Rayan Cherki (Lyon > Manchester City)
June 2025
Manchester City have signed French midfielder Rayan Cherki for £34m on a five-year deal, with the 21-year-old set to feature at the Club World Cup.
Cherki joins after a strong season at Lyon, where he tallied 12 goals and 20 assists. He made his France debut last week, scoring and assisting vs. Spain.
Jamie Gittens (Borussia Dortmund)
June 2025
Gittens has been registered in Dortmund’s Club World Cup squad despite Chelsea’s £42m bid, which Dortmund have yet to accept, valuing him at £55m.
With Gittens listed for Dortmund, FIFA rules mean he cannot feature for Chelsea in the tournament, delaying any potential debut until after the competition.
Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt)
June 2025
Frankfurt want €100m for Ekitike, with no agreement reached yet with Chelsea or Liverpool. Chelsea won’t get him for Club World Cup.
Chelsea are unwilling to meet Frankfurt’s full price, and Liverpool’s pursuit depends on offloading Chiesa, Núñez, or Jota first before making a move.
Mike Maignan (AC Milan)
June 2025
Chelsea have pulled out of signing Maignan after failing to meet AC Milan’s €30m asking price, ending hopes of registering him before the Club World Cup.
Chelsea offered €18m but refused to pay what they called a “deadline tax” to secure the 29-year-old by Tuesday’s cutoff, halting negotiations entirely.
Mike Maignan (AC Milan)
Before 7pm deadline, June 2025
Chelsea may pull out of signing AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan if no deal is struck by tomorrow’s 7pm deadline, despite strong interest from the player.
Maignan is pushing for the move and personal terms are not an issue, but the deal is at risk due to delays in agreeing on a transfer fee. Milan want more, while Chelsea are racing against time amid Kepa’s potential exit to Arsenal.
Marquinhos (Arsenal > Cruzeiro)
June 2025
Arsenal winger Marquinhos has completed a permanent move to Cruzeiro after a loan spell. He made just six appearances for Arsenal since joining from São Paulo in 2022.
Despite scoring on his debut in the Europa League, Marquinhos never broke into the Arsenal first team. Cruzeiro made the move permanent after being impressed during his loan stint.
Mamadou Sarr (Strasbourg > Chelsea)
June 2025
Chelsea have confirmed the signing of 19-year-old defender Mamadou Sarr from Strasbourg on a long-term deal running until 2033. The France U20 international made 28 appearances last season.
Sarr played a vital role in helping Strasbourg secure European qualification, catching Chelsea’s attention. The London club finalized the deal swiftly as part of their youth-focused long-term squad development.
Rayan Cherki (Lyon)
June 2025
Manchester City have reached a £34m (€40m) agreement with Lyon to sign 20-year-old attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki, aiming to finalize the move ahead of the Club World Cup registration deadline.
City are fast-tracking medical and personal terms to register Cherki in time. The French talent is expected to bolster City’s creative depth as they continue reshaping the squad for the new campaign.
Aaron Ramsey (Cardiff City)
June 2025 (verbal agreement confirmed)
Former Arsenal and Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey, 34, is set to join Mexican club Pumas UNAM after leaving Cardiff City. He aims to stay competitive for Wales’ 2026 World Cup qualification campaign.
Ramsey agreed verbally to join Pumas following talks driven by coach Efraín Juárez, who shares the same agency. He chose the move to continue his playing career at a high level and gain consistent minutes.
Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
June 2025
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen turned down a big-money move to Saudi side Al Hilal, despite both clubs having agreed on a transfer fee and improved personal terms. He’s expected to stay in Europe.
Although Al Hilal met Napoli’s asking price and boosted their contract offer, Osimhen reversed course late and will return to Napoli, following a strong loan stint at Galatasaray with 26 league goals.
