Danny Welbeck explains why he joined Chelsea as veteran striker's transfer confirmed | OneFootball

Xabi Alonso adds sorely-needed experience to his dressing room

Danny Welbeck said he is prepared to put his experience to good use after his transfer from Brighton to Chelsea was confirmed.

The 35-year-old moves for an undisclosed fee and has agreed a two-year deal. He will join up with Xabi Alonso’s squad on its pre-season tour of Australia and south-east Asia.

Chelsea adjusted their youth-focused approach to the transfer market come the end of the 2025/26 campaign, acknowledging the need to add more experienced players to the squad. With 400 Premier League appearances to his name, Welbeck will fill that role alongside Jordan Henderson, who is expected to join the club in the coming days.

Speaking after signing, though, he insisted he still has plenty to offer on the pitch after enjoying his career-best goalscoring season in the Premier League.

New threads: Danny Welbeck

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Asked what inspired him to join Chelsea, he told the club’s website: “Trophies and winning. That philosophy resonates with me because that's something I strive to do every single day.

“I want to win, to improve, to get better, and it's a club with some great history. Chelsea have won a lot of trophies, and that's something that I really want to strive towards as well.”

Welbeck continued, saying he looks forward to using his experience to help Chelsea’s younger players realise their fullest potential.

“I’m coming to the later stage of my career, but I'm as hungry as ever and as passionate as ever, ready to put everything into this next chapter,” he explained.

Touchdown: Danny Welbeck arrives at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground

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“Obviously, with age comes experience, and I've got invaluable experience. I’ve been around the Premier League for a long, long time and I’ve been at some big clubs.

“With everything that I've experienced in my time as a Premier League footballer, I've learned so much.

“It’s given me such a good outlook about what I can do to help, not just myself, but others around me as well.

“I’ve seen a lot, so I've always got a lot of advice for some of the younger players who want to take it on board, and it's amazing to be in this position.”

Welbeck’s signing is expected to have ramifications for the other strikers in Chelsea’s squad, with at least one of Liam Delap, Emanuel Emegha, Marc Guiu and Nicolas Jackson now expected to leave this club.

He is the second new arrival of the week, following Maxence Lacroix’s move from Crystal Palace.

There are plenty more outgoings expected, with the club also looking to offload a number of defenders from its bloated ranks.