Xabi Alonso has only been in charge at Chelsea for a few weeks, but the Spaniard has already made clear that he intends to reshape the squad in his image — even if that means drawing a line under one of his most tempting transfer targets. The new manager has reunited with former Bayer Leverkusen star Morgan Rogers, given Jamie Gittens a fresh start, and been publicly rebuffed in his attempt to sign Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka. For Chelsea fans, the message is clear: Alonso is building his own team, on his own terms.
Alonso took over a Chelsea side that finished 10th in the Premier League last season, failed to qualify for European football and ended the campaign without a trophy. The squad lacked the team cohesion that Gittens noted when he faced Alonso's dominant Bayer Leverkusen side, which won the Bundesliga and German Cup in the manager's first full season. Alonso's system is built on dominating possession and setting up attacks in the opponent's half, a contrast to the counter-attacking style that got the best out of Rogers at Aston Villa.
“Xabi Alonso's Chelsea rebuild explained: Why the Granit Xhaka pursuit failed, what Morgan Rogers and Jamie Gittens bring, and how the new manager is shaping the squad.”
One of Alonso's first major moves was to sign attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for a British record £117m. Rogers is close friends with Chelsea star Cole Palmer, and the two have spoken about playing together for some time. Alonso will need to find a system that accommodates both, given their similar profiles. Rogers is versatile — he can play as a narrow winger on either flank or as a centre-forward — and combines impressive ball-striking with standout athleticism. Under Unai Emery at Villa, he often played on the left of a 4-2-3-1, narrowing in to shoot with his right foot. Alonso's possession-based approach is different, but Rogers' direct nature and ability to press high could make him a key asset.
Alonso also has Jamie Gittens, the 21-year-old winger who joined Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund for £52m last summer but struggled with injury and form. He missed the end of last season with a hamstring injury, his first muscle injury, but says he is now "90% fit" and has scored in Alonso's first two behind-the-scenes friendlies against Crawley and Bromley. Gittens has been told he is part of Alonso's plans and that the manager wants him to "keep being positive, to keep taking on players, to keep creating chances". The winger is confident that new signings like Rogers "will raise the bar" and that Chelsea retain an ambition to "win everything".
Not every Alonso target will arrive, however. The manager was keen to reunite with Granit Xhaka, his former midfielder at Bayer Leverkusen, who now captains Sunderland. Chelsea made an £8m bid for the 33-year-old, but Sunderland immediately rejected it. Head coach Régis Le Bris has emphatically declared the "topic is closed", stating that Xhaka "loves Sunderland" and wants to stay. Despite Sunderland's Europa League qualification, they have been quiet in the transfer market, signing only Thomas Meunier on a free from Lille. Le Bris expects further additions but says this summer will be quieter than last year's overhaul.
Why it matters for UK readers Chelsea's rebuild is one of the most-watched stories in English football. With a new manager, a British record signing, and a squad that underperformed last season, the direction Alonso takes will affect the Premier League title race, European places, and the transfer market. The decisions on Xhaka, Rogers, and Gittens show Alonso is prioritising youth and system fit over short-term fixes. For Sunderland, keeping Xhaka is a statement of intent as they prepare for European football.
Q: Why did Chelsea want Granit Xhaka? A: Xabi Alonso managed Xhaka at Bayer Leverkusen and wanted to bring his experience to Chelsea's young squad. Xhaka played a key role in Sunderland's Europa League qualification last season, and Chelsea made an £8m bid for the 33-year-old.
Q: How will Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer play together? A: Alonso's system can accommodate both by using Rogers' versatility. He can play as a narrow winger on either flank or as a centre-forward, and his direct running and shooting complement Palmer's creativity. Both are close friends and eager to link up.
Q: What is Jamie Gittens' role under Alonso? A: Alonso has told Gittens he is part of his plans and wants him to be positive, take on defenders, and create chances. Gittens is recovering from a hamstring injury and is expected to feature after scoring in pre-season friendlies.
What happens next Chelsea continue their pre-season tour, with Alonso fine-tuning his system. The transfer window remains open until the end of August, but Sunderland have closed the door on Xhaka. Chelsea may look for other midfield targets, while integrating Rogers and Gittens into the first team. The Premier League season begins in mid-August, and Alonso's first competitive match will be a crucial test of his rebuild.