Chelsea Confirms Three Departures Amid Lewis Hall Transfer Uncertainty

Chelsea have published their retained list for the 2023/24 season, revealing no major surprises.

Apart from Thiago Silva, no first-team player from last season has left the club. The confirmed exits include two academy players: Noah Hay and Josh Brooking, who will leave when their contracts expire at the end of this month. Samuel Rak-Sakyi has been offered a new deal.

One notable inclusion on the retained list is Lewis Hall. Despite spending the season on loan at Newcastle United, Hall is expected to make his move permanent.

He started eight Premier League games for Newcastle under Eddie Howe, with five of those starts in the final month of the season.

Initially close to signing a new contract with Chelsea, Hall was instead loaned to Newcastle in a deal with an obligation to buy based on team performance.

Newcastle met the required conditions, ensuring a £30 million transfer for Hall will be completed. However, until this transaction is officially confirmed, likely at the start of July, Hall remains listed as a Chelsea player.

Eddie Howe expressed his long-term plans for Hall in March, saying, “In terms of my thinking, I’m preparing for Lewis to be at Newcastle for many years.”

Additionally, Chelsea has had to manage the departure of Thiago Silva, who was granted permission to join Fluminense once the Premier League season concluded.

Malang Sarr is another player of interest. He spent the entire season training with the academy teams and did not feature in any matches. Sarr’s contract runs until 2025.

Chelsea’s Full Retained List:

• First Team and Academy Players: Josh Acheampong, Travis Akomeah, Ato Ampah, Tino Anjorin, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Benoit Badiashile, Eddie Beach, Lucas Bergstrom, Marcus Bettinelli, Somto Boniface, Angelo Gabriel, Armando Broja, Mason Burstow, Moises Caicedo, Luke Campbell, Cesare Casadei, Leo Castledine, Trevoh Chalobah, Chinonso Chibueze, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, Marc Cucurella, Jamie Cumming, Ted Curd, Diego Moreira, Deivid Washington, Axel Disasi, Kiano Dyer, Enzo Fernandez, David Datro Fofana, Wesley Fofana, Conor Gallagher, Billy Gee, Tyrique George, Alfie Gilchrist, Omari Hutchinson, Michael Golding, Malo Gusto, Lewis Hall, Brodi Hughes, Bashir Humphreys, Nicolas Jackson, Reece James, Romeo Lavia, Romelu Lukaku, Robert Sanchez, Ian Maatsen, Noni Madueke, Alex Matos, Harrison McMahon, Donnel McNeilly, Leonardo Cardosa, Max Merrick, Jimmy-Jay Morgan, Mykhailo Mudryk, Harrison Murray-Campbell, Andrey Santos, Christopher Nkunku, Richard Olise, Cole Palmer, Djordje Petrovic, Samuel Rak-Sakyi, Dion Rankine, Dujuan Richards, Frankie Runham, Reiss-Alexander Russel-Denny, Levi Colwill, Ishe Samuels-Smith, Malang Sarr, Teddy Sharman-Lowe, Zain Silcott-Duberry, Gabriel Slonina, Raheem Sterling, Zak Sturge, Ronnie Stutter, Jimi Taurianen, Lesley Ugochukwu, Harvey Vale, Shaun Wade, Charlie Webster, Dylan Williams, Kaiden Wilson
• Scholars: Genesis Antwi, Kai Crampton, Ollie Harrison, Saheed Olagunju, Marcell Washington