Palmer returns as five Chelsea stars miss Alonso's first pre-season session due to World Cup

Xabi Alonso will begin his Chelsea tenure at Cobham on Thursday without at least five first-team players, all still competing at the World Cup, as the squad reports back for pre-season training ahead of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.

Alonso, 44, signed a four-year deal at Stamford Bridge after leaving Real Madrid in January. He inherits a squad that finished 10th last season and will be eager to make an immediate impression — though his options for that first session are limited by the tournament in progress.

England captain Reece James and centre-back Trevoh Chalobah are unavailable, with James also carrying an injury that kept him out of the Three Lions’ recent win over Mexico. Midfielder Enzo Fernandez is chasing back-to-back World Cup titles with Argentina, goalkeeper Mike Penders is part of Belgium’s squad, and left-back Malo Gusto remains in contention with France.

Several other Chelsea players have already been eliminated. Pedro Neto was knocked out in the round of 16 after a late Spain goal ended Portugal’s campaign. Moises Caicedo and Kendry Paez exited at the same stage with Ecuador, while Nicolas Jackson and Mamadou Sarr were part of the Senegal squad beaten by Belgium in dramatic fashion. Jorrel Hato’s Netherlands side lost to Morocco on penalties in the first knockout round.

Whether any of those eliminated players will report to Cobham on Thursday remains unclear.

One notable absentee from the World Cup itself is Cole Palmer. The attacking midfielder was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad following an injury-hit club season, a high-profile omission given that Palmer scored for the Three Lions in the Euro 2024 final. He is expected to be available for Alonso’s opening session.

Palmer has spoken candidly about missing the tournament. “Every player that plays football wants to be at the World Cup, but it’s a decision that I cannot change and a hard one, for whatever reason,” he told The Times. “But I’m just trying to enjoy the summer off — the first summer I’ve had off.”

Chelsea’s first pre-season friendly is scheduled against Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday, July 28, with the Premier League season opening away at Fulham on Monday, August 24.