Chelsea in shock Danny Welbeck transfer talks as Xabi Alonso targets new striker | OneFootball

Blues make surprise move for 35-year-old Brighton frontman, who would reunite with Joao Pedro

Chelsea are working on a shock deal to sign Danny Welbeck from Brighton.

The Blues hold a strong interest in the 35-year-old striker and are moving towards signing him.

There is no agreement yet but talks are ongoing and there is confidence that a deal can be reached for the former Arsenal and Manchester United frontman to work under new manager Xabi Alonso at Stamford Bridge.

It is felt that Welbeck’s experience and leadership qualities would be desirable attributes to add to the Chelsea squad, in addition to his goalscoring ability.

Experience: Brighton striker Danny Welbeck turns 36 in November

AFP/Getty

After signing a 12-month extension in March, Welbeck has now entered the final year of his contract at Brighton, where he has scored 51 goals in 201 total appearances across all competitions since joining on a free transfer following his departure from Watford in 2020.

Last season, he netted 13 times in 37 games in the Premier League and looked to be in contention for a possible England recall for the World Cup, eight years after earning the last of his 42 senior international caps.

While he was not selected by Thomas Tuchel, it is testament to the ever-present Welbeck’s enduring form and fitness in the Premier League that he was in the conversation.

Chelsea currently have five strikers in their first-team squad, including Welbeck’s former Brighton team-mate Joao Pedro, their reigning player of the season and last year’s top scorer who is considered by the club to be “untouchable” and not for sale at any price following links to Barcelona earlier this summer.

Emmanuel Emegha arrived from BlueCo sister club Strasbourg after signing a pre-contract agreement last year, scoring in back-to-back behind-closed-doors friendly wins against Crawley and Bromley last week to begin his Chelsea career, before suffering a hamstring injury against the latter that ruled him out of their pre-season tour of Australia and Asia.

Liam Delap and Marc Guiu also both remain on Chelsea’s books, though the impending arrival of Welbeck may place their respective futures in west London into some doubt.

Chelsea are expected to either sell or loan out some of those players to reduce squad numbers before the 2026/27 season begins.