When the Blues' leadership sat in the VIP stands of Stamford Bridge watching the match against Fulham, everything seemed to be under control. The procurement deals are almost complete, with only a few cases leaving that need to be resolved. However, the peace quickly disappeared when Liam Delap suddenly hugged the back of his right thigh and was forced off after only 12 minutes.
An urgent meeting was held. Chelsea have no time because Delap's injury comes just a few hours before the market closes and it could directly affect Nicolas Jackson's sale or keep plans.
At that time, Jackson had boarded a flight to Germany, was given a medical examination at Bayern Munich to complete a loan deal worth 15 million Euros, with a buy-in clause of 65 million Euros. However, when Delap was injured, all deals were immediately questioned.
Although it was not possible to have an accurate diagnosis immediately, the medical team still reported the situation as "not positive" as Delap certainly had to take at least 6-8 weeks, or even longer, off. This information forced Chelsea to take immediate action. After the match against Fulham ended, the board and captain Enzo Maresca decided to cancel Bayern's loan of Jackson. The message sent to the player's representative was that the deal had officially collapsed.
This move surprised the participants. Diomansy Kamara, a close associate of Jackson, posted on Instagram: We didnt turn our backs. The plane did not take off. That's why Jackson and his crew stayed in Munich waiting for the last hope.
In the next 24 hours, Chelsea will consider many alternatives. One of them was passed passed passed Harder (Sporting Lisbon) but he quickly joined RB Leipzig. Bayern are also forced to consider another option like Ademola Lookman. It seemed that the Jackson deal had completely ended, but the situation suddenly turned around.
The key lies in Chelsea's decision to call back young striker Marc Guiu from Sunderland. Guiu was originally loaned out for the entire season without a cross-section clause, but Chelsea were willing to repay the loan fee to bring him back. This move signals that they have a backup plan and also paves the way for Bayern to return to the negotiation table.
From Sunday evening to Monday afternoon, the two sides continuously negotiated. This time, Bayern accepted the transfer when it came with a conditional buy-to-buy obligation in the summer of 2026 instead of just an option. As for Chelsea, when Guiu is a replacement, they are also willing to make sacrifices.
As a result, in the final hours of the transfer window, the two sides have finalized a new agreement. Jackson will join Bayern on loan with an increased fee of 16.5 million Euros, with a mandatory buy-through clause of 65 million Euros and a percentage of resell.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are also busy completing other deals. Ben Chilwell left the team to join Strasbourg on a permanent transfer. Raheem Sterling has been offered for sale all summer but has not had any attractive offers. Axel Disasi has been loaned out three times in the Premier League but has refused. David Datro Fofana was about to join a team in the Championship, but his late application caused a deal to fail.
The biggest regret is the case of Tyrique George going to Fulham. The two sides had reached a £22 million deal with a reselling clause but it eventually collapsed at the last minute. George continues to stay and is registered in the Champions League list.
In terms of buyers, the most notable deal is facundo Buonanotte (borrowed from Brighton). Chelsea did not go far in their bid to recruit Fermin Lopez from Barcelona. However, with six new signings, including Estevao Willian (signed in May 2024) and Dario Essugo (March 2025), the Blues believe their current squad is deep enough to compete more than last season. In particular, young midfielder Andrey Santos, after shining in Strasbourg, has also returned and is in the main plan.
According to Transfermarkt, Chelsea earned 332.25 million Euros from selling and lending, while spending 328.16 million Euros. This balanced figure helps them improve their squad, especially in attack, while still complying with strict financial regulations of the Premier League and UEFA. Concerns about the penalty of not allowing players to register in the Champions League have now subsided.
Chelsea's leadership has maintained a modest attitude, not putting pressure on them to win the championship this season. However, optimism is clear as the team is capable of competing in the top group and narrowing the gap with the Premier League throne.
