With the start of Chelsea’s Premier League season on the horizon, many individual players give their fans plenty of reasons to be excited. However, keeping track of such a large squad can be overwhelming. Here are the top five Chelsea players to watch out for heading into the upcoming campaign.
Chelsea Players to Watch Throughout 2024/25
Nicolas Jackson
Nicolas Jackson’s debut Chelsea season was quite the roller coaster. Many fans had high hopes for him coming off a very impressive preseason showing last year, but the Senegalese endured a lot of stick following significant dry spells in front of goal. The frequency and ease of chances he missed quickly turned him into a laughing stock for rival fans, and the effects on his confidence were evident.
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However, a return in confidence completely flipped the script for Jackson in the latter stages of the campaign. His impact on the team and underlying metrics were outstanding, especially for an inexperienced striker in his first Premier League season. For example, Jackson ranked in the 93rd percentile for non-penalty expected goals and assists according to FBref. The Senegalese striker also finished with a commendable 14 goals and five assists in the league despite facing such harsh scrutiny.
After a chaotic but impressive debut season, Jackson showed many quality traits necessary to develop into one of the league’s best strikers. Along with the help of an improved supporting cast, the former Villarreal forward is primed for a notable campaign.
Pedro Neto
The new season rush of anticipation isn’t complete until there’s a new big-name transfer to go along with it. Pedro Neto provides exactly that for the Blues.
Chelsea were in desperate need of improved wide options, and Neto fits the exact type of profile that will thrive in Maresca’s system. Comfortable on either flank, the Portuguese talent will provide dynamic versatility and a direct style of play capable of creating countless chances. To put it into perspective, Neto ranked in the 99th percentile for assists per 90 and 91st percentile for progressive carries.
The biggest concern with Chelsea’s new big-name signing is his injury record. Neto missed a combined 549 days through injury in the last four years, but if he can stay on the pitch he will offer Chelsea a dangerous threat in attack this season.
Romeo Lavia
Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? After featuring in only 32 minutes for Chelsea last season, Romeo Lavia is finally back to full fitness. His brilliant preseason performances have shown fans just a glimpse of what they missed out on during his absence last campaign.
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Lavia’s emphatic start under Maresca essentially secures a spot in the starting eleven to begin the season, even with the likes of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, and Christopher Nkunku to compete with. The Belgian started in every game during the preseason tour and even registered two assists from defensive midfield. Following his big-money move from Southampton just a year ago, the Blues have yet another midfield maestro to orchestrate their team.
Christopher Nkunku
Christopher Nkunku is yet another one of Chelsea’s star players returning from long-term injuries. Unlike most of his Chelsea peers, however, the former Bundesliga Player of the Season has already established himself as a world-class talent from his time with RB Leipzig.
Nkunku registered 90 goal contributions in only 119 games for his former German club, emphasizing how impactful he can be for the Blues in attack. Additionally, the French forward got off to a flying start in preseason by scoring three goals in five games. Chelsea had to rely on their talisman Cole Palmer to drag them through countless games last season, but with the return of a fit and firing Nkunku, Palmer will no longer have to sustain a one-man show.
Cole Palmer
Above everyone else, one player in particular will be the most integral to all of Chelsea’s endeavours in this upcoming Premier League campaign. Following a season in which he scored 22 goals and provided 11 assists in the league, Chelsea’s Player of the Season Palmer will be the most obvious candidate to monitor throughout the next campaign.
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Palmer’s debut season with Chelsea was truly something special. He was undoubtedly amongst the world’s most in-form players as he ranked in the 90+ percentile for all of the following categories (per 90): total shots, assists, expected assists, non-penalty expected goals and assists, progressive passes, and more.
Without Palmer’s influence, Chelsea could have easily been in the bottom half of the table, but the youngster’s heroics dragged the Blues to a 5th place finish. Chelsea fans will be hoping for more of the same from their talisman next year – and with another year of Premier League experience under his belt, Cole Palmer has the potential to surpass even grander expectations.
