Chelsea Drops Sterling, Felix from Club World Cup Squad

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has announced a 28-man squad for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, excluding high-profile players such as Raheem Sterling, Joao Felix, Axel Disasi, Djordje Petrovic, Ben Chilwell, and Wesley Fofana, the latter continuing recovery from injury. New signings Liam Delap, Mamadou Sarr, Dário Essugo, and Mike Penders have been included, alongside returning loanee Andrey Santos, signaling a fresh direction for the Blues as they prepare to compete in Group D against LAFC, Flamengo, and Esperance de Tunis. Petrovic requested to be left out to focus on his future, while Fofana's absence is due to hamstring surgery. Maresca expressed excitement about participating in the prestigious tournament, emphasizing the opportunity to face world-class teams and coaches and engage with fans in North America. Chelsea’s squad selection reflects a balance between integrating new talent and managing player fitness ahead of the 2025-26 season.