The transfer deadline for the men’s game shut at exactly 11 pm, just moments after Chelsea secured a vital 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge against West Ham.
While it wasn’t the perfect window, with many fans hoping for the arrival of a striker and a defender, the club saw significant movements in terms of departures.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s women’s team enjoyed an impressive transfer window, headlined by the world-record signing of Naomi Girma and the arrival of a two-time UEFA Women’s Champions League winner from Barcelona, Keira Walsh. Below is a rundown of Chelsea’s Winter Transfer Window 2025
Winter Transfer Window 2025: Chelsea’s Ins and Outs
Chelsea Men’s Team Transfers (January 2025)
- Ben Chilwell (Crystal Palace – Loan Departure)
- Carney Chukwuemeka (Borussia Dortmund – Loan Departure)
- Axel Disasi (Aston Villa – Loan Departure)
- Renato Veiga (Juventus – Loan Departure)
- Caleb Wiley (Watford – Loan Departure)
- Alex Matos (Oxford United – Loan Departure)
- Jimmy-Jay Morgan (Gillingham – Loan Departure)
- Zak Sturge (Millwall – Loan Departure)
- Max Merrick (Hampton & Richmond – Loan Departure)
- Cesare Casadei (Torino – Permanent Departure)
- Harvey Vale (Queens Park Rangers – Permanent Departure)
- Travis Akomeah (Watford – Permanent Departure)
- Somto Boniface (Ipswich Town – Permanent Departure)
- Zain Silcott-Duberry (Bournemouth – Permanent Departure)
- Kai Crampton (Bournemouth – Permanent Departure)
- Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea – Loan Return)
- David Fofana (Chelsea – Loan Return)
- Gaga Slonina (Chelsea – Loan Return)
- Aaron Anselmino (Chelsea – Loan Return)
- Ted Curd (Chelsea – Loan Return)
Ben Chilwell
Ben Chilwell has joined Crystal Palace on loan for the rest of the 2024/25 season. The 28-year-old left-back, who made the switch from Leicester City, has clocked 107 appearances for Chelsea and played a key role in their UEFA Champions League and Super Cup victories. Despite his impressive past contributions, Chilwell has yet to feature this season, prompting this move to secure more regular playing time.
Carney Chukwuemeka
Midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka has sealed a loan deal with Borussia Dortmund until the season’s conclusion. Since his transfer from Aston Villa in 2022, the 21-year-old has featured in 32 matches for Chelsea. This Bundesliga stint is intended to provide him with consistent first-team exposure.
Axel Disasi
French center-back Axel Disasi has been loaned to Aston Villa for the remainder of the season. The 26-year-old defender, who joined Chelsea from Monaco in August 2023, has made 17 appearances under Enzo Maresca’s management. This move offers him valuable additional Premier League experience.
Renato Veiga
Portuguese midfielder Renato Veiga, who signed from FC Basel last July, has been loaned to Juventus for the rest of the 2024/25 campaign. Having made 18 appearances across various competitions this season, the Serie A spell is expected to further hone his skills.
Caleb Wiley
American defender Caleb Wiley has been recalled from his loan at Strasbourg after just six appearances. He will now spend the rest of the season at Championship side Watford, aiming to gain more consistent playing time in English football.
Alex Matos
Midfielder Alex Matos has joined Championship club Oxford United on loan until the season’s close. Returning to familiar territory, Matos previously gained valuable experience with Huddersfield Town during the latter part of last season.
Jimmy-Jay Morgan
Nineteen-year-old forward Jimmy-Jay Morgan has moved to League Two side Gillingham on loan for the remainder of the campaign. He made an immediate impact by debuting in a hard-fought draw against Tranmere, showcasing his potential in senior football.
Zak Sturge
Versatile defender Zak Sturge has secured a loan move to Millwall for the rest of the season. The 20-year-old, who joined Chelsea in August 2022, previously gained experience during a loan stint with Peterborough United last year.
Max Merrick
Goalkeeper Max Merrick has finalized a loan transfer to National League South club Hampton & Richmond Borough. After playing a pivotal role for Chelsea’s Under-21 side earlier this season, the loan aims to provide him with more senior-level match exposure.
Chelsea Men’s Team Departures January 2025
Cesare Casadei
Italian midfielder Cesare Casadei has made a permanent switch to Serie A side Torino as of February 2. Following two and a half years with Chelsea and 17 senior appearances, he returns to his home country to continue his professional journey.
Harvey Vale
Harvey Vale has completed a permanent transfer to Queens Park Rangers. The 21-year-old, who originally joined Chelsea from Fulham at the Under-12 level, made seven first-team appearances and captained various academy teams throughout his development.
Travis Akomeah
Defender Travis Akomeah has rejoined Watford on a permanent basis. Initially signed by Chelsea from Watford in January 2022 as an Under-16 prospect, the 19-year-old captained the Under-18 side last season before progressing to Under-21 football.
Somto Boniface
Eighteen-year-old defender Somto Boniface has moved permanently to Ipswich Town. A Chelsea player since his Under-9 days, Boniface became a fixture in both the Under-18 and Under-21 squads in recent seasons.
