Chelsea's Pre-Season Numbers Hint at Badiashile and Tosin Exits

Chelsea’s final pre-season run-out produced goals, debuts and, quietly, a clue about who might not be sticking around.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side beat Real Sociedad 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with Joao Pedro scoring twice and £116million signing Morgan Rogers marking his first appearance with a goal. The football was sharp, the atmosphere lively. The shirt numbers told a different story.

New faces, old numbers

Summer arrival Maxence Lacroix stepped out wearing No5. On paper, that still belongs to Benoit Badiashile. Pep Chavarria, another of the club’s new signings, had No29 on his back – the number Wesley Fofana has worn in recent seasons.

The reshuffle didn’t stop there. Fofana himself lined up in No3, the shirt vacated only recently by Marc Cucurella after his move to Real Madrid.

On the bench, Valentin Barco was listed as No4. That number has been used throughout pre-season by Tosin Adarabioyo, who joined on a free earlier in the summer. Barco stayed an unused substitute, but his squad designation stood out.

Badiashile and Tosin were nowhere to be seen in the matchday squad.

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Their absence was not accidental. Standard Sport understands both centre-backs are among the players Chelsea expect to move on before the transfer window closes.

Tosin has interest from Benfica and other top-flight clubs. Badiashile is even closer to the exit door: Chelsea have agreed a loan deal with Napoli that includes an option to buy at the end of the season.

The numbers, the omissions, the negotiations – the direction of travel is clear.

Club urges caution on “final” numbers

Chelsea, though, have already tried to cool any rush to conclusions. At the start of the month, the club issued a reminder that pre-season numbers are not set in stone.

“Supporters should note that during pre-season, the shirt numbers worn by all players may not be representative of their finalised squad numbers for the 2026/27 campaign,” read a statement on the club’s official website. “Further detail on this will be provided in due course.”

So, officially, Badiashile and Tosin have not yet been stripped of their numbers. On the pitch, the picture looks far less forgiving.

Enzo’s return and a shifting hierarchy

There was another notable moment in west London. Enzo Fernandez returned to action as a second-half substitute and took the captain’s armband from Reece James. The reaction from the stands was mixed, a reminder that the World Cup winner still has work to do to fully win over sections of the support after a turbulent spell.

While Enzo stepped back into the fold and new signings staked their claims, two defenders who once looked like part of Chelsea’s long-term core watched on from afar, their numbers already being worn by others.

The season has not even started, and the squad hierarchy is being rewritten in real time.