Two Chelsea stars LOSE their squad numbers to summer signings Pedro Neto and Joao Felix… as boss Enzo Maresca’s ruthless streak continues with more than 10 players training away from the first-team
- Chelsea have given new players shirt numbers that belong to the senior squad
- Several stars are expected to leave the club after being dropped from the first team
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Two Chelsea players have lost their shirt numbers due to the club’s new signings, Pedro Neto and Joao Felix.
The Blues were in the midst of a chaotic transfer window this summer, with Enzo Maresca overseeing the arrival of ten experienced players.
The latest of which was confirmed on Wednesday when Joao Felix joined from Atletico Madrid for £42.7million, having previously spent time on loan at the club.
With so many new players overloading an already crowded squad, the Blues appear to have alienated a number of experienced players who have yet to leave the club.
According to the club’s official website, Raheem Sterling and Trevoh Chalobah appear to have lost their shirt numbers to Neto and Felix respectively.
Summer signing Pedro Neto looks set to take the shirt number of a fellow Chelsea star
Raheem Sterling has worn the number 7 shirt since joining the Blues from Manchester City in 2022
But the club’s official web store has now listed the Portuguese under the number
Neto wore the number 19 shirt for his competitive debut against Manchester City on Sunday, but now seems ready for a change.
Sterling initially wore shirt number 17 for the Blues after joining the club from Manchester City in 2022. He switched to shirt number 7 last season.
However, when selecting a personalised shirt from the club’s online megastore, it appears the number belongs to the former Wolves star.
The news is yet another blow to Sterling’s future at Stamford Bridge after the player’s representatives revealed in an exclusive statement to Mail Sport that they were “seeking clarity” over his status at the club after he missed out on the season opener.
More than 10 experienced players are currently training outside Chelsea’s first team, with Maresca saying he has been honest with the players about their situation at the club.
“I try to be honest. I can repeat it again if it is not clear: I spoke to Raheem before the game against (Manchester) City,” Maresca said at a press conference on Wednesday.
‘I said he would struggle to get minutes with us. With Chilly I said he’s a nice guy but he would struggle because of his position.
“If you define this as ‘brutal’ then that’s up to you. To me it’s not brutal, it’s just honest.
Joao Felix became the latest arrival when his £42.7million transfer was confirmed on Wednesday
Based on the listing on the website, Felix will take over the number 14 shirt from Trevoh Chalobah
‘I’m not saying Raheem is not a good player, but I prefer different types of wingers. This is why.’
Chalobah, who joined the club at the age of eight and completed his training through the youth academy, is currently one of Chelsea’s longest-tenured players.
The 25-year-old was left out of the club’s pre-season tour of the United States and, like Sterling and others, has been banned from the first-team dressing room.