Could Chelsea Afford To Sell One Of Their 'Leaders' Amid Fresh Transfer Interest In Defender? | OneFootball

It's a busy summer of outgoings - Tosin wasn't an obvious name to potentially depart. Video Credit: Absolute Chelsea

Chelsea centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo has attracted transfer interest from several clubs, including Portuguese side Benfica.

Adarabioyo is not among the 12 first-team players who were expected to leave Chelsea this summer, but this recent development may change the club’s stance.

According to Nizaar Kinsella, the 28-year-old has been a subject of interest to Benfica and at least one other Premier League club.

Benfica appointed Marco Silva to succeed Jose Mourinho as manager back in June, and the Portuguese has already spent three seasons with Adarabioyo at Fulham.

Of course, Chelsea would ideally offload two other centre-backs, Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile, who were left out of the pre-season tour in Australia and Asia, before making any decision on Adarabioyo.

Having already sold academy graduate Trevoh Chalobah to Como earlier this week, manager Xabi Alonso could run thin on centre-back options if the club were to sell all three in this transfer window.

This may be even more important if Alonso plans to continue to play with a back-three formation.

Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, Josh Acheampong, Mamadou Sarr, Aaron Anselmino and summer signing Maxence Lacroix are the other centre-backs in the squad.

Sarr and Anselmino are expected to leave on loan, but Adarabioyo’s potential exit may alter the club’s plans.

Adarabioyo joined the club in the summer of 2024 from Fulham on a free transfer. He was never expected to be a regular starter at Chelsea, but he still played quite a significant role in the team.

Largely due to Fofana’s and Colwill’s injury problems, the former Manchester City academy player made 38 Premier League appearances for the club in the last two seasons, 23 of which were as a starter.

Being one of the older players in the squad also meant he became a member of Chelsea’s leadership group and an important figure in the dressing room.

“I wouldn't say I have been tasked," the centre-back said back in November 2024 about his leadership role at Chelsea.

“But it is an amazing responsibility to have to come into the club and help lead the boys.

That said, despite what he offers off the pitch, Adarabioyo has faced a lot of criticism for his performance on the pitch at Chelsea.

Another factor that may convince Chelsea to cash in on him this summer is the fact that he has only two years left in his current contract.

Chelsea are unlikely to fetch a high price for him regardless, so the decision will come down to whether the club can afford to lose a valuable squad player to potentially make room for either Sarr or Anselmino.