Chelsea are ahead of the new Xabi Alonso era with the club announcing their retention list, with four players set to leave Stamford Bridge when their contracts expire on June 30th.
Xabi Alonso set to become Chelsea’s new manager (Image: John Walton/PA Wire)
Chelsea have announced that four players will leave Stamford Bridge when their contracts expire at the end of this month. Academy players Jimi Tauraiainen, Sam Ruk-Sakyi, Richard Oliseh and Brodie Hughes will all leave the club, as confirmed in the Blues’ retention list published on Wednesday morning.
All four players’ contracts expire on June 30th and they will not be part of Xabi Alonso’s Blues’ future. Tauraiainen joined Chelsea in 2020 and made an appearance for the first team in the FA Cup fifth round tie against Leeds United in 2024, before making a brief substitute appearance in the Premier League match against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.
Despite this, the Blues were against offering new terms to the young Finnish player. Meanwhile, Lak-Saki made four appearances for Chelsea’s first team during his time at Chelsea.
The midfielder has been part of the West Londoners’ academy since the age of eight and was instrumental in the Blues’ Conference League success under manager Enzo Maresca in 2024-25.
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Olise, the younger brother of Bayern Munich winger and former Chelsea academy candidate Michael, is set to move on after more than a decade at Cobham.
However, he will leave without featuring in the Blues’ first team. Similarly, Hughes will leave without making any senior appearances.
Four players will no longer work together at Chelsea after Xabi Alonso leaves for the club this summer (Image: Anadolu, Anadolu, Getty Images)
Fellow academy product Ronny Stadter will remain at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea signing the striker on a month-to-month deal.
The club’s official statement ended with: “We would like to thank all the departing players for their contribution during their time with the Blues and wish them all the best in the next chapter of their careers.”
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The decision comes as Alonso prepares to join Chelsea this summer. Commenting on his appointment, the Spaniard said: “Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and I am extremely proud to be appointed as manager of this great club.
“From our conversations with the ownership group and leaders in the sport, it is clear that we share the same ambitions. We always want to build a team that can compete at the highest level and fight for trophies.”
“This football club has great talent and great potential, and I am honored to be able to lead them.
“The focus now is on hard work, building the right culture and winning trophies.”
