenal wa something of a suprise, but his pace and danger out wide looks to have been replaced by the latest English cab off the Borussia Dortmund rank in Jamie Gittens.

There are still question marks in goal, however. Kepa Arrizabalaga was excellent last season on loan at Bournemouth but has been allowed to leave – also to Arsenal – while the Cherries have replaced him with another Chelsea outcast in Dorde Petrovic.

That leaves Robert Sanchez as number one, with Filip Jorgensen as cover. Good enough to win the Premier League? The jury is out.

Can Palmer catch fire?

Cole Palmer was sensational for Chelsea in 2023/24, scoring 25 goals and making countless more, but he hit a bit of a wall around Christmas.

Palmer’s two assists in the Conference League final showed that he remains a matchwinner for the Blues and he looked excellent during the Club World Cup, too.

If Maresca can get Palmer firing again alongside, Pedro, Delap, Pedro Neto, Gittens, new boy Estevao and Cristopher Nkunku then Chelsea could be a real force to contend with.

It is eight years since Chelsea last won the Premier League. This could be the closest they have come since.