Chelsea’s ownership group BlueCo has reportedly prevailed in the competition to sign 16-year-old midfielder Mohamed Zongo, beating interest from Manchester City and Manchester United. Sporting Football des Cascades Tenakourou fielded multiple offers for the teenager before the reported decision in favour of BlueCo, with Fabrizio Romano named as confirming the ownership group as the winners.

Zongo is expected to move into the BlueCo project through Strasbourg, Chelsea’s sister side in Ligue 1, when he turns 18 in 2027. Strasbourg are also awaiting the arrival of Brazilian right back Angelo Candido, who will join in 2027. Chelsea have other deals lined up for young players, including winger Geovany Quenda, striker Dastan Satpayev, left back Denner Evangelista and central defender Deinner Ordóñez.

Developed at Sporting Football des Cascades Tenakourou and already prominent in Burkina Faso, Zongo earned a call-up to an Under-17 tournament at just 15 years old. Scouts at the Under-17 World Cup noted his mentality and on-the-ball qualities. A tall, left-footed midfielder with experience on the right wing, he offers a blend of physical presence and technical ability. That profile has led to comparisons with senior players, with some likening him to Yaya Touré and others comparing his ability to breeze past defenders to Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé.

Those who have followed his progression stress his maturity on the pitch and capacity to perform above his age group. On the eve of the tournament, former Burkina Faso international Adama Guira told Africafoot, “He is a very valuable player for the team,” and added, “He brings creativity and a good understanding of the game.”

For now, the reported agreement places Zongo on a pathway that could see him develop at Strasbourg before any future transfer to Chelsea is considered.

Chelsea have felt the absence of Moisés Caicedo in recent matches. The 24-year-old received a straight red card against Arsenal and was subsequently handed a three-game suspension. He missed the defeat to Leeds United and the draw with Bournemouth, and the team has not been the same without him.

Despite the timing of that ban, Caicedo will be available for selection against Atalanta in the Champions League in Bergamo on Tuesday evening. The reason is straightforward: the three-game suspension applies only to domestic competitions. The ban is served in the Premier League, the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup. Chelsea’s midfielder has already been suspended for two domestic matches, which means European fixtures are not included in his punishment.

Domestic bans do not carry over into UEFA competition and European bans do not apply in domestic competitions. That separation of jurisdictions was also the case earlier in the season when João Pedro’s red card against Benfica did not prevent him from playing the following Premier League game against Liverpool.

Caicedo’s availability is a significant boost for Enzo Maresca’s side in a crucial Champions League meeting with resurgent Italians. He will be well-rested for the clash and should help shore things up for the Blues.

Chelsea will, however, lose Caicedo again for the coming weekend. The home game against Everton on Saturday will be the final match of his suspension as the club seeks only a second league victory since the end of the November international break. After that, Caicedo will be eligible to return for the Carabao Cup quarterfinal against League One Cardiff City on Dec. 16, although whether he will be utilised in that match remains to be seen.

Alejandro Garnacho has been unequivocal about his decision to leave Manchester United for Chelsea, describing the summer switch as a “step forwards.” When asked whether he regretted the way his Old Trafford exit unfolded, the winger replied in one word: “No.” He repeated the same one-word response to confirm he was not sad about leaving.

Garnacho’s final months under United manager Ruben Amorim were turbulent. He was dropped from the squad for a Manchester derby in December 2024 alongside Marcus Rashford. After working his way back into the side he finished his spell in frustration, publicly clashing with the boss over his omission from the Europa League final starting lineup. Months later a £40 million ($53.3 million) transfer to Chelsea completed the move.

The 21-year-old has had a mixed start at Stamford Bridge. In the Premier League he has made nine appearances, starting six of those games, and has contributed one goal and two assists. Those figures have not been eye-catching, but Garnacho has been clear that a change of environment mattered.

He singled out Blues manager Enzo Maresca for the role he believes the coach has played in his early progress. “I spoke with [Maresca before joining], he explained everything to me,” Garnacho said. “Now working together I think we are doing well, we are going to improve with time, it’s just three months. He trusts me.

“So that’s the most important [thing]—we have confidence and we are going to improve. The most important thing is confidence. He speaks with me every week and I think we’re going to be better—me as a player and the team all together, with time. We started the season three months ago so there’s confidence between manager and player.

“Sometimes in life you have to change things to maybe take a step forward or to improve as a player. It was the right moment, also the right club, so it was an easy decision.”

For now Garnacho’s stance is clear: the transfer was intended to move his career forward, and he expects both his individual form and the team’s fortunes to improve as trust grows between player and coach.