Chelsea open talks to sign Brighton striker Welbeck
Chelsea have opened discussions with Brighton over a move for veteran striker Danny Welbeck, with the 35-year-old reportedly interested in joining the London club.
There is growing confidence at Stamford Bridge that an agreement can be reached, as Chelsea look to add more experienced players to their squad after acknowledging the need to adjust their youth-focused recruitment strategy. Co-owner Behdad Eghbali indicated earlier this year that the club’s transfer approach required some refinement.
Welbeck enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career in 2025-26, scoring 13 Premier League goals in 37 appearances for Brighton. Since joining the Seagulls from Watford in 2020, he has netted 51 goals in 201 matches.
Brighton have declined to comment on the reports. The former England international signed a one-year contract extension in March, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2026-27 season.
Chelsea’s current attacking options include João Pedro, Liam Delap, Emmanuel Emegha, Marc Guiu and Nicolas Jackson, but several of them face uncertain futures.
Guiu is available for either a permanent transfer or a loan move, with Chelsea valuing him at around £25 million. Jackson, despite initially being expected to remain at the club after returning from a loan spell at Bayern Munich, is open to leaving amid interest from Aston Villa.
Delap, who joined from Ipswich for £30 million last year, had hoped to establish himself under new manager Xabi Alonso but is now increasingly expected to move on. Emegha’s future is also uncertain despite his recent arrival from Strasbourg, another club within Chelsea’s ownership group.
Chelsea have already strengthened their squad this summer with the club-record signing of Morgan Rogers, full-back Marco Palestra, and are close to completing a deal worth about £52 million for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix.
A move for Welbeck would mark another shift in Chelsea’s recruitment strategy, following their unsuccessful attempt to sign experienced midfielder Granit Xhaka from Sunderland. The club appears to be placing greater emphasis on adding proven Premier League players to complement its youthful squad.
Although Welbeck would provide valuable depth and leadership, his arrival could further limit opportunities for several younger forwards competing for places under Alonso.
The experienced striker is widely regarded as a strong dressing-room presence and mentor, known for his professionalism, leadership and ability to raise standards among teammates. His consistent performances last season and wealth of top-flight experience have made him an attractive option as Chelsea seek to rebuild after a disappointing 10th-place Premier League finish.
Source: BBC
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