Zain Silcott-Duberry
Forward Zain Silcott-Duberry has secured a permanent deal with Bournemouth. Having joined Chelsea’s Cobham academy from Norwich City as an Under-13, Silcott-Duberry advanced through the ranks and signed his first professional contract in August 2022.
Kai Crampton
Academy goalkeeper Kai Crampton has finalized a permanent transfer to Bournemouth. Originally joining Chelsea at the Under-8 level, he advanced steadily through the youth system and was part of the Under-18 Premier League South-winning squad last season.
Chelsea Men’s Team Loan Returns January 2025
Trevoh Chalobah
Defender Trevoh Chalobah has returned from his loan spell at Crystal Palace and reassumed the number 23 jersey. During his time at Palace, Chalobah made 14 appearances and netted three goals in the first half of the campaign.
David Fofana
Ivorian striker David Fofana has been recalled from Turkish side Goztepe after scoring twice in nine appearances. His stint was cut short due to a knee injury, and he will now focus on recovery and reintegration into Chelsea’s squad.
Gaga Slonina
American goalkeeper Gaga Slonina has returned from his loan at Barnsley, where he made 14 appearances in the first half of the season. After an injury sidelined him in late October, Slonina is back at Chelsea for rehabilitation and future contributions.
Aaron Anselmino
At the beginning of January, Argentine defender Aaron Anselmino returned from his loan at Boca Juniors, where he made 18 appearances. Initially developed at Boca, Anselmino joined Chelsea in the summer of 2024.
Ted Curd
Goalkeeper Ted Curd, an England Under-19 international, was recalled after registering nine clean sheets in 22 outings for Hampton & Richmond Borough. His stellar performances earned him a return to Chelsea for further development.
Chelsea Women’s Team Transfers (January 2025):
- Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave – New Signing)
- Femke Liefting (AZ Alkmaar – New Signing)
- Keira Walsh (Barcelona – New Signing)
- Eve Perisset (Permanent Departure)
- Charlotte Wardlaw (Newcastle United – Permanent Departure)
- Julia Bartel (Liverpool – Loan Departure)
- Alejandra Bernabe (Liverpool – Loan Departure)
- Aimee Claypole (Durham – Loan Departure)
- Greta Humphries (Charlton – Loan Departure)
- Aniek Nouwen (Crystal Palace – Loan Departure)
- Louna Ribadeira (Everton – Loan Departure)
- Lucy Watson (Ipswich Town – Loan Departure)
- Brooke Aspin (Loan Return)
- Jorja Fox (Loan Return)
New Signings:
Naomi Girma
Chelsea welcomed highly-rated USA international Naomi Girma from San Diego Wave on January 26. The defender has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal and will wear the no.16 shirt.
Femke Liefting
On January 31, Chelsea secured 20-year-old Dutch goalkeeper Femke Liefting from AZ Alkmaar on a three-and-a-half-year contract.
Keira Walsh
England midfielder Keira Walsh joined the Blues from Barcelona on January 31, committing to a four-and-a-half-year deal.
Departures:
Eve Perisset
Eve Perisset left Chelsea at the end of January, seeking new playing opportunities. The 30-year-old defender departs after two-and-a-half years with the club, during which she won two Women’s Super League titles and an FA Cup.
Charlotte Wardlaw
Academy graduate Charlotte Wardlaw made a permanent move to Newcastle United in the Championship after being recalled from Sheffield United. Wardlaw made three senior appearances for Chelsea before spending time on loan.
Loan Departures:
Julia Bartel
The 20-year-old midfielder joined Liverpool on loan for the rest of the season. Bartel made her Chelsea debut in a 3-1 win against Twente after joining the Blues in the summer of 2024.
Alejandra Bernabe
Alejandra Bernabe will spend the remainder of the 2024/25 season with Liverpool, joining the Merseyside club on loan on January 31.
Aimee Claypole
Aimee Claypole, who had a successful loan spell in Sweden with Linkoping, scoring three goals in nine appearances, has now moved to Durham in the Championship for the rest of the season.
Greta Humphries
After seven appearances with Bristol City, Greta Humphries has returned to Chelsea and joined Charlton, another Championship side, on loan for the remainder of the season.
Aniek Nouwen
Aniek Nouwen will continue her loan spell at Crystal Palace for the rest of the 2024/25 season.
Louna Ribadeira
Forward Louna Ribadeira was recalled from her loan at Paris FC, where she scored once in two appearances. She will now join Everton on loan for the rest of the season.
Lucy Watson
Following a return from her loan at Southampton, Lucy Watson has joined Ipswich Town in the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division for the remainder of the season.
Loan Returns:
Brooke Aspin
Brooke Aspin, who played six times for Crystal Palace, including four in the WSL, returned to Chelsea after suffering an ACL injury in November while on international duty with England Under-23s.
Jorja Fox
Jorja Fox was unable to play for Crystal Palace due to an ACL injury sustained during pre-season. She has now returned to Chelsea after her loan spell in south London.
Credit: Chelsea FC
