See Chelsea Squad For 2021/22 #EPL Season Confirmed By Thomas Tuchel—-The Champions of Europe, Chelsea have confirmed their Premier League squad for the current Premier League season.
Outcasts Ross Barkley, Malang Sarr and Lewis Baker have all been included as has Ruben Loftus-Cheek, despite all four not being involved in a first-team game so far this season.
Barkley spent the 2020-21 campaign on loan with Aston Villa and was expected to leave Stamford Bridge during the summer but no deal was struck for his transfer.
The midfielder made the move to west London from Everton in 2018 and has made 86 appearances in the time since. However, the number eight shirt which he previously occupied has now been given to Mateo Kovacic. Barkley will now wear number 18 when his services are required.
The Blues have impressed in their three top-flight games so far and – coupled with some impressive summer transfer business – will be looking to kick on with the squad Thomas Tuchel has now named.
Tuchel’s troops may have already picked up seven points in this season’s top flight but the closing of transfer window means that clubs must now confirm their squads for the forthcoming season, including at least eight players classed as homegrown.
The term refers to any player who has been registered with the club for three or more seasons before their 21st birthday, irrespective of nationality.
As a result, Andreas Christensen and Romelu Lukaku are both deemed to be homegrown despite representing Denmark and Belgium respectively at international level.
Chelsea in fact find themselves comfortably over the threshold with 10 of their registered members counted as homegrown, including midfielder Baker who has only ever appeared once for the Blues’ first team and not since his three-minute FA Cup cameo in 2014.
Chelsea’s Premier League squad 2021-22 and numbers:
Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy (16), Kepa Arrizabalaga (1), Marcus Bettinelli (13), Lucas Bergstrom (36)
Defenders: Antonio Rudiger (2), Marcos Alonso (3), Andreas Christensen (4), Thiago Silva (6), Trevoh Chalobah (14), Ben Chilwell (21), Reece James (24), Cesar Azpilicueta (28), Malang Sarr (31)
Midfielders: Jorginho (5), N’Golo Kante (7), Mateo Kovacic (8), Christian Pulisic (10), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (12), Saul Niguez (17), Ross Barkley (18), Mason Mount (19), Callum Hudson-Odoi (20), Hakim Ziyech (22), Kai Havertz (29), Lewis Baker (32)
Strikers: Romelu Lukaku (9), Timo Werner (11)
