EPL: Four players set to leave Chelsea, club confirms

Chelsea have confirmed that four players will leave the club when their current contracts expire on 30 June 2026. The club disclosed this in a statement posted on its X handle on Wednesday, following the release of its retained and released list at the end of the 2025/26 season. According to the statement, “Defender Brodi Hughes leaves the Blues after 13 years in our Academy.” Hughes joined Chelsea as an Under-8 and progressed through the ranks at Cobham, spending the previous season on loan at League One side AFC Wimbledon. “Richard Olise also moves on after a decade with the club,” the statement added. He joined Chelsea as an Under-9 and featured across several youth levels, and was named in the first-team squad for the UEFA Conference League trip to Astana during the 2024/25 season. Midfielder Sam Rak-Sakyi will also depart the Blues after making four first-team appearances. Related News Olympic qualifier: Comoros beat Sudan 30-0, to face Falcons Chelle seeks Eagles improvement against Portugal Ndidi warns Ronaldo, others ahead Portugal friendly He joined the Academy at age eight, rose through the youth system at Cobham, and represented England at youth level. During the 2024/25 season, Rak-Sakyi made his debut in the UEFA Conference League against Noah and featured three more times in the competition. Jimi Tauriainen is the fourth player to leave the club. He joined Chelsea in 2020 and was previously named among the first-team substitutes for the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool in 2024. He later made his first-team debut in an FA Cup fifth-round tie against Leeds United, before also making his Premier League debut in the same season against Tottenham Hotspur. Striker Ronnie Stutter will, however, move to a month-to-month contract with the club. Chelsea thanked all departing players for their contributions and wished them well in their future careers. Saheed Oyelakin Saheed is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over two years of experience covering metro, technology, sports, politics, and human-interest stories. He focuses on producing clear, engaging reports across diverse beats. Saheed’s work reflects hands-on newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate and balanced journalism.

UPDATE NEWS: As a Nigerian living in Nigeria or diaspora, you can now earn about ₦17- ₦25Million when you acquire premium domains for as low as $2500. You get paid in US Dollars. Ideal for Civil/public servants, Entrepreneurs, Accountants, Doctors, IT Experts and many others. Click here to start.

Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The Punch Newspaper o