Seven players Chelsea can sign for free in January transfer window

Enzo Maresca may look to add to his Chelsea squad in the January transfer window in order to enforce a good start to the Premier League season.

The Blues are currently third in the table, having enjoyed a fine start to the 2024/25 campaign. Maresca has a huge squad at his disposal, with Chelsea having spent more than £1billion under Todd Boehly‘s stewardship so far in less then three years.

But the Italian has managed his players well and even though he may not need more numbers, he may look to strengthen in certain departments to ensure a strong start to the season does not fizzle out in the second half of the campaign.

Chelsea will undoubtedly have to be careful with how much they spend, to ensure they remain compliant with Financial Fair Play and the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability Rules. And that may mean looking for some bargains.

While not helping out this season, in January the Blues will be able to talk to players in other European leagues whose contracts are expiring next summer, to come to pre-contract agreements with them over joining next summer.

That may be an area that will interest Maresca and Chelsea as they prepare for the 2025/26 season. Here football.london takes a look at the names they could complete deals for in January to join next summer.

Leroy Sane

Sane has been linked with a return to the Premier League, following a four-year spell in Germany with Bayern Munich. Spent four years at Manchester City, where he scored 25 goals in 90 appearances.

Alphonso Davies

Another Bayern Munich player on the list. Chelsea may look to strengthen in the left-back department, given Ben Chilwell’s isolation and with Davies there are not many better.

Joshua Kimmich

A third Bayern Munich player on the list – the German giants could find themselves in a spot of bother next summer. Kimmich is entering the twilight of his career, but has proven his quality time and again and the Premier League would be a new challenge for him.

Jonathan David

Chelsea looked at a number of strikers in the summer transfer window and David’s name cropped up as being linked with a number of Premier League clubs. At 24 he has plenty of time on his hands and would be a perfect free transfer signing.

Neymar

Has a contract in Saudi Arabia that runs out next year and has been linked with Chelsea many times in the past. At 32 can he still do a job in one of the most physical leagues in the world, however?

Angel Gomes

The new England international is out of contract at Lille and would love nothing more than proving Manchester United wrong in letting him go by starring for Chelsea.

Ferland Mendy

Another potential left-back signing is the Real Madrid man, although at 29 years old, would make going for Davies a more logical decision.