Chelsea set for Xavi Simons transfer green light after £26m deal agreed

Chelsea could be about to receive a long-awaited Xavi Simons transfer green light. Talks with RB Leipzig for the 22-year-old have been ongoing for the last few weeks with a delay due to the German club prioritising the completion of Benjamin Sesko's switch to Manchester United.

Discussions for Ajax's Jorrel Hato began at a similar time as those first conversations for Simons with the teenager having since played twice for his new club at Stamford Bridge.

The Dutchman officially joined on August 3, 2025 as Enzo Maresca's sixth summer signing with Jamie Gittens, Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr all arriving before that.

Wholesale exits have also been sanctioned with Joao Felix, Noni Madueke, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Armando Broja and Lesley Ugochukwu among those to depart permanently. Funds raised from those moves alongside their Club World Cup triumph has allowed Chelsea to continue targeting new arrivals.

Alongside talks for Simons, the Blues are also in contact with United in an attempt to sign Alejandro Garnacho. There is currently a significant difference in the two clubs' respective valuations but as Garnacho only wants Chelsea and he seemingly has no future at Old Trafford, the deal will likely go through.

Signing both the Argentine and Simons could cost over £100 million with another two first-team departures potentially key to both of those incomings going through.

Following Delap and Pedro making great starts to their respective careers at Chelsea, Nicolas Jackson is expected to leave with Christopher Nkunku also attracting interest.

Newcastle United have been linked to Jackson but it is unclear whether or not he will make that specific switch given the uncertainty surrounding Alexander Isak and given Eddie Howe's side are also looking at Yoane Wissa and Samu Aghehowa.

Nkunku, meanwhile, looks set for a return to the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich as his options. Considering the latter's decision to sign Luis Diaz from Liverpool, a return to his former club looked more likely especially as Chelsea were already in contact with Leipzig.

However, Kingsley Coman's impending switch to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr has opened the door for Nkunku to join the Bundesliga champions. According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, he is one of the main names on Bayern's shortlist with his versatility a key factor in that decision.

Chelsea look set to demand £43.1m (€50m) for Nkunku with Bayern likely capable of affording that once Coman's exit, that will see roughly £25.8m (€30m) come in, is confirmed. Any potential issues over the final Simons fee may then no longer be present if Nkunku moves to Bayern.

Beyond that, focus will likely be on the Garnacho deal with the hope being that his asking price will reduced as deadline day approaches.

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