Danny Welbeck joins Chelsea on two-year deal after Thomas Tuchel World Cup snub | OneFootball

Chelsea have signed Danny Welbeck from Brighton & Hove Albion, the former Sunderland loanee completing a surprise move.

Sunderland Echo reports that the 35-year-old has agreed a two-year contract at Stamford Bridge, with the fee undisclosed. He becomes their third summer arrival after Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa and Marco Palestra from Atalanta.

Welbeck joins after his most prolific Premier League season, scoring 13 in 37 last term, with only three English players netting more.

He said Chelsea’s approach filled him with pride, that he knows several team-mates, felt an immediate connection with the manager and is determined to make the club and supporters proud.

The deal marks a shift from Chelsea’s post-2022 youth-focused recruitment, with Welbeck bringing close to two decades of top-level experience for Manchester United, Arsenal, Watford, Brighton and England.

Welbeck spent 2010-11 on loan at Sunderland under Steve Bruce, making 26 Premier League appearances and scoring six, including goals against Chelsea and Everton and a winner against Bolton.

He returned to Manchester United, then joined Arsenal for £16million in September 2014, spent five years there, had a season at Watford and moved to Brighton in 2020. He has 16 goals in 42 England caps, last appearing in 2018, and was not included in Thomas Tuchel’s 2026 World Cup squad.

Source: Sunderland Echo