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Oliver Walton
Sun 3 August 2025 16:35, UK
Chelsea’s desire to sign Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig could be affected by another transfer after a major update emerged on the future of a Blues youngster.
Chelsea have been very active in the transfer market ahead of their return to the Champions League in the new season, with Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens and Dario Essugo all signed for sizeable fees so far this summer.
Enzo Maresca wants to continue bolstering his squad as the final few weeks of the window edge ever closer, and Football Insider revealed on 21 July that the Blues were considering an approach to sign Simons from Leipzig after he had informed the German giants of his desire to leave.
The Telegraph (28 July) soon reported that Chelsea’s capture of the Dutch international was getting closer to completion, and Simons missed Leipzig’s friendly against Atalanta on Saturday (2 August) with his future uncertain.
Negotiations between Leipzig and Chelsea remain advanced as he closes in on joining the West London outfit, and new developments on another potential transfer between the two sides could make his signing easier to complete for Maresca’s side.
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The Athletic reported earlier in the summer that Chelsea were “considering” loaning George out after his breakthrough 2024/25 campaign, and he has now attracted interest from Leipzig with a departure looming.
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Fabrizio Romano (August 3) revealed on X that the 19-year-old Chelsea winger wants to leave the club this month due to the possibility of reduced game time in the new season, and Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach are among the clubs keen on his signature, with a permanent exit possible.
Romano also stated in a later post that Leipzig have asked Chelsea about George during club to club talks for Simons, but any deal made for him to move to the Bundesliga side would be a separate one to the Dutchman’s transfer, so a swap deal plus cash is seemingly not on the table.
Football Insider verdict
Former scout Mick Brown told Football Insider in April that Chelsea were planning to offer George a new long-term contract at the club soon, and The Mail reported in June that he had been expecting to remain at Stamford Bridge for the 2025/26 campaign after his breakthrough under Maresca last term.
The Athletic’s report then plunged his future into doubt, along with the arrival of Gittens from Dortmund and Chelsea’s pursuit of more attacking talent in Simons, and now he looks very likely to leave having asked to make a move away.
George’s breakthrough into Maresca’s squad last season was something that has become an increasing rarity at Chelsea over the last few years, with their focus on achieving success meaning the pathway to the first-team has been largely blocked for academy players.
AppearancesGoalsAssists2635George’s 2024/25 Chelsea stats
He impressed in his maiden season in the Blues’ senior set-up, but clearly not enough for the clubs chiefs to think he is definitely worthy of retaining for next season, and their return to the Champions League means emerging stars like the 19-year-old are unlikely to get a look in over their array of imported attacking talent
Simons’ arrival will push George even further down the pecking order, and so an exit seems like the wisest thing for him and his career with more game-time likely at a lower Premier League side or even abroad in the Bundesliga.
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