Why Chelsea can only complete two more transfers as FIFA rules explained

In the space of one week, Chelsea have sent three players on loan to RC Strasbourg. As the effective sister club via their ownership from Clearlake Capital-Todd Boehly under BlueCo, a strong relationship between the two teams continues.

Last season Chelsea loaned Djordje Petrovic, Andrey Santos, and Caleb Wiley to the French team. In January, Wiley returned and there was talk of Aaron Anselmino moving immediately out from his own recall from Boca Juniors. In 2023 they moved Angelo Gabriel there for the full season and saved Santos from a terrible first half of the year at Nottingham Forest.

On a coaching level, Under-21/Development Squad manager Filipe Coelho has swapped Cobham for Strasbourg. He steps up to be the assistant to Liam Rosenior.

Chelsea have made some questionable decisions when it comes to their use of Strasbourg, but the ties are obvious. Mathis Amougou was Enzo Maresca's only permanent addition in January and he was sold six months later, heading to the French side.

Initially, it was expected that he would go on loan, but plans changed. The numbers did not add up with so many players in contention for just three permitted loan spots.

Also in January, Chelsea agreed a deal that would see Mamadou Sarr move to Stamford Bridge. He is one of the trio to have been confirmed on a temporary transfer back to Ligue 1 this week.

Joining Sarr is young goalkeeper Mike Penders. He had a strong first full season in adult football at Genk in his home country of Belgium. Penders is seen as a genuine future No.1 for Chelsea if he can develop in the coming years.

Alongside him is Kendry Paez, the Ecuadorian wonderkid who has been training at Chelsea and Strasbourg throughout most of 2025 in a bid to acclimatise to European play. He was signed in January 2023 but had continued at Independiente del Valle until this year when he was allowed to properly join Chelsea after his 18th birthday.

The use of Strasbourg as a home for Penders and Paez is well trodden for more clubs across the world but signing Sarr only to send him back is less logical. This is especially the case when Chelsea have so many teenage talents still seeking loans.

Tyrique George and Josh Acheampong have been considered for loans with the former much more likely. Strasbourg is a possible alternative to domestic loans in the Championship or Premier League.

It offers high-level European exposure with Conference League minutes available. Meanwhile, Marc Guiu is among those also looking for opportunities to play regularly.

With the quota of three players now at Strasbourg, Chelsea are running out of options. Deivid Washington is at Santos in a continuation of his 18-month stay back in Brazil. Washington moved there in January after failing to make much of a mark in the Chelsea academy or senior setup after his expensive £17million transfer in 2023.

FIFA rules only allow for six international loans away from a club at the same time, meaning that there are already four taken up here. There is no limit to the number of domestic loans.

Chelsea already have Leo Castledine at Huddersfield Town, Wiley back at Watford (where he changed to in January) and others in contention. Guiu is among them, so is Anselmino, Alfie Gilchrist, and Sam Rak-Sakyi.

There are plenty of Under-21s in need of more senior experience to join this list. Ishe Samuels-Smith was sold to Strasbourg, also earlier this week, but Chelsea will have first refusal on buying him back.

Jimmy-Jay Morgan, Ronnie Stutter, and others in the Development Squad will hope for some movement in the final weeks of the window. Chelsea certainly have options but also have players to shift.

David Datro Fofana and Renato Veiga are still on the books and have used international loan spots up previously. If no permanent exit for Axel Disasi, Raheem Sterling, Lesley Ugochukwu, or Ben Chilwell can be found, Chelsea might be forced to loan these players out as well. It would be viewed as a waste of resources on players who have no long-term future at the club.

Chelsea have had more struggles with their international loans in recent years and must now make some big decisions to best use a valuable ploy in the market.

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