Chelsea are closing in on the signing of Brighton & Hove Albion striker Danny Welbeck after the veteran forward was granted permission to undergo a medical at Stamford Bridge.
The 35-year-old is expected to join his new teammates in Hong Kong next week for the club's pre-season tour before completing a two-year contract.
Welbeck's arrival forms part of new head coach Xabi Alonso's strategy to inject greater experience into a Chelsea squad that has been the youngest in the Premier League over the past two seasons.
Chelsea's heavy reliance on youth has been widely regarded as one of the reasons behind their inconsistent performances and failure to mount a sustained challenge for major honours. The Blues endured a disappointing 2025-26 campaign, finishing 10th in the league and ending the season without silverware.
Following that campaign, Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali admitted the club's recruitment strategy required a "tweak," prompting a shift towards adding proven, experienced players.
Chelsea have also submitted an offer to bring Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka, 34, back together with Alonso after the pair won the Bundesliga title at Bayer Leverkusen in 2024.
In defence, the Blues have secured the signing of 26-year-old centre-back Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace on a six-year deal, with an official announcement expected soon. Talks are also ongoing over a move for Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson, 36.
Earlier this month, Chelsea completed the club-record signing of Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £117 million. Although only 24, Rogers already brings considerable Premier League experience. The club has also added promising 21-year-old full-back Marco Palestra from Atalanta.
Welbeck arrives with a wealth of top-flight experience, having previously represented Manchester United, Arsenal and Watford before joining Brighton on a free transfer in 2021. He has scored 90 goals in 400 top-flight appearances and is Brighton's all-time leading Premier League goalscorer.
His signing would leave Chelsea with six senior strikers as Alonso looks to build his attack around João Pedro and Welbeck. Several forwards, including Nicolas Jackson, Liam Delap and Marc Guiu, are expected to be made available for either loan or permanent transfers.
Chelsea have also signed Dutch striker Emmanuel Emegha from sister club Strasbourg this summer, with the 22-year-old expected to compete for a place in Alonso's first-team squad.
